Actor Christopher Lloyd listed his laid-back beach cottage above Ventura this month, asking $2.995 million at first, then dropping the price to $2.95 million. The spot is a gem, sporting frontage on Mondos Beach and easy access to Carpinteria as well as Ventura.

The house is a marvelous example of an old-fashioned California coastal getaway spot. It dates to 1928, and packs a lot of relaxation into its 1,000 square feet.

A cottage in living style as well as size, the two-and-two home is essentially a single-floor affair, although there is an attic guest room. The galley kitchen and bathrooms have been revised recently—the former with an urbane rustic feel—and floors feature the matte finishing desired by many contemporary buyers. The living room features a gas fireplace with a dramatically raised hearth step and terra-cotta tile as a centerpiece.

The outside deck is quite large in relation to the home and its little lot. This is the heart of the cottage, expansive enough to provide space for small gatherings of family and friends without losing the sense of intimacy, and boasting the beach as a backdrop.

Lloyd won a pair of Emmy Awards for his role as ‘Magic Bus’ frequent flier Jim in the hit 70s show Taxi. More recently, he joined Bob Odenkirk in the feature film Nobody; the thriller will be in theaters this summer.