20790 Medley Lane

Sold for $1,565,000 — a c. 1973 midcentury gem in the wilds of Topanga.

A perennial favorite. My buyer clients won this canyon retreat with a modernist design vocabulary that deeply references The Sea Ranch.

For those not yet initiated, Sea Ranch is a bespoke community in my native Northern California, crafted in the midcentury era. Every structure there adheres to a strict set of architectural guidelines. This creates a cohort of wooden, post-and-beam dwellings deeply in tune with nature. It is a mystical, wild place, and Medley Lane speaks this language fluently.

With steep shed roofs, clerestory windows, and brilliantly untouched vaulted wooden ceilings, there is a keen sense of space+light throughout. Natural finishes abound, from redwood decking to wood-wrapped windows, a barefoot kind of vibe. Topanga’s whimsy shines in Medley’s exterior spaces. Ambling, fragrant gardens surround the structure, while thoughtful gathering spaces (+ a barrel sauna!) dot the landscape.

My buyer clients not only won this retreat, but we did so on their terms, and at their price. Carefully calibrated negotiation led us to nabbing this gem for under list price, a rarity in LA’s ever-competitive market.

These wonderful clients maintain residences in other states, and this is their first in California. I could not imagine a better landing place then Topanga — in tune with the mountains & the ocean — the best of our blissful coast. Overjoyed to have helped them start this new life, in the wood house on Medley Lane.

From my clients —

“Sam and Courtney were a dream team. They not only helped us find our beautiful new home for under asking, they also helped us sell our first home for over asking and the whole process was stress-free!

Our prerequisite for our new house wasn’t easy (a family home with a recording studio on the property), yet they managed to help us find the perfect house that ticked all the boxes. They efficiently organized the whole process start-to-finish and helped us feel more than secure and sure about our purchase.

We are so glad we worked with Sam and Courtney. Highly recommend!”

— Monica & Dave

Photo credit: Sterling Reed & Rich Stapleton