Winter-2022

100 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 2 2 years to complete. Like Tintagel Castle, the structure of the home grows organically out of the rock and lies on the precipice of a sheer cliff. The exterior is built completely of stone, with grand arched windows and a red Mediterranean-style tile roof.The interiors, while stately and voluminous, also offer quiet, intimate spaces, some with whimsical carvings of maritime motifs integrated into the stonework. Nearly every window in the house offers incredible views of the coastline and ever-changing sea and, to the north, unob- structed views of majestic Point Lobos. The property encompasses 2.51 acres of rugged land with multiple structures. The 3,793 square foot main residence has three bedrooms and four bathrooms. A caretaker’s cottage was built in 1940 and features one bedroom and one bathroom. During a press event for his movie “BulletTrain” in August, Pitt told “Extra TV” that he purchased Seaward after many years of staying on site. “[Carmel] is a place that I’ve been in love with since the ’90s,” Pitt said.“There was a lovely owner who was really kind and let me stay [in Seaward] over the years.The opportunity came up [to purchase it], so I couldn’t pass it up. It’s in my heart, that place.” Coincidentally, D.L. James, the home’s original owner, was quite closely related to the outlaw Jesse James (his first cousin, once removed), the character Pitt played in the 2007 Western “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.” In addition to his highly profitable business ventures, D.L. James was a passionate amateur playwright and thespian and, during his time in Carmel, appeared in early Forest Theater pro- ductions. After he and his wife died, Seaward went to their son Daniel James. Daniel was an award-winning author, who wrote both plays and novels. He made Seaward his permanent home in the early 1960s and lived there until his death in 1988. D.L. James knew Charlie Chaplin and, at Seaward, son Daniel had a fortuitous meeting In the book “Greene & Greene: Architecture as Fine Art,” the D.L. James house is described by author Randell Makinson as “the most creative and ambitious work of Charles Greene’s late career…and as a monument unique in this country.”