Petitfils-Boos House
Why it's listed
Built in 1922 at the corner of Sixth Street and Plymouth Boulevard in Los Angeles, this two-story, L-shaped house of about 9,000 square feet is a notable example of Italian Renaissance Revival design. Its hollow clay tile structure is clad in glazed terra cotta in cream, beige and gold, topped by a red clay tile hipped roof, with quoins at the corners and a richly detailed recessed entrance. Architect Charles F. Plummer designed it for Walter Petitfils, who sold it in 1927 to Henry and Cassie Boos, friends and business associates. Inside, the original floor plan and decorative art remain, including a walnut spiral stair, stained glass, mosaic floor tile, and painted and gilded ceilings and murals tied to muralist Anthony Heinsbergen. The house was recognized for its architecture, its unusual terra cotta exterior in a city of stucco, and its rare documented residential work by Heinsbergen. A two-story garage with servants quarters at the rear has been significantly altered and does not contribute.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an outstanding Los Angeles example of Italian Renaissance Revival architecture, notable for its glazed terra cotta exterior and high-quality craftsmanship. It is also significant for murals and decorative ceilings attributed to Dutch-born muralist Anthony Heinsbergen, one of his few documented residential commissions.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 05000049, listed February 15, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 545 Plymouth Blvd., Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | February 15, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000049 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1922 |
| Architect / builder | Plummer, Charles F., architect |
| Architectural style | Late 19th & 20th Century Revivals: Italian Renaissance Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Art |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a single-family residence; the exterior is largely unaltered and the original floor plan and decorative art survive. The rear garage building is significantly altered and non-contributing. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.06432, -118.32292 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 05000049.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7178422
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.