Beautiful Virgin Islands

Monday, Sep 01, 2025

A Tree House–Like Dwelling Near the Coastline in Santa Monica, CA

A Tree House–Like Dwelling Near the Coastline in Santa Monica, CA

The thoughtfully renovated residence was designed in 1981 by local architect Thane Roberts.

One of the earliest homes designed by Santa Monica–based architect Thane Roberts is up for grabs. The celebrated architect is known for his adventurous nature: After embarking on a nine-year, 30,000-mile sailing trip throughout the Pacific Ocean, he returned to Santa Monica and developed a philosophy called "evo-tecture," which prioritizes ecologically minded residential designs.



Raised-bed gardens line the walkway at the entrance to the Santa Monica home and help to transform the 1981 property into the serene environment that Roberts initially envisioned.

Originally built in 1981, the multistory home sits tucked away on a lush lot in Santa Monica, California, just blocks from the beach. Although it appears to be modestly sized from the exterior, the dwelling actually spans 2,369 square feet, offering a total of five bedrooms and four bathrooms.



A sun-kissed living area features wood-clad walls with custom built-in shelving.



To the right of the home’s central staircase, the primary living room includes tall ceilings and an original red-brick fireplace.

Inside, the wood-clad walls, floors, and ceilings evoke a warm aesthetic paired with a neutral palette, which is signature to the architect’s style. Double-height living areas strengthen the sense of space throughout the interior, while loft-like mezzanine levels create more intimate corners where residents and guests can gather.



The view from the back of the living room showcases one of the upper mezzanine levels.

"My favorite part of the house is the placement of the windows and skylights," explains the architect. "When the windows and doors are open, you can smell the salty air and feel the ocean breeze. While the space was designed to allow streams of sunshine to filter throughout the day, at night it becomes illuminated by the glow of the moon," he continues.



An exposed wooden beam serves as a subtle divider between the open dining area and kitchen.

Last sold in 2019, the dwelling has been thoughtfully updated by its current owners, who prioritized enhancing the ease of indoor/outdoor living throughout the structure. According to listing agent Frank Langen, the property "is one of the most special homes" in Los Angeles’s Rustic Canyon area. "What draws the prospective buyer to the house is the integration of nature with the dwelling, which you can feel as soon as you arrive," Langen says.



Greenhouse-inspired glazing invites additional sunlight inside the corner kitchen, which is anchored by a large wooden island and fitted with top-of-the-line appliances.



A peek at the view from one of the upper levels, which overlooks the ground-floor living areas.

On the upper level, the residence also features a quiet study area, as well as a large creative studio, which comes with both canyon and ocean views. Scroll ahead to see more of the tree house–like property, which is currently listed for $3,885,000.



In total, the property includes five bedrooms-four of which are inside the main residence, with one guest suite just beyond the house. The primary bedroom comes with its own private terrace.



The en suite bathroom includes a double-sink vanity, oversize soaking tub, and walk-in closet.



The principal bedroom’s adjacent terrace is surrounded by mature trees, ensuring ample privacy.



On the top floor, a cozy study includes a circular, stained-glass window that infuses the space with whimsical flair.



Right off the study area, a creative studio wrapped with windows and skylights can also serve as an additional bedroom or home office.



One of the four bathrooms is dressed with light-gray tiles and boasts a large glass shower.



Edison lights illuminate the spacious brick patio in the backyard, presenting a charming corner for memorable entertaining after the sun goes down.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Chinese and Indian Leaders Pursue Amity Amid Global Shifts
European Union Plans for Ukraine Deployment
ECB Warns Against Inflation Complacency
Concerns Over North Cyprus Casino Development
Shipping Companies Look Beyond Chinese Finance
Rural Exodus Fueling European Wildfires
China Hosts Major Security Meeting
Chinese Police Successfully Recover Family's Savings from Livestream Purchases
Germany Marks a Decade Since Migrant Wave with Divisions, Success Stories, and Political Shifts
Liverpool Defeat Arsenal 1–0 with Szoboszlai Free-Kick to Stay Top of Premier League
Prince Harry and King Charles to Meet in First Reunion After 20 Months
Chinese Stock Market Rally Fueled by Domestic Investors
Israeli Airstrike in Yemen Kills Houthi Prime Minister
Ukrainian Nationalist Politician Andriy Parubiy Assassinated in Lviv
Corporate America Cuts Middle Management as Bosses Take On Triple the Workload
Parents Sue OpenAI After Teen’s Death, Alleging ChatGPT Encouraged Suicide
Amazon Faces Lawsuit Over 'Buy' Label on Digital Streaming Content
Federal Reserve Independence Questioned Amid Trump’s Push to Reshape Central Bank
British Politics Faces Tumultuous Autumn After Summer of Rebellions and Rising Farage Momentum
US Appeals Court Rules Against Most Trump-Era Tariffs
UK Sought Broad Access to Apple Users’ Data, Court Filing Reveals
UK Bank Shares Dive Over Potential Tax on Sector
Germany’s Auto Industry Sheds 51,500 Jobs in First Half of 2025 Amid Deepening Crisis
Bruce Willis Relocated Due to Advanced Dementia
French and Korean Nuclear Majors Clash As EU Launches Foreign Subsidy Probe
EU Stands Firm on Digital Rules as Trump Warns of Retaliation
Getting Ready for the 3rd Time in Its History, Germany Approves Voluntary Military Service for Teenagers
Argentine President Javier Milei Evacuated After Stones Thrown During Campaign Event
Denmark Confronts U.S. Diplomat Over Covert Trump-Linked Influence in Greenland
Starmer Should Back Away from ECHR, Says Jack Straw
Trump Demands RICO Charges Against George Soros and Son for Funding Violent Protests
Taylor Swift Announces Engagement to NFL Star Travis Kelce
France May Need IMF Bailout, Warns Finance Minister
Chinese AI Chipmaker Cambricon Posts Record Profit as Beijing Pushes Pivot from Nvidia
After the Shock of Defeat, Iranians Yearn for Change
Ukraine Finally Allows Young Men Aged Eighteen to Twenty-Two to Leave the Country
The Porn Remains, Privacy Disappears: How Britain Broke the Internet in Ten Days
YouTube Altered Content by Artificial Intelligence – Without Permission
Welcome to The Definition of Insanity: Germany Edition
Just a reminder, this is Michael Jackson's daughter, Paris.
Spotify’s Strange Move: The Feature Nobody Asked For – Returns
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
×