A Masterwork of Coastal Architecture Steps from the Sea

Architect Louie Tomaro, whose work has long been synonymous with sophisticated coastal design, approached the facade as a study in refined restraint. Light-colored stucco meets natural stone cladding at the street level, while a wide glass-railed balcony draws the eye upward toward the sky and sea beyond. A wood-paneled garage door softens the composition, grounding the contemporary form in warmth. Inside, exposed ceiling beams and herringbone-pattern wide-plank hardwood floors establish an architectural language that feels both timeless and unmistakably of this place.

The heart of the home is its chef's kitchen — a room that rewards serious cooking without sacrificing elegance. A 55-inch French Lacanche range, finished in matte black with gold-toned hardware, commands the space beneath a custom range hood framed by a stone backsplash with dramatic veining. Calacatta marble countertops, an integrated marble sink, Waterworks fixtures, Sub-Zero refrigeration, and Bosch appliances complete a suite of appointments that would satisfy even the most discerning culinary enthusiast. Custom cabinetry in a warm, light tone unifies the space, which flows naturally into the dining area and family room before dissolving entirely into the outdoors.

The backyard is nothing short of a private resort. A saltwater pool and spa are set within a stone-paved environment framed by mature olive and cypress trees, their presence lending an almost Mediterranean gravity to the setting. A fully equipped outdoor kitchen — Wolf grill, sink, refrigerator — anchors an alfresco dining area, while a stone-clad fireplace with integrated television and heat lamps ensures the space is as inviting in the evening as it is under the afternoon sun. Integrated speakers complete the atmosphere.

The primary suite occupies the upper level as a true sanctuary. A vaulted wood-paneled ceiling rises above a gas fireplace with a tall, light-colored surround, and expansive sliding glass doors open onto an ocean-view deck furnished for contemplation. The marble-clad bath — radiant heated floors, a freestanding soaking tub, a walk-in shower with arched glass entry, brass fixtures, and a decorative chandelier — achieves a spa-like serenity that feels both luxurious and deeply personal.

Below, the wellness suite is among the home's most distinctive offerings: a purpose-built space finished in handcrafted Moroccan Zellige tile, housing a sauna, cold plunge, and steam shower. It is the kind of amenity typically reserved for five-star resorts, here made private and permanent. A wet bar with Silver Carrara marble countertops and a flex room that can serve as a fourth bedroom, guest suite, or gym complete the lower level — a floor designed with the rhythms of real life firmly in mind.

Natural stone, designer finishes, and an oversized two-car garage with three additional off-street parking spaces ensure that the home is as functional as it is beautiful. This is architecture conceived with conviction and built without compromise.

Manhattan Beach occupies a singular position in the Southern California coastal landscape — a small, walkable city of roughly 35,000 residents that has managed, against considerable pressure, to preserve the intimate character of a beach town while attracting the kind of cultural and culinary sophistication more often associated with far larger cities. The South Sand Section, where Bayview Drive meets the Pacific, represents the quieter, more residential expression of that character: wide, tree-lined streets just steps from the water, where the pace is gentler and the sense of community is genuine.

The beach itself is the organizing principle of daily life here. Manhattan Beach stretches for approximately two miles of clean, well-maintained shoreline that draws surfers, swimmers, and volleyball players year-round. The Manhattan Beach Pier — one of the oldest in California, first constructed in 1920 — serves as both a landmark and a gathering point, with the Roundhouse Marine Studies Lab and Aquarium at its end offering an educational touchstone for families in the community. The strand, the beloved paved path that runs the length of the beach, connects residents to neighboring Hermosa and Redondo Beach on foot or by bicycle, making the entire South Bay coastline accessible without ever getting into a car.

Downtown Manhattan Beach, centered along Manhattan Beach Boulevard and Highland Avenue, is a compact but remarkably complete urban village. Independent restaurants, boutique retailers, coffee shops, and wine bars line the streets, creating an atmosphere that feels curated rather than commercial. Notable dining establishments have long called the area home, and the farmers' market held weekly draws residents from across the South Bay. The overall effect is of a town that takes pleasure seriously — in food, in fitness, in the unhurried enjoyment of extraordinary weather.

Manhattan Beach is also home to one of the most highly regarded public school systems in California. The Manhattan Beach Unified School District consistently earns recognition among the top-performing districts in the state, and the presence of strong schools has long been a cornerstone of the community's family-oriented identity. Mira Costa High School, which serves the area, has a national reputation for academic and athletic achievement.

For those whose lives extend beyond the immediate neighborhood, the location is strategically positioned. Los Angeles International Airport is approximately six miles north, offering convenient access for frequent travelers. Silicon Beach — the technology corridor anchored by Playa Vista and Culver City — is a short drive away, as are the cultural institutions of Los Angeles proper. Yet Manhattan Beach functions, day to day, as a self-contained world. Residents often remark that once they arrive, they have little reason to leave.

The South Sand Section in particular carries a quieter prestige within the broader Manhattan Beach community. Removed from the commercial activity of downtown but equally close to the water, it offers the best of both orientations — the serenity of a residential neighborhood and the vitality of one of Southern California's most beloved coastal towns. For a home conceived as a forever residence, there could be few more fitting addresses.