Loose the awnings, move the fountain to the other side of the sidewalk and post another photo when the round wall is gone

I love the round wall - it's vintage looking. I disagree with making it look like something else. I would play up the look and go with a more Hollywood regency look. Think Beverly Hills Hotel late 60's

Agree with Sparklesome. Invest in central air instead- the ACs are doing more to distract than the wall.

I like the round wall, too, and it appears to shelter a patio? But does it block the view from the upstairs window on the right? If so, maybe the wall could just be lowered a few feet to make it a little less overwhelming and provide a better view? Agree that the room air conditioners are undesirable if this is an upscale area. Just a thought.

if I were young that would be a great place to live. Looks like "Melrose Place"

What's behind the round wall? Was it added after the building was constructed?

Please don't knock down the round wall. You will totally destroy the character of this beautiful building. You just need to redo the landscape.

Absolutely keep the round wall, the awnings and the vintage looking writing! That is what makes this building unique and attractive looking! Spend your funds on central air to get rid of the window A/C's and refresh the landscaping. The small gardens look a little tired and scaggly and the birdbath does need to be moved to the rightside lawn.

Thanks for your comments so far. The HVAC will be upgraded in April, and the window units are coming down. I see everyone likes the wall, which all the locals dislike. It looks shiny in this picture; in real life it looks flat and weird among the 19th century Victorians in the neighborhood.

Is there anything behind the wall?

No it's hollow space.

I'm with the locals on this one. The round wall has no clear architectural relationship with the contemporary Mediterranean style of the apartments. My guess is that it's an add-on that someone built to "modernize" the building. The comments on redoing the landscaping are spot-on.

But your building will never look like the 19th century houses in your neighbourhood, even without the round wall. And it would look bereft without it. I hope there is a little patio furniture and some big potted plants tucked behind it. :-)

Ok, maybe we need a little more context? How did this retro house land in a row of authentic Victorians? Is this from the only oddball? Only rental around? I think lots of us assumed it was a beachy house somewhere south.

Do you know the history of the property? Any photos available from the past? If the brick wall isn't really historic to the property, I would consider removing it if you make this front garden stellar. You could mount the letters on the building itself.

If you are not an experienced gardener, it would be worth hiring a first class landscape professional to do a plan for you. Maybe the full front should be garden and stone similar to the photos below. No grass. You could bring the fountain out into the front with a formal low Boxwood hedge surround. Tall cypress up against the building. Oversized clay or glazed pots. Love the metal arbor in the 4th photo.

Some options; metal fretwork over select front windows. Window baskets. Properly sized appropriate style shutters with authentic hardware (the holdbacks and brackets) on the two forward sections of the building.

Bette P, wow great photos thanks. I'm not an experienced gardener, but I have some good ideas for interesting drought tolerants. The context is that the home is in a very popular tour destination in California. Can't say more bc we're still in escrow. It was rebuilt in 1992; since all the homes nearby are Victorians, I'm guessing there was originally a Victorian here. However, the home doesn't seem to be an oddball because it's in the heart of downtown, so there's lots of different types of buildings around. Because of age of property, wall is not old enough to be historic.

The Internet makes secrets impossible.

Groveraxle. Yes I know. It just makes those who must sleuth take an extra step. Most who sleuth do not expose. If top secrecy was my plan I would have covered up the name. Do you have any valuable feedback, now that you have all information?

ccarva, I love the building. I even love the awnings. I especially love the round wall. Remove that and you'll have just another nondescript 90s building.

I think the landscaping needs a little help, is all. It looks a bit unkempt. Clean that up and you're good to go.

And I'm sure vacation renters appreciate the distinctive elements.

I'd have a professional paint the round wall to look like a wine barrel.

you may concider to add some of our Ciprus Flexible Stone:

Do you have photos that are further away, showing some of the neighborhood? Perhaps that might help. Although I love the wall, and am not alone, it sounds very much like you don't and other locals don't. We have only seen the close up, maybe some other vantage points would help.

I think the windows are a problem, but that is an expensive fix.


Could you paint them a very dark bronze? Getting rid of the a/c units will help tremendously. Marketing photos should be taken with all the windows closed.

I agree that additional photos from different angles and distances would be helpful.

I think right now the building sort of looks like it is meant to be a little Mediterranean, but it also looks kind of generic 80's 90's contemporary, almost commercial looking. Yeah, need more photos and a little bit of a sense of budget. Since this is an investment property, your options are all about cost vs. benefit, not personal preferences.

Front lawn is wasted. Suggest a large multi-level arbor, with seating. Larger awnings would unify it some, but those windows have to go.below. .. LLarg