With its storied Hollywood pedigree — the house once belonged to director Cecil B. DeMille — it’s no wonder that Angelina Jolie found this home, exquisitely restored by Tichenor & Thorp, captivating
Ceilings were raised where possible. The servant’s quarters were poached to make way for a bigger kitchen and library.Elegant But Modest Rooms
Although the main rooms are modest in size, molded ceilings and Doric columns emit an impression of elegance.
Smoke And Mirrors
The dining room is paneled in rich mahogany. The fireplace is filled with Magic Logs, a nod to its Hollywood connection. “The room never had a chimney,” explains Thorp.
Surrounded By History
The bedrooms and bathrooms on the second floor are small by today’s standards but an impression of vastness — and an additional layer of Hollwood history — is conveyed by the views: the Hollywood sign and The Griffith Park Observatory, recognizable from “Rebel Without A Cause” and “LaLa Land”.
Updating The Grounds
In remaking the garden, Tichenor looked to Florence Yoch, studying her plant lists for designs executed for other Hollywood moguls such as Jack Warner. Tichenor also designed a studio where DeMille’s stables once stood and created a new pool house.
For actress and director Angelina Jolie, the well-scaled home and beautiful grounds, brushed with Hollywood history, offer a perfect setting for her and her family. Tichenor & Thorp’s new book, Outside In – The Gardens and Houses of Tichenor & Thorp, examines more of the couple’s work throughout Los Angeles and beyond. Angelina Jolie’s latest movie, First They Killed My Father, based on Loung Ung’s memoir of her childhood in Cambodia during the rise of the Khmer Rouge, can be streamed on Netflix.