Uniquely LA
Villa Romano is a 95-year-old historic estate located in the Granada Hills North neighborhood of Los Angeles, CA. This remarkable property was built by Countess Isabel Craven-Dilworth, a glass heiress and silent film star known by her stage name, Nina Romano, alongside her second husband, Count Sophus Danneskiold-Samsoe. After Nina's passing, socialite Patricia Vanderbilt, the fifth wife of Cornelius Vanderbilt IV, and her daughter Nanette also made their home here.
Originally, this Los Angeles estate functioned as a working farm spanning over 60 acres, where show horses were bred and Meyer lemons were sold commercially. Nina's actor friends would often visit to learn horseback riding for their film roles, with actress Blossom Rock, famously known as "Grandmama" from the original Addams Family series, frequently staying as a houseguest in a reserved first-floor bedroom.
In the 1970s, Villa Romano transitioned into a showplace for The Classic Car Club of Southern California, hosting numerous private and public events. There are even rumors of a professional porn movie being filmed on the property, although no one still living admits to seeing it.
Over the years, Nina and her family sold portions of the land, and today, the house stands on the last remaining two acres. With sweeping views of the San Fernando Valley, mature fruit and oak trees, and meandering walking paths throughout, the estate is a park-like private sanctuary on the edge of a bustling metropolis.
The current owners take great pride in being the latest stewards of this special historic estate and are actively working to restore the home and its accessory buildings to their former glory.