Built in 1930 by C. Roy Browning, first civil engineer for the Irvine Company, this English Tudor home is a notable feature in the old town area of Tustin, California. Browning is famous for building seven dams, many connecting and diversionary channels, and two reservoirs, all still in use today. His work made regular irrigation and home building possible in Irvine and parts of the City of Tustin.
In the course of his work, Browning developed and patented his own gunite processes and used this to create his own home. The English Tudor Revival home is made of entirely gunite, plus hand sawn beams and wood. The three-gabled roof was originally of wooden shingles, but this was changed to composite shingles in 1993 in order to protect the house from fire.
The interior contains great amounts of irreplaceable wood, mahogany, pecan, quarter sawn white oak, original art deco hardware and lighting. The home features steel casement leaded and stained glass windows, cast plaster crown moulding, and the original wall sconces and brass door hardware cut in the art deco style.
The formal dining room has a coved and coffered ceiling, its original brass and mica chandelier, and a dramatic Tudor-arched leaded and stained glass picture window, and incredible mahogany pocket doors.
The updated kitchen with adjacent butler’s pantry provides modern convenience and a basement off the kitchen provides additional storage. Other features include a hand-painted mural in the breakfast room, a kiva fireplace in the den, quartersawn oak flooring throughout, and period bathroom tile-work and fixtures.
The half acre lot has numerous specimen trees and includes a gated driveway and three-car garage with a charging station.
The Browning House is one of a select group of Orange County’s flagship historic mansions, receiving coveted Mill’s Act historic property tax savings as well as historic preservation awards from the Tustin Preservation Conservancy.
This home is listed for listed for $1.595 million with First Team Estates and is showcased by Luxury Portfolio.
