Max Nobel, founder of the Los Angeles-based design studio NOBÉL, is renowned for his creative and innovative approach to designing extravagant spaces for discerning clients. A house perched just above L.A.’s Sunset Strip, known as St. Ives after the street it’s located on, is no exception. Originally designed as Nobel’s bachelor pad, he is now selling this spectacular Hollywood Hills home for around $45 million, having started a family and seeking a new project and a more family-friendly residence.
The sprawling home sits at the end of a private cul-de-sac behind tall gates. Inside, visitors are greeted with far-reaching views across Los Angeles toward the Pacific Ocean. This sleek home was meticulously crafted using the highest-quality European materials and advanced technologies. Almost every piece of the home, including the distinctive brass fireplace mantel in the living room, was sourced and fabricated in Europe before being shipped to the U.S. and assembled on-site.
“We produce it in Europe and ship it in containers, bring it here, and then install it like a puzzle,” Nobel, who has designed homes for countless celebrities and A-listers throughout L.A., tells Robb Report. “Everything is numbered. We put it together—wall panels, brass elements, the floors, showers—everything pre-made in Europe and brought here.”
NOBÉL sets itself apart through its use of advanced technology, creating customized renderings that capture everything from interior dimensions to the tiniest construction details. The firm is also known for its near-exact implementation of its renderings and design vision. Nobel is passionate about incorporating artwork into his homes and often designs spaces specifically to showcase art.
The five-bedroom, ten-bathroom home is a true indoor-outdoor sanctuary, entered through a massive 12-foot-tall pivot door into a jewel-box-like entry foyer with a massive bar, walk-in wine cellar, and cozy seating area. The entryway leads to the double-height great room, where sliding glass doors open the entire length of the house to a flat lawn area and infinity pool.
The home’s main level features a reclaimed wood ceiling, adding rusticity and softness to the industrial-inspired design, which includes various types of stone, concrete, glass, and brass. The great room boasts a floor-to-ceiling fireplace with a custom brass mantle (shipped from Europe in eight pieces), while the kitchen centers around a massive travertine island with a floating table and a leather-wrapped Flos light fixture overhead.
For more serious meal prep sessions, there’s a chef’s kitchen hidden behind a door. Off the main living space is a formal dining area, a tucked-away office, and a full bathroom. Outside, there’s a grill area, covered seating, and four custom heated lounge chairs built into the shallow side of the pool, lined with the same stone as the patio.
Nobel included nearly every amenity imaginable, including an electric-powered glass elevator that serves each floor from the lower level to the third floor, a 10-car auto gallery, a gym overlooking the skyline, a red marble steam shower, a salon, a dedicated poker room, and an epic movie theater with a giant sunken couch.
The 2,500-square-foot primary suite is the crown jewel of St. Ives. The retreat features a morning/evening bar, an expansive terrace, and a secure panic room. The bathroom, larger than most apartments, includes two bespoke travertine and brass sinks, two toilets, a stone soaking tub, and three showers. There’s also a walk-in closet and dressing room with leather-lined shelves, a handbag and shoe closet, and a secret high-security room for jewelry and watches accessible only by designated fingerprints. The suite opens to a private garden with a hanging swing and an alfresco yoga area.
“The primary suite is one of the home’s main elements,” Nobel says. “Wealthy individuals buying in Hollywood Hills are used to high-end hotels with large rooms, and they know what they are looking for. The amenities, like the car gallery, really match the typical buyer of this type of home.”
The property is nestled in the coveted Bird Streets area, known for its expansive views and high-profile residents, including Leonardo DiCaprio and Keanu Reeves. It is just a short drive from some of L.A.’s most notable dining, shopping, and entertainment.
