A 1953 mid-century modern in The Oaks, where post-and-beam design met the Los Feliz hills.
What is the Sherwood House?
The Sherwood House on Amesbury Drive is a 1953 mid-century modern home in the Los Feliz hills, designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #1026 in 2013. A low-slung, post-and-beam residence with clean lines, clerestory windows, and a strong indoor-outdoor connection, it is a textbook example of California mid-century modern design.
Hidden on a quiet stretch of Amesbury Drive in Los Feliz, the Sherwood House is a textbook example of California mid-century modern design, and it is officially recognized for it. Designated as Historic-Cultural Monument #1026 in 2013, this low-slung, post-and-beam gem has remained remarkably intact. With clean lines, clerestory windows, and an indoor-outdoor connection that defines the era, it stands as a quietly iconic piece of architectural history in the hills of Los Feliz.
At a glance
A mid-century modern gem in Los Feliz
Built in 1953, the Sherwood House reflects the hallmark characteristics of mid-century modern architecture: clean lines, open spaces, and an emphasis on integrating indoor and outdoor living. Designed by Louis Sherwood and Calvin Straub, the house remains a testament to the post-war design movement that shaped much of Los Angeles' architectural landscape.
Sherwood himself, after whom the house is named, designed the home as his private residence. The mid-century design features large windows that flood the home with natural light and provide stunning views of the surrounding hillsides, a hallmark of the style, which prioritizes harmony between structure and environment.
Post and beam
"The Sherwood House shows what mid-century modern design did when it met a hillside instead of a flat lot."
Architectural highlights of Sherwood House
One of the most striking features of the Sherwood House is its integration with the natural landscape. The home's low-slung rooflines and expansive windows create a seamless transition between the inside and the lush greenery outside. This is typical of mid-century modern homes in Los Angeles, where architects sought to blend the boundaries between interior living spaces and nature.
Inside, the layout is practical yet elegant, staying true to the form-follows-function principle of the era. Built-in furniture and open floor plans define the interior, offering a minimalist aesthetic that feels timeless even today.
Calvin Straub's influence on mid-century modern design
While Louis Sherwood played a key role in designing the house, the influence of Calvin Straub, a renowned Southern California architect, cannot be overlooked. Straub was a key figure in California's mid-century modern movement, and his work is known for its use of natural materials like wood and stone, blending the man-made with the organic.
At the Sherwood House, Straub's design philosophy is on full display. The home's earthy materials and flowing connection to the outdoors make it a quintessential example of mid-century architecture in Los Feliz. Straub, often called the father of California post-and-beam architecture, left a legacy that still holds true today. For another mid-century landmark in the series, see the Edward Fickett-designed Jacobson House on Dundee Drive.
Buying or selling a historic home in Los Feliz?
Historic-Cultural Monuments reward representation that understands the architecture, the Mills Act math, and the specific buyer pool. If you are buying a home in Los Feliz or selling a Mills Act or HCM property, it pays to work with a Los Feliz architectural homes specialist. You can start with a no-pressure valuation or get in touch.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Sherwood House built?
The Sherwood House on Amesbury Drive was built in 1953 in the mid-century modern style and is designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #1026.
Who was Calvin Straub?
Calvin Straub was an influential mid-century modern architect and educator known for post-and-beam design. His approach is reflected in the Sherwood House.
Can you visit the Sherwood House?
No. It is a private residence in The Oaks and is not open for public tours.
The Los Feliz Historic-Cultural Monument series
An ongoing series documenting every Historic-Cultural Monument in Los Feliz. You can also explore the full HCM guide or the architectural map.
- Ennis House: Frank Lloyd Wright's Mayan Revival Masterpiece | HCM #149
- Lovell Health House: Richard Neutra's 1929 Masterpiece | HCM #123
- Derby House: Lloyd Wright's Mayan Revival
- Midtown School: John Lautner's Organic Architecture | HCM #553
- The Jacobson House: Edward Fickett, Mid-Century Modern | HCM #674
- Sherwood House: Mid-Century Modern in The Oaks | HCM #1026
- The Shakespeare Bridge: Glendower Place | HCM #111
- Blackburn Residence: Paul R. Williams Spanish Colonial Revival | HCM #913
- Abraham Gore Residence: Spanish Colonial Revival | HCM #1061
- Durex Model Home: Spanish Revival in The Oaks | HCM #1025
- Paul Lauritz House: California's Plein Air Master | HCM #784
- Los Feliz Heights Steps: Hidden Historic Stairway | HCM #657
- Avocado Trees: Los Feliz's Natural Monument | HCM #343
About the author
Debbie Pisaro is a Los Feliz real estate specialist with 24 years of experience and founder of Coastline 840, an independent California real estate brokerage. She specializes in architectural and historic homes across Los Feliz, Silver Lake, and the Eastside, and lives in a 1907 Craftsman in Silver Lake with her Doberman, Lennon.
California DRE #01369110
The Sherwood House is one of the mid-century monuments up in The Oaks. It is one of more than fifty Historic-Cultural Monuments in Los Feliz. For the full overview, see the Los Feliz HCM guide, browse the complete collection of Los Feliz monuments, and if you are weighing designation for your own home, here is how to get a home designated.