Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Aug 27, 2025

The French Residence by Chalfont Head

The French Residence by Chalfont Head

Designed by architect Chalfont Head in 1950, the French Residence is a captivating home that’s been beautifully preserved.

It’s not every day that a restored midcentury home hits the market in California for less than one million dollars, but that’s the case with the French Residence. Located in the small city of Fillmore, the historic home is perched above a gently sloping valley, overlooking the Topatopa Mountains. It was designed in 1950 by architect Chalfont Head for Dr. William French, the area’s primary physician, and it remained in the family for nearly 70 years.



In 1950, architect Chalfont Head designed The French Residence in Fillmore, California, for Dr. William French and his family. The redwood-clad home sits on a spacious lot, surrounded by neighboring midcentury abodes. Upon arrival, the gravel driveway opens to a motor court and a two-car garage.

When ownership changed hands several years ago via a private sale, the buyers sought to completely restore the property, which was in dire need of renovation. Up for the challenge, the new (and current) owners struck the right balance of preservation and modernization, peppering the home’s original bones with contemporary amenities.



Large windows fill the interior with natural light, further highlighting the home’s striking material palette of wood, brick, and cement. A passthrough between the dining area and kitchen caters to smooth entertaining.

One such upgrade is the radiant-heated concrete flooring, which runs throughout the dwelling’s L-shaped layout and complements the original Douglas fir woodwork and exposed brick. The owners also restored the extensive built-ins, hardware, and tile. In the kitchen, all-new appliances stand alongside period cabinetry in a seamless blend of past and present.



The bright and airy kitchen features new stainless-steel appliances, which pop against the original wooden cabinetry. A broad, two-pane picture window overlooks the manicured yard.



Expansive glazing on one side of the living room frames mesmerizing views of the nearby valley and mountain range. A tall sliding glass door provides direct outdoor access and invites fresh breezes to sweep throughout the 2,112-square-foot interior.

Measuring over 2,000 square feet, the residence provides several primary living spaces, including a sun-drenched sitting room wrapped with large windows. A spacious home office is located down the hall, in addition to a private wing, which features three bedrooms, one of which is the principal ensuite. Two fully remodeled baths are also included in the interior.



Handcrafted built-in shelving hugs the original brick fireplace, located opposite of the glazing in the living room.



Polished cement floors run throughout the home, complementing the original woodwork. Here is a peek at the private bedroom wing, which is located away from the primary living spaces.

The residence is nestled near the end of a private road in an enclave of midcentury homes. Towering trees and mature vegetation surround the generous lot, creating a serene, rural retreat. Scroll ahead to see more of the property, currently listed for $949,000.



Each of the three bedrooms features incredible natural light. The principal suite also comes with extensive built-ins, including a small, cutout desk area.



A closer look at the wood-clad wardrobe, located in the corner of the principal suite.



Original tile adds a playful pop of color to the two bathrooms.



The light-filled home office is offers plenty of storage.



Deep eaves along the exterior create several shaded spaces for outdoor entertaining.



An outdoor seating area located right off the living room can be used for casual al fresco dining.



The extensive yard overlooks the valley and mountain range.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
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
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
×