8787 Appian Way

Ah, the Sunset Strip. It’s a particular alliteration that inspires glamour, intrigue, and images of a history unique to the allure of Old Hollywood. 8787 Appian Way, with its classic Mediterranean Revival design, sits nestled not far from this famed icon among scenic, winding vistas. The 4,390 square foot home exudes sublime elegance, offering 5 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, and unsurpassed canyon views. The home embodies all the exquisite details and design that befits the beauty of the environment and the aura that comes with living the Sunset Strip life. Offered at $2,850,000!

Today, locals and tourists alike regularly cruise (despite the “no-cruising” signs) and traverse the mile-and-half stretch of Sunset Boulevard that has come to be regarded as the most glamorous street in the United States. The boulevard juts from the Holmby Hills area near Sierra Drive, extending east and joins West Hollywood with Hollywood at Havenhurst Drive.

The boulevard is dotted with some of the city’s most beloved Hollywood institutions that include the city’s swankiest hotels, nightclubs, and bars.

And don’t forget the reading material along the way—Sunset Boulevard billboards, in some way, are equally as entertaining as the entertainment.

The history of the strip rivals even today’s allure. Before screen legends began to carve out their wildest dreams on the strip in the 1920s, the area was abundant with poinsettias and avocado trees. The foliage later was replaced with nightclubs, hotels, and of course, the antics of legendary movie starts like Greta Garbo, Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, and Sophia Loren. And of course, the 1950 noire film Sunset Boulevard, starring William Holden and Gloria Swanson, honors this relic in cinematic form.

According to the Sunset Strip Business Association, because the strip fell outside the purview of the City of Los Angeles, law enforcement was particularly lax, paving the way for all the pleasurable offerings that we still enjoy today. Hollywood nightclubbing reached its zenith in the 1930s—clubs such as the Trocadero, Mocambo, Ciro’s, and the Crescendo—you know, everything you’ve seen in I Love Lucy—were integral to the scene of the strip.

The illicit Clover Club, opened by a—get this—former LAPD officer—named Guy McAfee. Apparently deciding that all of his nightclub contacts gained in law enforcement would serve him better on the other side of the law, McAfee opened The Clover Club in early 1930s at Sunset and La Cienega.

The club quickly became a favorite of LA’s wealthy, film stars, and, uh, some of the city’s more law-bending contingent. The club was a place to get alcohol during Prohibition; the club even utilized gambling tables that could be flipped over in case of police raids. Like something straight out of a noire film, notorious crime boss Bugsy Siegel frequented the club, later starting a gambling empire in Las Vegas (where McAfee eventually fled to).

Besides nightclubs, hotels were also popular enclaves of entertainment on the strip for the movie crowd. The Garden of Allah hotel at the eastern end of the strip between Crescent Heights and Havenhurst had a guest register that read like a Who’s Who of Creative Royalty: The Barrymores, W.C. Fields, Dorothy Parker, and F. Scott Fitzgerald all stayed in the hotel.

But if it seems like the original draw of the Sunset Strip has, well, set—many argue that the strip is nothing but a tourist trap now—the area still retains much of its luster and is in fact, experiencing a resurgence of sorts. The Andaz West Hollywood, renovated in 2009, is a Hyatt hotel (nicknamed the “Riot Hyatt”) that was originally built in 1939 and was first called the Gene Autry hotel. Situated near some of the strip’s most popular nightclubs like the Whiskey A Go Go, the hotel was a favorite among bands like Led Zeppelin, The Who, and The Rolling Stones (Keith Richards once dropped a television from one of its balconies) in the 60s and 70s. Today, the Andaz has immortalized those balconies by removing them from use and placing them in glass enclosures, almost like a reverent shrine to the hotel’s colorful heyday. In homage to its old moniker, the restaurant is called RH (riot house). Additionally, the stylish London West Hollywood hotel was built in 2008 and is a favorite amongst the A-list crowd. Home to Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants, celebs like Khloe Kardashian, Sophia Bush, Mena Suvari, and cast members from Glee and Modern Family have all been spotted there. And let’s not forget that the most famous flour bomb in history—when a woman doused Kim Kardashian in a spray of flour while on the red carpet—happened there. Oh, the memories.

