There are three separate and distinct areas that comprise Carthay and all three are home to some of the most architecturally unique homes built in Los Angeles in the 1920s and 1930s.

Carthay Circle located south of Wilshire Boulevard, north of Olympic, east of La Cienega and west of Fairfax, most closely borders Beverly Hills with its lovely La Cienega Park nearby. Innovative when it was developed in the 1920s and 1930s, it was designed with all the utilities underground, which makes it especially attractive. All homes had to be designed individually by an architect. That was the rule so no two are alike. Styles varied from Spanish to English to Colonial to Mediterranean to Cape Cod. Famed Paul Williams and Robert Byrd designed here and many a famous actor and actress chose to live in Carthay Circle. Another unique aspect of the area was the combining on certain streets of single-family homes with one-story duplexes that had to be designed to look like single-family homes. These can be found on Hayes Drive, Schumacher Drive and Commodore Sloat. Homes in Carthay Circle are largely one story with original two story homes built primarily on Warner Drive and Barrows Drive. While the two story homes were often much larger, the homes generally range from 1700 to 2300 square feet with the majority being about 2000 square feet. Lots are large, often at 50x150, 50x140 or 50x130. Carthay Circle was designated a Historical Preservation Overlay Zone in 1998.

South Carthay is located south of Olympic Boulevard and north of Pico between La Cienega and the west side of Crescent Heights. It is known for the spectacular one story Spanish homes, many built by Spiros Ponti, a Greek immigrant who had first been in the movie business and then during the depression turned to home building, and others built by the famous Steinkamp with his distinctive mark on the chimneys of the homes he built. The homes they both built featured incredible detail rarely matched in such abundance in any other area, windows with stained glass insets, quarter-sawn hardwood floors with intricately patterned borders, entrance and center halls with skylights often of stained glass, ornate moldings, and exquisite tile in the bathrooms. Largely one-story homes, they often include a small den in addition to 3 bedrooms and 1.75 baths. In addition, a number of two story homes are found on the east-west streets of the area. South Carthay also has a number of beautiful duplexes especially in the 1000 block of Alfred and a number of distinguished larger unit buildings in the 1200 blocks. South Carthay has been a Historical Preservation Overlay Zone since the early 1980s.

Carthay Square is located south of Olympic Boulevard, north of Pico, between Fairfax and the east side of Crescent Heights. Homes built in the 1920s and 1930s vary in design with a number of lovely Spanish homes with beautiful tile roofs here, but also a number of excellent examples of the Country English style with leaded glass windows, charming Tudor detailing and wonderfully high pitched roofs. One-story single-family homes on good sized lots are mixed with two story homes and often owner occupied two story duplexes. The 1000 blocks contain more single homes with the 1100 block containing both single family homes and duplexes and the 1200 block almost exclusively multi unit properties. The area is particularly known for its vibrancy... many young singles and couples have purchased homes and duplexes here in the last few years and now live side by side with the older residents who have lived in the neighborhood for years. It has an active homeowners association with over 400 members out of 525 homes. It is a diverse neighborhood, but an extremely friendly one. Residents are often out in the early evening walking their dogs or chatting with their neighbors.