It’s no secret that Pasadena’s tree-lined streets offer peace and privacy from prying eyes. Located on coveted San Rafael Avenue, the 4,544-square-foot Fred J. and Florence Toole House is fit for an A-lister—or someone hoping to live like one. This Hollywood Regency–style estate is a unique blend of 19th-century French, Greek Revival, and Modernist elements and was built in 1958 by architect John Elgin Woolf, whose star-studded clientele included Cary Grant, Judy Garland, and Bob Hope.
The three-bedroom home makes a stately first impression with a private gated drive followed by an expansive, circular motor court. A 10-foot double-door entry leads to the foyer with tongue-and-groove paneled walls. In the living room, a curved wall of floor-to-ceiling glass surrounds an ornate marble fireplace. High ceilings throughout the home enhance the sense of indoor-outdoor living while the parquet flooring in the common areas adds warmth.
The dining room features a wall covered in two pairs of vintage, hand-painted, Chinese wallpaper panels from the collection of designer Rose Cumming (circa 1925) and a cerulean blue chandelier. In contrast to the pomp and grandeur of the home’s other rooms, the contemporary, crisp white kitchen has been remodeled with top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances, sleek handleless cabinetry, and a custom hood.
Outdoors, the flowing gardens by landscape architect Nord Eriksson of EPT Design incorporate circular shapes and curved lines that echo the main residence’s architecture, with hedges, rose gardens, and meandering paths that weave through the property. Additional backyard highlights include a dramatic oval-shaped pool with fountain-spout water features and a spa. A nearby cabana-style covered patio is the perfect locale for lounging—or hiding from the paparazzi.
YEAR BUILT: 1958
LOT: 0.64 acres
INTERIOR: 4,544 square feet
BEDS/BATHS: 3/3.5
AMENITIES: Highlights include a remodeled contemporary kitchen, pool house with guest room and entertaining area, temperature-controlled wine room, and professionally landscaped gardens.
WHAT SETS IT APART: Designed by legendary architect John Elgin Woolf, the estate recalls the glamour of Hollywood’s golden era with striking design details.
INQUIRIES: $4.8 million; Ted Clark and Heather Lillard, tedandheather.com
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