The Story Behind
The Only Two-Story Oceanfront Residence on Ocean Avenue
There is a fundamental difference between a residence that looks at the ocean and one that lives as though the ocean belongs to it. A100 at 101 Ocean Avenue is emphatically the latter. As the only two-story unit in the building, it occupies a category entirely its own — a private oceanfront home that happens to reside within a full-service building, commanding a full 180-degree sweep of the Pacific horizon from a position no neighboring address can replicate or obscure.
The architecture announces itself immediately. A dramatic staircase with dark wood treads and a sculptural metal railing rises from the entry level, where a frosted glass door and gallery-worthy hallway set a tone of considered refinement. Above, the main living level opens into a volume that feels more akin to a celebrated coastal retreat than a condominium: twelve-foot ceilings, polished structural columns in brushed metal, and a sweeping curved wall of floor-to-ceiling windows that frames the Pacific like a living canvas. At sunrise, the light is soft and silver. By afternoon, the water turns a deep, saturated blue. At dusk, the sky ignites in gradients of orange and violet that reflect off the calm surface below — a spectacle delivered nightly, without reservation, to the curved sectional sofa positioned precisely at its center.
The chef's kitchen is both a functional workspace and a design statement. A waterfall-edge stone island anchors the open-concept floor plan, flanked by integrated Miele and Viking appliances, bespoke light-toned cabinetry, and a multi-globe chandelier that casts warm, ambient light across the stone surfaces. A 150-bottle Viking wine cooler is built seamlessly into the cabinetry — an acknowledgment that the lifestyle this home is designed for includes evenings worth celebrating. The custom sea-glass light-up bar adds a bespoke, irreplaceable flourish that speaks to the residence's broader design sensibility: every element has been chosen with intention.
The primary suite mirrors the living room's panoramic ambition. A curved wall of floor-to-ceiling windows frames sailboats, the Santa Monica Pier, and the uninterrupted horizon from the bed itself. Dual walk-in closets finished in custom light-toned cabinetry with integrated vanity areas offer the kind of organization typically reserved for a fashion house's private archive. The spa bath is anchored by a BainUltra hydro-jetted soaking tub positioned directly before ocean-facing glass — chromatherapy, aromatherapy, and a heated backrest completing an experience that renders the concept of a hotel spa redundant. A curved glass-block shower wall allows natural light to filter through in shifting geometric patterns throughout the day.
A dedicated media lounge — seven leather recliners facing a large-format display framed in custom dark cabinetry with ambient underlighting — offers a cinematic experience that converts effortlessly to a fourth bedroom or private home office. The laundry room, with its full sink, glass-front cabinetry, and Samsung appliances beneath a long stone countertop, reflects the same attention to craft found throughout. Lutron solar shades provide precise light management at every window. Three parking spaces, two equipped with EV chargers, complete a residence designed with as much practicality as poetry.
The private ocean-view deck, furnished for both dining and lounging beneath modern shade sails with clear glass railings, is where the full scale of A100's position becomes visceral. Each July, fireworks erupt directly over the coastline below — a private show viewed from above, with the Pacific as backdrop.
Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica occupies a singular position in the geography of Southern California. Running along the bluffs above Pacific Coast Highway, it is one of the few streets in Los Angeles where a resident can watch the sun set directly into the ocean from their own home — a distinction that has made it among the most coveted addresses in the region for well over a century.
Santa Monica itself was established as a city in 1886, and its coastal character has defined its identity ever since. The city sits at the western terminus of Route 66, the iconic American highway that once carried travelers from Chicago to the Pacific — and Ocean Avenue marks the point where that journey ends, at the edge of the continent. Palisades Park, the long ribbon of blufftop greenery that runs directly adjacent to 101 Ocean Avenue, has been a public gathering place since 1892. Its mature Moreton Bay fig trees, manicured lawns, and sweeping ocean overlooks provide a rare buffer of open space between the building and the bluff's edge — one of the reasons views from A100 remain so unobstructed and so timeless.
The Santa Monica Pier, visible from the residence and illuminated nightly, is one of the most recognized landmarks on the California coast. Its Ferris wheel, which transitions to a soft glow against the evening sky, has become a defining feature of the Santa Monica horizon. The pier dates to 1909 and remains an active part of the city's cultural life, hosting summer concerts, a solar-powered carousel, and the Pacific Park amusement area.
At street level, Ocean Avenue connects residents to one of the most walkable luxury corridors in Los Angeles. The stretch of Santa Monica between the pier and Montana Avenue offers world-class dining, from celebrated oceanfront restaurants to intimate neighborhood bistros. Montana Avenue itself — just minutes north — is known for its independently owned boutiques, artisan coffee, and a distinctly residential, village-like atmosphere that draws a discerning local community. The Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica Place provide additional retail and dining, while the Sunday Santa Monica Farmers Market at Arizona Avenue is widely considered one of the finest in the country, drawing both residents and the city's most respected chefs.
A private tunnel from the building provides direct access to the beach below — a convenience that transforms a morning walk on the sand from an aspiration into a daily ritual. The beach itself, broad and well-maintained, stretches from the pier toward Venice to the south and Malibu to the north, offering easy access to the broader coastal lifestyle that defines this part of California.
Santa Monica's mild Mediterranean climate — characterized by cool marine mornings, warm afternoons, and rare rainfall — makes outdoor living not a seasonal luxury but a year-round reality. The city maintains an extensive network of bike paths, including the South Bay Bicycle Trail, which runs directly along the beach. For those who prefer the water, surf, paddleboard, and sailing culture thrive along this stretch of coastline.
To live on Ocean Avenue at 101 is to occupy the front row of one of the world's great coastal cities — with every amenity, every natural spectacle, and every dimension of the Santa Monica lifestyle available the moment you step outside.
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Curated Content • Presented by Julie Scully
























