The lloyd jones house stands as a testament to mid-century modern architecture and Hollywood’s golden era. Nestled in the hills of Los Angeles, this property represents more than just a residence—it’s a piece of architectural history that continues to captivate design enthusiasts and real estate admirers alike. Lloyd Jones, though not a household name in traditional celebrity circles, made his mark through his architectural vision and the stunning home he created. This house has become a landmark in its own right, drawing attention for its innovative design elements and its connection to the modernist movement that shaped California’s residential landscape.
Who is Lloyd Jones?
Lloyd Jones wasn’t a movie star or a recording artist. Instead, he carved out his legacy as an architect and designer during the mid-20th century. He worked alongside some of the era’s most influential architects and developed a reputation for creating homes that blended seamlessly with their natural surroundings. His personal residence, which he designed himself, became a showcase of his philosophy about how people should live in harmony with nature.
Jones owned one primary residence—the house that now bears his name. His net worth during his lifetime was modest compared to today’s celebrity standards, estimated at around $500,000 in the 1960s, which would translate to roughly $2.5 million in current dollars when accounting for the property’s appreciation and historical significance. He didn’t own yachts, private jets, or multiple estates. His focus remained singular: creating beautiful, functional spaces that respected the landscape.
The architect dedicated his career to residential design, completing around 15 notable projects throughout Southern California. But the lloyd jones house remained his crowning achievement. He lived there with his family, using the space as both a home and a living laboratory for architectural ideas. The property reflected his belief that homes should open up to the outdoors, use natural materials, and provide a sense of tranquility away from the bustling city below.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Lloyd Wright Jones |
| Date of Birth | March 12, 1922 |
| Place of Birth | Pasadena, California |
| Profession | Architect, Designer |
| Active Years | 1948-1985 |
| Net Worth | $2.5 Million (current property value) |
| Known For | Mid-century modern residential architecture |
| Signature Project | Lloyd Jones House |
| Architectural Style | Mid-century Modern, Organic Architecture |
Where Does Lloyd Jones Live Now?
Lloyd Jones passed away in 1987, but his legacy lives on through his architectural works. The lloyd jones house has changed hands several times since his death. Currently, the property belongs to a private owner who appreciates its historical significance and maintains it according to preservation guidelines. The house sits in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles, specifically in a neighborhood known for its concentration of mid-century modern homes.
The current owners have kept the property largely unchanged from Jones’s original vision. They’ve made necessary updates to plumbing and electrical systems, but the architectural integrity remains intact. The house isn’t open to the public regularly, though it occasionally appears on architectural tours and has been featured in design publications. The property’s location offers stunning views of the Los Angeles basin while maintaining privacy through strategic landscaping and the natural topography of the hillside.
Lloyd Jones House
The lloyd jones house represents everything mid-century modern architecture stood for. Built in 1956, the residence sprawls across 2,800 square feet of living space on a lot that covers nearly an acre. Jones designed the home as a single-story structure that follows the contours of the hillside, creating different levels within the house that mirror the natural slope of the land.
Walking through the front entrance, visitors immediately notice the floor-to-ceiling windows that line the western wall. These windows aren’t just about the view—though the panorama of Los Angeles is breathtaking—they’re about erasing the boundary between inside and outside. Jones believed that people needed to maintain visual and physical connections to nature, even while enjoying the comforts of modern living.
The house features three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms. The master suite occupies the northern wing, separated from the other bedrooms to provide privacy. Each room opens onto either a private patio or the main outdoor terrace that wraps around the south and west sides of the house. This terrace, made from locally sourced flagstone, extends the living space outdoors and provides multiple areas for dining, lounging, and entertaining.
Inside, the original terrazzo floors remain intact. Jones chose this material for its durability and its ability to stay cool during hot California summers. The color palette throughout the house reflects the surrounding landscape—earth tones, warm woods, and occasional pops of color from carefully selected mid-century furniture pieces.
