A residential property purchase in Toluca Lake was in the cards for Dakota Fanning last month. The actress shelled out $2.95 million for a recently constructed Cape Cod-inspired traditional in the gated community.

With its veneer of engineered rusticity, the home comes off well as a period charmer in line with contemporary expectations for a bright, modern living style in touch with classic East Coast tradition.

The natural-toned oak plank that runs throughout the shared living area has been subtly aged, there’s a fair amount of cottage influence, including tongue-and-groove, wainscoting, a traditional staircase, and a delightfully comfortable kitchen with a large pantry. But the space, scale and optimism are just what the doctor ordered for a young professional, and the bright treatment set off by the natural wood is both soothingly down-to-earth and invigorating.

Especially appealing is the double-height space that serves as the heart of the home, with all first-floor rooms merging naturally with that feeling of liberation. And the master suite—which brings the total accommodations to 5 beds and 6 baths—is suitably warm and spacious, with a vaulted ceiling, a fireplace for atmosphere, and an ethereal bath decked out with figured stone.

The outdoor living area in back is bordered by privacy hedges. A pool, spa, swath of lawn, and outdoor lounging and dining area present ample opportunity for simple pleasures.

Fanning’s recent roles include a turn as Manson family calendar girl Squeaky Fromme in ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’. She’s also on board to star across from Jesse Plemons in Kirsten Dunst’s adaptation of Sylvia Plath’s autobiographical novel ‘The Bell Jar’.