24 DIGS.NET | 7.9.2021
S W E E T D I G S | 5 5 8 1 5 T H S T R E E T
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UILT AS VACATION retreats at the turn of the
last century, many of the Santa Monica's crafts-
man homes are overlooked in favor of airy, modern
spaces. It's understandable: created for Victorian and
Edwardian-era pleasures, their rambling floor plans,
slender closets and small kitchens are at odds with contemporary
needs. Yet their beauty is undeniable. The ideal solution would
marry the conveniences of today with the charms of yesteryear.
This home would be located in the quiet enclave just north of
Montana with supermarkets and speciality shops, a high-ranking
public elementary school, coffee shops, cafes and a farmer's market
nearby. Only slightly further afield would be movie theaters, some
of the city's best private schools, its famed stretch of beaches, its
many hiking trails and its best private clubs. Beverly Hills, the Pali-
sades and Malibu would also be accessible, not to mention the city's
most revered museums, galleries and charming boutiques. If this
describes your dream, then 558 15th Street is your wish come true.
Reigning over the corner of 15th Street and Alta Avenue, it's
hard to believe that this elegant and commanding structure is
not a vintage home updated with an immaculate restoration.
With Its soft green exterior, its clapboard siding, its shingled
roof, its flying eaves and its welcoming portico, it's perfectly in
tune with those compelling originals. But, in fact, it was just
recently completed. Designed by architect Michael Kemp in
collaboration with builder Craig Bentz, the three year labor of
love, perfectly captures the graciousness of another era.
Yet, step inside and it's clear that the three level space, with
its open rafter design, generous proportions and wide planked
European Oak floor, was designed with the needs of a modern
family in mind. Traditional details, like moldings and wainscot-
ing, exude warmth while thoughtful touches — an elevator, two
laundry rooms, a butler's pantry, and front and back staircases
— understand the chaos of an interconnected world.