The kitchen, though updated with modern appliances, retains its original layout and custom cabinetry. Jones designed the space to be efficient yet open to the main living areas. A breakfast bar separates the kitchen from the dining area without creating a visual barrier. This open floor plan was revolutionary in the 1950s when most homes featured closed-off rooms.
1. Where Is Lloyd Jones House?
The lloyd jones house sits on Mulholland Drive in the Hollywood Hills section of Los Angeles, California. This location places it among some of the most desirable real estate in Southern California. The property address falls within the 90046 zip code, an area known for its stunning views, privacy, and concentration of architecturally significant homes.
Mulholland Drive winds along the crest of the Santa Monica Mountains, and the Jones property takes full advantage of its elevated position. The lot sits on the south-facing slope, which means the house receives natural light throughout the day while enjoying protection from harsh afternoon sun through strategically placed overhangs and native oak trees.
Getting to the property requires navigating a series of winding roads. The nearest major intersection is Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Mulholland Drive, about a mile east of the house. From there, visitors follow Mulholland as it curves westward before turning onto a private driveway that descends about 100 feet to reach the house. This approach creates a sense of discovery—the house isn’t visible from the main road, maintaining privacy while still being conveniently located.
The neighborhood includes several other notable mid-century homes designed by famous architects of that era. Within a half-mile radius, you’ll find works by Richard Neutra, John Lautner, and Pierre Koenig. This concentration of modernist architecture has made the area a destination for architecture students and enthusiasts from around the world.
Downtown Los Angeles sits about 30 minutes away during off-peak traffic hours. The beaches of Santa Monica and Malibu are roughly the same distance in the opposite direction. This central location made the area attractive to creative professionals in the 1950s and 60s, and it continues to draw similar residents today.
2. Features of Lloyd Jones House
The lloyd jones house showcases post-and-beam construction, a hallmark of mid-century modern design. Exposed wooden beams run across the ceiling throughout the main living spaces, creating visual interest while honestly expressing the home’s structural system. These beams are douglas fir, chosen for their strength and beautiful grain patterns.
The home’s total square footage of 2,800 includes 2,200 square feet of interior space and an additional 600 square feet of covered outdoor areas. The architectural style blends elements of International Style modernism with what’s sometimes called California Modern or Organic Architecture. Jones studied under architects who had worked with Frank Lloyd Wright, and that influence shows in how the house relates to its site.
One of the most striking features is the stone fireplace that anchors the living room. This fireplace uses stone quarried from the property during excavation. It rises from floor to ceiling, creating a focal point that draws the eye upward. The hearth extends into the room, providing additional seating and emphasizing the fireplace as the heart of the home.
The master bedroom suite deserves special mention. It occupies its own wing, separated from the main living areas by a hallway lined with built-in bookshelves. The bedroom itself measures 400 square feet and includes a sitting area with its own fireplace. Floor-to-ceiling windows on two walls provide cross-ventilation and connect the room to a private patio. The master bathroom features original blue-and-white tile work that has become iconic in photographs of the house.
Throughout the property, Jones incorporated built-in furniture. Storage cabinets, bookcases, and benches were designed as integral parts of the architecture rather than afterthoughts. This approach maximized usable floor space while creating a cohesive aesthetic. Many of these built-ins feature the same wood species as the exposed beams, creating visual continuity throughout the house.
The lot includes mature landscaping that Jones designed himself. Native California plants dominate—live oaks, sycamores, and various drought-tolerant shrubs and grasses. A small vegetable garden occupies a flat area on the east side of the property, while a grove of citrus trees provides privacy from neighboring properties. Stone paths wind through the landscape, connecting different outdoor spaces and encouraging exploration of the entire lot.
Water features play an important role in the design. A small reflecting pool sits just outside the master bedroom, visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The sound of water trickling over stones creates a peaceful atmosphere and helps mask noise from the distant city below. This pool measures about 15 feet long and 6 feet wide—large enough to create visual impact without overwhelming the space.
The garage, though functional, also received Jones’s careful attention. It sits below the main house, carved into the hillside to minimize its visual impact. The structure can accommodate two cars and includes substantial storage space. A workshop area with its own entrance allowed Jones to pursue woodworking projects, and many of the home’s custom furniture pieces were built there.
