SUNSET STEEL

As the Sunset Steel project was nearing completion, the Pacific Palisades Fire struck. An extensive renovation of the 1927 home had been underway when the fire devastated the entire area and burned over 23,000 acres in January of 2025. Only a scarce few homes survived the fires ravages. Sunset Steel was one of these homes. The fire leveled the homes to the right, left, rear, and front of and even burned down the newly built deattached garage. As we now look around at the homes that did survive the fire, the exterior materials of clay roof tiles and hard stucco may be part of the reason the structure is still standing. The original clay roof tiles had been removed during the renovation, salvaged, and then placed back on the roof. The hand troweled stucco, often referred to as ‘cat’s face finish,’ had been replicated to match what was on the home originally. These materials are more fire retardant than asphalt shingles and wood siding.

Preservation and Restoration

Restoring the home’s 1927 Spanish Mission character meant carefully removing all of the original clay roof tiles to be stored away until they were placed back onto the roof when the restoration was nearly complete. The Sunset Steel home sits on a corner lot with views of the Pacific Ocean in Marquez Knolls in Pacific Palisades. After a lengthy and extensive renovation that tore down the homes exterior and interior to the original steel structure, the rebuilding process was nearly complete when fire devastated the entire area in January 2025. The Pacific Palisades Fire sweep through burning over 23,000 acres and thousands of homes. This structure was one of the only few left standing. While there is fire and smoke damage inside the home, the structure largely survived.

The footprint of the home had been completely changed from the original design. The kitchen was small and utilitarian–kitchen’s weren’t the central hub of the home as they are today. We had moved the kitchen not only to have more space, but to showcase the steel truss system that we uncovered during demolition where the original dining room had been. Reclaimed Terra Cotta floors were the perfect compliment to new, custom cabinets and the sleek top-of-the-line appliances. An outdoor dining area directly off the kitchen, along with private plunge pool, sauna, and outdoor shower were to highlight the benefits of living on the coast in California with a connection from the inside out.

Krueger Architects careful restoration will once again balance the luxuries of modern living and the preservation of historic details. This former home to Hollywood legends, Carol O’Conner and the Barrymore family, will endure.