Fronting South County Road, the porte-cochere pierces a one-story garage building — designed to recall the look of a classic carriage house — set at a right angle to the two-story guesthouse.

The house without a garage is a slow seller.” 1937: First patent for an automatic garage-door opener is issued (No. 2,097,950) in November, but the device found little interest.

In addition to the porte cochere option - available only for the Sweetwater design - the buyer can pay for the addition of two more bedrooms by converting a den and loft space. The porte cochere ...

A 1937 Harwell Harris house has the porte cochere at left and entrance to house at right. (Photo by ... More Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Los Angeles Times via Getty Images.

A porte cochere is lined with redwood and leads to heated garage space for seven cars. More from House Envy: This near original $1.1M Grosse Pointe Tudor bursts with colors inside ...