In an area brimming with Spanish Revival homes, not many are as spacious (or rooted in local history) as this estate in San Marino, CA. And fewer still can boast a conservation pit in the middle of a koi pond.

The 9,134-square-foot manse—set on a verdant, nearly 2-acre lot—is listed for $13,988,000.

Since 2023, the home has come on and off the market, asking as much as $18,200,000 last May.

Lush landscaping

This special space, with astonishing landscaping, is quite a sight.

“The wide front lawn, with a rose garden and formal hedging, has been the same since I rode my bike past in the ’70s,” says Brent Chang, at Compass. He holds the listing with Austin Alfieri, at Douglas Elliman. “The north side of the property features an orchard with 15 to 20 different fruit-bearing trees along with large, irrigated plant beds.”

The stately, six-bedroom home—nicknamed Old Mill—was designed by architect Carleton M. Winslow and built in 1926 for H. Stanley Bent, the fourth mayor of San Marino and co-founder of a successful engineering and construction company.

Nearly all of the main house exterior is original, and the eventual buyer can rest assured that it was built to last.

“The house is still constructed from reinforced, poured-in-place concrete blocks, the same material the owner used to build the nearby Devil’s Gate Dam,” Chang says. “It is the most solidly constructed house I have seen.”

So solid, in fact, that he suggests having “many diamond bits on hand if you need to drill holes in the walls.”

The durable structure also contains a number of original, steel doors and windows.

Conversation pit a talking point

The property was purchased by the current owners—a young couple with two children—in 2010 for about $6 million. The home’s interior was almost entirely repartitioned and updated during a four-year renovation and expansion.

“Their overall goal was the bring some vigor and contemporary elements to the property, without compromising the Spanish architecture,” Chang says. “The house needed to fit their lifestyle and needs and not look like their grandparents’ house.”

One of these contemporary elements is the koi pond with built-in circular seating area in the home’s front exterior. And it certainly will get folks talking.

“It is the first thing you see when entering through the vaulted entry arcade, and it makes an emphatic statement,” Chang says.

Viewers of the guilty pleasure reality show “Love Island” might say it resembles the conversation pit used for eliminations, but we promise that wasn’t the inspiration. (Really!) In fact, Chang assures us that much consideration went into this design feature and that there are plenty of good vibes.

“The owners had many feng shui masters consult on the renovation,” he says. “The koi pond features the five elements of nature: water, wood, fire, earth, and metal. The flowing water wall behind the pond promotes health and prosperity.”

Other practical upgrades include a new roof, energy-efficient windows, and a full update to all of the home’s major systems.

Additional amenities

The home is outfitted with six en suite bedrooms,—four on the upper level and two on the main level. One of the bedrooms on the main level is a private, in-law wing with a sitting area.

The chef’s kitchen features two islands, a six-burner stove, and a butler’s pantry.

On the property’s west side is an outdoor living area that rivals similar spaces at any number of upscale hotels. An oval-shaped pool with an attached spa and an adjacent cabana, plus multiple outdoor kitchens, round out the design.

A luxe, two-level pool house is perfect for housing guests or hosting gatherings. It includes a kitchenette, subterranean screening room, temperature-controlled glass wine wall, refreshments lounge, sauna, and a bedroom suite.

“The elevated pool and pool house with subterranean theater is another feature not usually found at similar properties,” Chang says. “It has been the site of many birthday parties.”

Finally, this fully gated property comes with a four-car garage and a circular motor court.

The post Let’s Talk: L.A.-Area Spanish Revival Estate With Conversation Pit Returns to the Market for $14M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.