Whitley Heights 101

2059 Watsonia Terrace

2059 Watsonia Terrace, is another home which was designed by art director and architect Harry McAfee in 1924. McAfee lived in San Francisco when he met architect Lucy Page-Brown in 1915. The couple moved to Southern California and both worked in set design for the movie industry. On June 18, 1923, a horrific crash between a Santa Monica inter-urban train and a large touring car occurred near Beverly Hills. Mrs. Lucy McAfee, age 33, of 1818 East Highland Avenue, was driving the car and died instantly. The train overturned and caught on fire killing and injuring dozens of people. Swasey and McAfee. She worked at MGM as a studio decorator. She was driving towards Culver City on Doheny Road in her Cadillac. She saw the train coming at a high rate of speed, got excited and then instead of braking, hit the accelerator with her foot. Below, is what was left of McAfee’s vehicle after accident. Heartbroken, Harry McAfee dived into his work and was able to design this magnificent home.

McAfee designed this home mirroring homes in Andalusia, Spain. On the exterior, a high white plaster wall with scarlet runner vines over the wall, enclosed the patio where a tiled floor and colored potted plants added color. The roof was built in an irregular style because of the 15 different floor levels inside the house. The ground floor contains a combined living room and dining room separated by stairs, kitchen, and breakfast room. The upper floor contains the bedrooms that reach to the garage. Any open space was replaced with a terrace or garden.

When the house was originally designed, the breakfast nook the woodwork was colored in robin’s egg blue and a vivid pink with creme walls. The furniture was red lacquer of a Dutch design and tiled flooring. One end of the living room is raised three steps and forms a dining space which can be screened off during meals. It is furnished with a refectory table and Italian chairs. The walls are glazed to a parchment tone and texture. Enlivening color is given by rich hangings. The fireplace end of the living room has balanced bookshelves built into the wall. A tiled hearth is raised above the level of the floor and the mantel shelf is made of roofing tiles cut into traditional lines of support. The floor has been laid with planks of different widths.

An article was written about the home in House and Garden magazine when Charles Johnstone and his wife moved into the home in 1925. In 1921, Charles Johnstone married interior designer Bonnie “Lyle” Babcock in Pasadena and they lived in San Francisco before moving to Hollywood Hills. Lyle was a well-known designer and worked as an art director for silent screen actress Clara Kimball Young in 1921. Charles worked for an importing company. In 1929, the Johnstone’s added two bedrooms and two bathrooms to the home.

The Johnstone’s remained at 2059 Watsonia Terrace until the 1940s. In 1931, they gave birth to twin sons while residing here. The 1960s brought Robert and Lena Holman to Whitley Heights. Lena, a journalist and motion picture producer, ran for senate in 1966. Below is the original floor plan of the home.

The black and white images were featured in the Better Homes and Gardens article in 1925. Currently, the 3,922 square foot house contains 4 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms and was renovated in 1939.