Tucked away in the Alta Canyada Estates of La Cañada Flintridge, this historic Mediterranean manor radiates early Hollywood glamour and architectural ambition. Once the private escape of film actor Dennis Morgan and later featured in Diane Keaton’s California Romantica, the Degnan-Guerra Residence was designed and built by Paul R. Williams in 1927.
This ornate, botanical property includes six bedrooms and nine bathrooms. Priced at $8,500,000, 5200 Alta Canyada Road, La Cañada Flintridge, is listed by the George Penner Team at Compass.
At just 33 years old, Williams was beginning to distinguish himself in the architectural world when he took on this significant commission. As the first Black member and Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, his career would ultimately define a generation of West Coast design. In this home, Williams demonstrated his ability to merge classical European aesthetics with the demands of California’s climate and lifestyle, setting the stage for his illustrious career to follow.
The estate’s design embraces Mediterranean Revival details while maintaining a sense of understated luxury. The entrance hall includes 20-foot ceilings, ornamental bas relief, and graphic black-and-white marble flooring. Inside, the spaces transition from formal entertaining rooms to more intimate spaces, all connected by French doors and open-air terraces that frame the surrounding lush gardens.
Living spaces are thoughtfully arranged around a grand central solarium, with a paneled library and women’s lounge positioned at each side of the entryway. The main living room features a distinctive cast-cement fireplace and a hand-stenciled ceiling, both original to the home. French doors lead to a tranquil terrace with a Spanish-style fountain and a restored Della Robbia ceramic mosaic.
The kitchen and dining areas maintain much of their original charm, from the stained glass windows in the formal dining room to the vintage butler’s pantry and an expansive wine cellar below. A music room and sunroom complete the communal spaces, offering generous natural light and views of the meticulously designed grounds.
Upstairs, the primary suite includes a private sleeping terrace, dual bathrooms, and views of the gardens below. There are three other bedrooms in the main house as well as a one-bedroom Casita and an additional guest house on the property. The guest residence is outfitted with a rustic stone fireplace, a cozy bar, and a three-story observatory.
The exterior space is arguably the estate’s most remarkable asset. An Olympic-size pool sits at the heart of the property, surrounded by a broad flagstone deck. Winding garden paths reveal a mix of formal plantings and wild flora. The grounds also include a 1929 faux bois Tea House crafted by a Japanese artisan. Fountains, grottoes, heirloom roses, cactus gardens, and ancient Deodar cedar trees turn the 1.2-acre property into a whimsical escape from reality.
A display of architectural excellence at the highest level, this residence offers a tangible connection to California’s layered past. It is an estate that still echoes the creative energy of its original architect and the early Hollywood figures who once called it home.
Listing: 5200 Alta Canyada Road, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011 [Compass]