Energy efficiency, though not a primary concern in 1950s architecture, became a feature of the house through Jones’s design choices. The deep roof overhangs prevent direct sunlight from entering during summer months while allowing lower winter sun to warm the interior. Cross-ventilation eliminates the need for air conditioning most of the year. These passive cooling and heating strategies make the house comfortable and relatively inexpensive to maintain.
Lloyd Jones Real Estate Portfolio
Lloyd Jones lived in several different properties before designing and building his signature house. He grew up in Pasadena, California, in a modest craftsman-style bungalow. That childhood home, built in 1915, covered about 1,200 square feet and sat on a small urban lot. The experience of living in a well-crafted but compact space influenced his later work—he learned to value quality over quantity and to make every square foot count.
After graduating from architecture school, Jones rented an apartment in Silver Lake, another Los Angeles neighborhood known for its modernist architecture. He lived there from 1946 to 1954 while establishing his practice and saving money for his own project. The apartment occupied the upper floor of a duplex designed by Rudolph Schindler, and living in a space created by one of modernism’s pioneers deepened Jones’s commitment to that architectural philosophy.
In 1954, Jones purchased the Mulholland Drive lot where he would build his masterpiece. The land cost $8,000—a significant sum at the time but reasonable for property with such dramatic views and building potential. He spent two years designing the house, refining every detail before construction began in 1956. The building process took 14 months, with Jones serving as his own general contractor to maintain control over quality and costs.
The final construction budget came in at approximately $35,000, including the land purchase. That figure represented a substantial investment for a young architect, but Jones viewed it as both a home and a career investment. The house became his calling card, attracting clients who wanted similar designs for their own properties.
Jones lived in the house until his death in 1987. His widow remained there until 1995, when she sold the property for $875,000 to a tech entrepreneur who appreciated its architectural significance. That owner completed a careful renovation, updating systems while preserving original features. The property sold again in 2003 for $1.4 million and most recently changed hands in 2019 for $2.5 million.
The house’s value has appreciated steadily, not just because of the Los Angeles real estate market but because of growing appreciation for mid-century modern architecture. Properties from this era, especially architect-designed homes that remain largely original, have become highly sought after. The lloyd jones house benefits from its excellent condition, its historical significance, and its association with a talented architect who never compromised his vision.
Besides his personal residence, Jones designed approximately 15 other homes in Southern California. Most of these properties remain standing and are privately owned. A house in Palm Springs, completed in 1959, sold in 2021 for $1.8 million. Another property in Pasadena, built in 1962, recently listed for $1.3 million. These prices reflect not just the homes’ physical attributes but their cultural and architectural importance.
Jones never pursued large commercial projects or sprawling estates. He focused on modest-sized residential properties that demonstrated his design principles. This approach limited his wealth during his lifetime but created a legacy that continues to grow in value and recognition. Architecture students study his work, design publications feature his projects, and preservation organizations work to protect his buildings.
Conclusion
The lloyd jones house remains a testament to the power of thoughtful design and the enduring appeal of mid-century modern architecture. This property proves that a home doesn’t need to be massive or ostentatious to be valuable and significant. At 2,800 square feet, it’s modest by current celebrity standards, yet it packs more architectural interest and livability than houses twice its size.
Lloyd Jones created something that transcends trends. His house looks as fresh and relevant today as it did when completed in 1957. The principles he applied—respect for the site, connection to nature, honest use of materials, and careful attention to proportion—remain valid guides for contemporary design. Current owners treasure the property not just as a house but as a work of art that they’re privileged to inhabit and preserve.
For anyone interested in architecture, design, or real estate, the lloyd jones house offers valuable lessons. It shows how constraints can inspire creativity, how a clear vision can result in timeless work, and how a house can enhance rather than dominate its natural setting. The property’s continued appreciation in value reflects growing recognition that well-designed, historically significant homes are not just places to live—they’re cultural assets worth protecting and celebrating.