A gracious Southern belle

WELCOME to Tara. No, make that Kolonialvu, the Glendale estate designed and built by Paul M. Baer in 1932 that practically begs visitors to sip mint juleps in a decidedly Southern -- and Southern California -- setting.

The secluded, gated property was first purchased by Henry E. Kendall, a businessman who once partnered with J.C. Penney to establish one of the chain’s stores. The property’s landscaping won the 1933 sweepstakes prize in Glendale’s yard-and-garden contest, according to The Times’ archives.

Most homes in the area were built for $5,000, says Pasadena-based building historian Tim Gregory, but this Depression-era, spare-no-expense Southern Colonial Revival cost $36,000. That stems, in part, from the custom fireplace mantles, intricate woodwork and marble. Not to mention the library’s walnut shelving, the exterior columns and true-to-the-period fountain.

About this home: Kolonialvu is positioned so that the occupants can enjoy a view of the nearby Verdugo Mountains and downtown Glendale from almost everywhere in the house, but most clearly from the upstairs balconies. The outdoor barbecue area is covered by a canopy of mature trees, and there are two covered patios for entertaining. Inside, rooms include a step-down living room, a solarium and a media room.

There is even a basement. The current owner discovered built-in shelves there that were made to hold film reels in a storage area next to the 1,000-square-foot theater. A screen is tucked into the ceiling, hidden from view.

Asking price: $3.295 million

Size: The house has six bedrooms and five bathrooms in 7,388 square feet. There are one-bedroom, one-bathroom guest quarters atop the garage. The property is 37,000 square feet.

Features: The house has a large master bedroom suite; professional appliances in the remodeled kitchen, which also features a tile mural above the stove backsplash; a breakfast room; remodeled bathrooms; a formal dining room; a double-wing staircase; stained-glass skylight; crown and dentil molding; wainscoting; terra-cotta pavers; several rooftop terraces; a balcony; a swimming pool, and a four-car garage.

Where: Glendale

Listing agent: The Fairbanks Group, Coldwell Banker Previews, (626) 398-9000.

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To submit a candidate for Home of the Week, send high-resolution color photos with caption and credit information on a CD and a detailed description of the house to Diane Wedner, Real Estate Section, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A., CA 90012. Questions may be sent to [email protected].