Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

A Magnetic L.A. Midcentury Arrives

A Magnetic L.A. Midcentury Arrives

Thoughtfully renovated over the years, this 1952 residence in West Hollywood has breezy, tree house vibes.

Designed in 1952 by Douglas A. Brown for Gary and Enid Freund, a film editor and travel agent, respectively, this West Hollywood home was governed by Enid’s discerning eye and taste. Here, the couple raised three children, the cheerful and lively home growing and evolving with them through the years.



"The cantilevered living room, from the outside, is a piece of architectural sculpture, yet sitting in the living room peering out and looking over the treetops is extremely calming and relaxing," says Enid Freund, the homeowner.



Stained glass windows are peppered through the home, a "very personal" aspect of the design according to Enid.

Enid describes them as "an adventurous, intellectual, and cultured couple." The two met while attending the University of Southern California and bonded over their love of style, humor, and travel; as collectors, they picked up furniture, art, and other pieces on their adventures to display in the home. Fittingly, their residence is just as complex as their varied interests.



One of two fireplaces in the home, this hearth of original brick allows room for a sitting area.



Windows in every room look out onto the treetops and infuse the home with an abundance of natural light.

"The home has a magical duality," says Enid. "It’s a very dramatic, architectural, and sophisticated home, yet simultaneously so warm and comfortable." Perched above the buzz of the city, the three-bedroom, four-bathroom house is just over the Sunset Strip and Doheny but feels like a private, tree house–like retreat.



The original white stucco facade was replaced with wood siding in 1968 by Matlin & Dvoretzky.

Looking in, the residence does appear an oasis-clad in dark wood and immersed in lush foliage, the boxy abode embodies indoor/outdoor living with a sunny deck and patio.



Built-in shelves and storage around the home allow for displays of books and objets d‘art.

Nearly every element is original to the home, from the artful staircase to the dark wood paneling, and from the stained glass windows to the terra-cotta tiles and brick surrounding the two fireplaces. Hardware, light fixtures, and even the vivid, patterned wallpapers remain untouched. Stepping in, it does indeed feel like a time capsule.



The staircase, with its delicate railing, was part of Douglas A. Brown’s original midcentury design.

An abundance of floor-to-ceiling windows allow natural light to permeate the home while providing treetop views. Throughout the house, plenty of open shelving encourages artful displays, and whimsical ’80s wallpaper adds a touch of quirkiness.



In this powder room, a wallpaper featuring retro blooms bursts around a lime-hued vanity.



This powder room takes on a more worldly approach with camels strolling the walls.



The main bathroom pairs rainbow-patterned wallpaper with fire engine red accents in a playfully bold aesthetic.

The house is not without updates, however. In 1968, Matlin & Dvoretzky instilled drama with the cantilevered, sunken living room, and the original white stucco facade was replaced with wood siding that was more suitable to the green landscape. Then in 1985, Liberstudio Architects enlarged the primary suite with built-ins in the closet and a very mod bathroom featuring a crimson soaking tub that peers over the city. Newer to the house is the exterior hot tub, paint, and carpet.



The newer hot tub in the backyard has a brick surround that seamlessly connects with the fireplace.

In addition to the upper deck, a spacious patio is shrouded by treetops with the spa nestled in the corner. It’s no wonder the family lived in the home for 68 years. Now, the children are in their 60s, and Enid, now 91, is living in a high-rise above the Santa Monica Pier with an abbreviated collection of her treasures.



The deck is magical, resting above the treetops where you can hear the wind rushing through the trees. It is not a big lot, but the use of the space and enviable views make it feel open, and even grand, in its own way.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Altman Says GPT-5 Already Outpaces Him, Warns AI Could Automate 40% of Work
Russian Research Vessel 'Yantar' Tracked Mapping Europe’s Subsea Cables, Raising Security Alarms
Global Cruise Industry Posts Dramatic Comeback with 34.6 Million Passengers in 2024
U.S. Demands Brussels Scrutinize Digital Rules to Prevent Bias Against American Tech
Private Equity’s Fundraising Surge Triggers Concern of European Market Shake-Out
Tokyo’s Jimbōchō Named World’s Coolest Neighbourhood for 2025
European Officials Fear Trump May Shift Blame for Ukraine War onto EU
The Personality Rights Challenge in India’s AI Era
Italy Considers Freezing Retirement Age at 67 to Avert Scheduled Hike
Italian City to Impose Tax on Visiting Dogs Starting in 2026
Study Finds No Safe Level of Alcohol for Dementia Risk
Trump Says Ukraine Can Fully Restore Borders with NATO Backing
Europe Signals Stronger Support for Taiwan at Major Taipei Defence Show
Germany Weighs Excluding France from Key European Fighter Jet Programme
Cyberattack Disrupts Check-in and Boarding Systems at Major European Airports
Björn Borg Breaks Silence: Memoir Reveals Addiction, Shame and Cancer Battle
When Extremism Hijacks Idealism: How the Baader-Meinhof Gang Emerged and Fell
JWST Data Brings TRAPPIST-1e Closer to Earth-Like Habitability
Trump Orders $100,000 Fee on H-1B Visas and Launches ‘Gold Card’ Immigration Pathway
France’s Looming Budget Crisis and Political Fracture Raise Fears of Becoming Europe’s “Sick Man”
Three Russian MiG-31 Jets Breach Estonian Airspace in ‘Unprecedentedly Brazen’ NATO Incident
European manufacturers against ban on polluting cars: "The industry may collapse"
Turkish car manufacturer Togg Enters German Market with 5-Star Electric Sedan and SUV to Challenge European EV Brands
Christian Brueckner Released from German Prison after Serving Unrelated Sentence
World’s Longest Direct Flight China Eastern to Launch 29-Hour Shanghai–Buenos Aires Direct Flight via Auckland in December
New OpenAI Study Finds Majority of ChatGPT Use Is Personal, Not Professional
The conservative right spreads westward: a huge achievement for 'Alternative for Germany' in local elections
Pope Leo Warns of Societal Crisis Over Mega-CEO Pay, Citing Tesla’s Proposed Trillion-Dollar Package
Poland Green-Lights NATO Deployment in Response to Major Russian Drone Incursion
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Nayib Bukele Points Out Belgian Hypocrisy as Brussels Considers Sending Army into the Streets
France, at an Impasse, Heads Toward Another Government Collapse
×