The Witbeck House, a charming and beautifully preserved 1917 property with a recording studio used by musician Jackson Browne, is now up for sale
By Dolores Quintana
Witbeck House, the storied three-building complex that was formerly home to rocker Jackson Browne and his partner Darryl Hannah, has been listed for sale in Santa Monica as reported by Realtor.com. The estate was constructed in 1917 when Charles Witbeck and wanted a home that would fit in more on the East Coast than the West Coast. Browne has his studio for recording in the A-Frame house. The home is located at 226 Palisades Avenue, about a block from the ocean.
The architectural team of Greene and Greene agreed to work on the commission and planned three buildings on the compound, an A-frame with two stories, the main house and a two-bedroom guest house. The team of brothers Charles and Henry Greene had a reputation for their work designing so-called “ultimate bungalows”, meaning that they were larger than normal in the Arts and Crafts style. They only made one home in the Santa Monica area and are most famous for the Gamble House, now a museum, the Blacker House, and the Thorsen residence.
While the property has been renovated since the newest owners took possession of the home in 1995, the basic structure of the home has not been altered. The exteriors of the buildings have not been significantly altered either and are mostly the original construction.
Within the main house, there are five bedrooms and a matching number of bathrooms, one of which is brand new and ensuite in the master bedroom. The kitchen has also been redone.
Outside of the house, on the half-acre lot, there is an outdoor kitchen, spa, pool and a court for pop tennis or the new favorite sport pickleball. You will also find an extensive garden, mature hedges and trees.
