Beyond classic good looks
This Spanish-style residence in Los Feliz owes its classic good looks to Arthur R. Kelly, architect of the Playboy Mansion, and Joe Estep, who designed and built the home in 1924. A beamed-ceiling living room with a wood-burning fireplace and arched picture windows sits at the heart of the house, which enjoys canyon and city views.

Usher beats it out of his L.A. villa
Tucked behind walls and gates, the house has more than 4,200 square feet of living space, a twostory entry and a purple-clad dining room. Arched doors and stenciled beams in the living room are among original details. The kitchen, which has a breakfast area, has been updated.

From mishmash to Mission style
Over the last few decades, designer Cynthia Hart and her husband, Bob Hart, a developer, have honed an oft-repeated routine: He finds a great deal on a house, proclaims they can just move right in, she thinks not and remodels it, and then settles in the family.

Paint color tips for the savv y seller
As with cocktail dresses and formal wear, one apparently can’t err with achromatic black, at least when used on front doors. But color contrast, rooted in basic design sense, also comes into play: The human eye is designed to search out patterns, Olsen said.