It’s as if some gigantic mutant spoiled child stormed through a quiet Belmont Heights neighborhood one day and dropped his colorful toy square on top of a small white house on his way out of town.
Off the beaten path in an upscale section of Long Beach about halfway between Recreation Park and the ocean area sits what must surely strike some who drive by as a giant pile of multicolored Legos. A large, bright patch of yellow wall sticks into a loud red oblong-shaped structure studded with rectangular windows and portholes stood on end. And right next to that is a powder blue wall with a pair of dark blue metal awnings on top of one another. To get a more complete picture, imagine the psychedelic thing propped on a nice, small, white normal looking bungalow.
And that’s a brief description, one that doesn’t include all the colors or geometric shapes, of a landmark home for sale in Belmont Heights.
The home is known by a few names by locals, including its alias, “The Painted Lady,” according to Kym Elder, the listing agent on the 341 Granada Avenue property. Elder likes to refer to the architectural style as “collision design.”
As funny, and pitch-like as “collision design” may sound, the home is listed at an asking price that may be considered modest for homes in that area ($675,000), and it seems to be a great place for someone who likes lots of colors, and who likes to entertain guests.
The three-level home features 1,650 square feet of living space, including two bedrooms, plus an “optional third bedroom,” three bathrooms, a rooftop deck and a two-car garage. Because of its design, the home features lagoon views from just about every one of its dozen or so windows.
The first part of the home, the normal, white bungalow prevalent in many parts of Long Beach, was constructed in the early 1920s with later sections added on throughout the years before height ordinances came into being. Each of the three floors of the home is dramatically different from each other, and as you ascend the home’s spiral staircase you are treated to differing looks and usages. The first floor features a dining area with a lagoon view, a European style kitchen, a tiled floor and a downstairs bedroom. On the second level one can find a huge living room, French doors that lead out onto a balcony and Pergo flooring. The third floor has a large master suite, vaulted ceilings, a master bathroom and a viewing area.
And best of all, if you do plan to entertain lots of guests, people will never have trouble finding which house on the block is yours.