Lost Masterworks

Williams’s lavish estate for automobile magnate E. L. Cord garnered widespread acclaim. In multiple publications, the architect detailed how he earned the $250,000 commission by providing sketches to his demanding prospective client in only twenty-four hours. The mansion, dubbed Cordhaven, employed a mix of fashionable historicist finishes throughout its extravagant, Barker Brothers–decorated interiors, with a grand Southern Colonial–style colonnade at the entrance. Though widely published and celebrated at the time, the home and its numerous outbuildings were demolished in 1963 to make way for a dozen new upscale homes.

This opulent residential design for Henry and Grace Salvatori demonstrates how Williams’s relaxed interpretation of classical design evolved into the 1960s. Bespoke details in the formal entry hall—high-contrast terrazzo floors, hand-carved wood, and custom crystal chandelier—transitioned to less formal spaces and outdoor rooms as a comfortable backdrop for daily living and entertaining. The oval swimming pool was complemented by a cabana featuring delicate ironwork framing glass doors that slid fully open to reveal a sheltered lounge. The estate was completely demolished in the early 2000s to make way for a new residence on the four-acre parcel.

Frank Sinatra initially kept plans discreet for his ranch-style house in Trousdale Estates, using the name of his manager, Henry Sanicola, on early drawings. After its completion in 1956, Sinatra invited the entire nation inside for a personal tour on Edward R. Murrow’s television program, Person to Person. He graciously shared his hilltop bachelor pad, discussing entertaining on the patio against the spectacular backdrop of Beverly Hills. The interior design by Williams’s daughter, Norma Williams Harvey, complemented the subtle Japanese influence, visible in the built-in wood screens and integrated artwork. The house survived until 2014, when demolition made way for a larger estate.

The Hollywood Hills home of Dave and Maude Chasen evoked the grandeur of Williams’s prewar mansions using a modern idiom. The central axis remained core to his approach, in this case leading from the entry hall past the pool and swim pavilion, where one could experience panoramic views of the “Pacific Ocean by day and a million lights at night.” Interior rooms branched out from the entry hall in a sprawling plan that offered ranch house informality without sacrificing luxury. Williams created a similarly welcoming atmosphere for their restaurant Chasen’s, a famous Hollywood destination made for unpretentious dining.

In 1951, Fred and Florence Roberts commissioned Williams to design their dream home in Malibu’s Solstice Canyon. The architect responded to the tranquil site, designing a modern ranch in pinewood and Santa Maria stone. The floor-to-ceiling windows framed rock formations, a natural waterfall, and tropical plantings. Steps descended from the main house to a duck pond, swimming pool, and bathhouse. For thirty years, the house survived the constant threat of wildfires. Following Fred Roberts’s death in 1976, flames finally destroyed the property. The ruins remain a popular destination for hikers along the Solstice Canyon trail.