Always Shining

Commanding a distinguished presence on historic Sunset Avenue, Semper Fulgens is a masterwork of early twentieth-century residential architecture, elegantly designed by architect F. Manson Gilbert in a fusion of English Tudor and Italianate styles. Commissioned in 1912 by real estate developer and hotelier William Sonntag, the home retains old world craftsmanship in its enduring clay tile roof, carved stone balustrades, and leaded glass emblazoned with the Sonntag crest Semper Fulgens. Today the 6-bedroom, 5-bathroom house remains a gracious space for entertaining and living, with manicured grounds and gardens on a .38-acre lot.

The walnut-paneled den includes original features by local furniture maker Karges that were relocated and preserved from the home’s original dining room, as well as Brunschwig & Fils wallcoverings. The first floor also includes primary and guest suites, formal living and dining rooms with intricate moldings and period fixtures, and a renovated kitchen that blends modern culinary function with historic design.

The upper level, reimagined by the Karges family, was designed to function as a stately double. The great room mirrors its counterpart below, opening to a sunroom. A secondary kitchen underscores the space’s possibilities for intergenerational living or as a guest or entertaining level.

The property also offers a restored carriage house that could become a guest retreat, artist’s atelier, performance space, or private office. In every respect, Semper Fulgens remains true to its name—Always Shining—offering its next custodian not merely a place to reside, but a work of art to inhabit. See more information and photos.