Once a parking spot for Charlie Chaplin’s fire trucks — yes, fire trucks — this Santa Monica, California hideaway is ready for its next act.
Listed for $12.5 million — the home has been completely transformed from silent film-era storage space to tropical-meets-modernist sanctuary, according to Realtor.com.
Tucked behind what are described in the listing as “repurposed 500-year-old monastery gates,” the roughly 0.3-acre estate sits discreetly behind an “innocuous wall,” concealing an 8,000-square-foot residence that blends organic materials with a serene Balinese design sensibility.
The site’s first act dates back nearly a century, when Chaplin reportedly used the original structure as a garage to house his collection of antique fire trucks, according to a press release.
In the decades that followed, the home took on a second life as a creative refuge for abstract expressionist painter Sam Francis.
He converted the property into a studio compound, where he lived and played host to a rotating cast of Los Angeles art world luminaries.
Regular guests included Ed Ruscha, Ed Moses, Larry Bell and Ken Price.
That chapter came to a fiery end in 2007, when a blaze destroyed much of the original residence Francis had crafted.
Four years later, a new home — designed by architect Christopher Sorensen — rose from the ashes, with a focus on natural textures and tranquility.
Sorensen’s design incorporates old-world details — like centuries-old teak flooring — while embracing a modern, spa-like aesthetic meant to evoke a “calming” atmosphere.
The five-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom layout includes a flexible floor plan with the option to add more bedrooms.
The primary suite features an expansive walk-in closet that doubles as a lounging area, as well as a kitchenette.
Bathrooms throughout the home feature hand-carved Indonesian stone tubs and sinks, further contributing to the immersive, organic style.
Outdoors, a lounge and dining pavilion flanks the swimming pool and can be accessed through bulletproof glass doors off the kitchen. The property also includes a three-car garage, a nod — perhaps unintentional — to its earliest fire-truck roots.
Environmentally conscious buyers may appreciate the home’s solar setup, which includes battery packs capable of delivering “several weeks of off-grid power.”
The listing marks the property’s first public appearance in a decade.
Frank Langen and Lili Geller of Compass hold the listing.
Meanwhile, Francis, a prominent California painter, gained international recognition with his works displayed at prestigious institutions like MoMA, the Pompidou Centre and Tokyo’s Idemitsu Museum.
His artistic journey began during recovery from a severe WWII injury, where he found solace and purpose in painting while confined in a full-body cast.