Above the raucous rock spirit of The Roxy, the Viper Room, The Whiskey, and the House of Blues; above the trendy opulence of the bars, the restaurants, and the hotels, and the beautiful people that mark this sexy strip, there are, of course the people who actually, literally call the area home. Celebrities such as Halle Berry, Christina Aguilera, Leonardo DiCaprio, Keanu Reeves, and many, many others live in the Hollywood Hills overlooking the strip.

Sunset Plaza Drive, renamed from Holly Vista Drive, snakes away from the strip and up into the hills where 8787 Appian Way is perched. Where the strip is more glam, the Laurel Canyon neighborhood where this gorgeous home sits is decidedly more relaxed. Don’t get us wrong—the area is still rock-and-roll, famed musicians like Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Jim Morrison, and many others all lived there at some point—but the vibe is decidedly more meditative and peaceful. Homes in the area seemed untouched by many of the post-war design trends that leaned toward modernism. Here, homes along Appian Way and surrounding neighborhoods were an eclectic array of Spanish, Mediterranean, and Tudor styles.

The highly rated and highly sought-after Wonderland Elementary (it gets a 10/10 rating on Greatschools.org) is situated just north of the property in lush, natural surroundings. Founded in 1927, the California Distinguished School has always been a great source of pride for this tight-knit Laurel Canyon community. In addition to providing the about 500 students with the best instruction in the basics, the multi-disciplinary program integrates the arts into every aspect of learning.

And if you thought you couldn’t get any more immersed in dazzling, awe-inspiring scenery, just north of Wonderland Avenue in the Santa Monica Mountains, the Mulholland Tennis Club awaits.

Built in 1966, the private club offers a scenic respite away from the hustle of whatever life provides for unbeatable comforts like, well, this tennis club. Members enjoy lighted tennis courts, dining and banquet accommodations, a club lounge, swimming pool, gym, hot tub and saunas, and more in a casual, relaxed environment.

Privacy is well balanced with community near the 8787 Appian Way property. It’s a place to get as little or as much interaction as you’d like, while still enjoying the luxury of one’s immediate surroundings.

A true entertainer’s home, this property comes complete with a private foliage-bedecked lagoon that includes a pool and jacuzzi. Perfect for the Sunset Strip after party or simply for a weekend get together with close family. Who needs Disneyland?

Large bay windows allow dappled sunlight to stream through, providing a perfect balance between cozy privacy and a breezy, well-lit space.

An expansive stone entryway greets visitors amidst beautiful green foliage. Wooden double doors with patterned glass panes provide a grand yet homey entrance into the home.

And what an entrance it is! A vestibule area built with marble flooring and ornate stairways and furnishings immediately captivate.

And don’t forget the chandelier!

A bright family room with a stone fireplace and elegant marble flooring throughout keeps the space cool, yet expansive windows across the length of the room allow natural light to keep the space bright and warm. A perfect balance.

Another living area with fireplace and French doors that open onto the back patio. Built-ins and clean, simple furnishings keep the area spacious.

An immense gourmet cook’s kitchen complete with breakfast nook offers unlimited possibility.

Sunlight streams through an adjacent dining room area with elegant furnishings and colors that are congruent with the Mediterranean theme.

A cozy office beset with neutral furnishings and gorgeous wooden writer’s desk make this the perfect place to be creative.

The bathrooms are equally as stunning as the living spaces. A Jacuzzi with a view anyone?

Can’t remember…did we mention the chandelier? Or the stunning, vaulted ceilings? Or the Roman columns? Swoon to the 10^th power.

One out of five spacious bedrooms, complete with fireplace, lavish sitting area, and balcony. This could serve as a master suite, certainly.

Or perhaps swap the balcony for a spacious bedroom with a comfy window seat?

A comfy, carpeted guest room with sitting area awaits your friends and family members.

A periwinkle room for the children inspires creativity and imagination—a must for the Laurel Canyon set.

This Mediterranean home is for the person who desires luxury and refinement, but understands how that works in tandem with comfort to create a truly divine living space. It’s a home where a hint of the glam that bustles and dazzles just a winding street south of it exists in quiet moments and crevices, in perfect amounts.

It’s a home where a hint of the glam that bustles and dazzles just a winding street south of it exists in quiet moments and crevices, in perfect amounts.