Colcord, One of the first “Starkitects”
Gerard Colcord, who designed houses from 1924 through 1984, was known as “Hollywood’s society architect.” He didn’t specialize in one particular style so it’s not always easy to identify a Colcord house, although his signature genre was the sprawling Country Colonial farmhouse. Tudor, Country French, Hollywood Regency, Spanish Hacienda and Monterey Colonial were also styles he played with in the nearly 300 homes he designed in Southern California.
The most easily recognizable homes feature clapboard and fieldstone exteriors, deep bay windows, dark wood shake roofs, and an overall rustic, wholesome feel. They have large, welcoming fireplaces made of oversized brick or fieldstone, which often serve as a focal point. Other hallmarks of a Colcord residence are distressed and custom-milled wood, including knotty pine paneling, exposed ceiling beams, and wide plank floors; Dutch doors with custom wrought iron hardware; built-in bookshelves and cabinetry; plaster ceilings and ornate molding; and intimate, light-filled living spaces that create a cozy feel.
Harrison Ford famously owned a Colcord-designed home in Brentwood that Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel bought and recently resold. Beck, Reese Witherspoon, Zooey Deschanel & Jonathan Scott, Nicolas Cage, Dean Martin, Tom Jones and many other celebrities have called a Colcord residence home.
Colcord’s Work
Some of Colcord’s most notable works remain touchstones of architectural history. In 1930, he designed the Trippet House in the Palisades, an early example of his enduring style. In Beverly Hills, he transformed a morning room into a screening room in producer Jerry Wald’s residence, an emblem of Hollywood glamour in 1952.
253 Ashdale in Bel Air
253 Ashdale in Bel Air, my newest listing, is a true Colcord original, a home that embodies his signature charm and character while offering the kind of timeless design that feels as relevant today as it did when first built.
For those who appreciate architecture with history, warmth, and sophistication, this is an invitation to explore more than just a house, it’s a chance to own a piece of Los Angeles’ architectural legacy.
Schedule a private tour of 253 Ashdale to see a Gerard Colcord residence for yourself.
