Rolling Hills Masterpiece
At nearly 1,200-ft. elevation on the Palos Verdes peninsula.  Six years in the making, completed in 2009, the exterior walls and serene courtyard are sand-toned mortared flagstone. All interior and exterior stonework is fully structural; none is veneer. The hand-laid flooring in the kitchen, family room, and casita is made of French pavers from rooftops more than 100 years old, set in a classic herringbone pattern with wood beam inlays. Hardwood flooring throughout is hand-scraped solid African walnut. The solid mahogany cabinetry in nearly every room and closet, the wood ceiling beams, the faux Venetian plaster on the arched doorways, walls, and ceilings -- all are hand-stained, hand-distressed and hand-glazed into a comfortably aged patina.
Thus this beautifully detailed home in the ultra-prestigious gated community of Rolling Hills epitomizes an enthralling enigma: how elements so ancient as mortared flagstone, rugged-hewn timber and clay tile can uphold contemporary sensibilities so well. Yet they can and do, with unique warmth and familiarity in their softness of color and line. A completely comfortable entertainers’ lifestyle is facilitated here on multiple levels, from gourmet cooking and winetasting to music, golfing and basketball.
On the main floor, the home’s state-of-the-art designer gourmet kitchen, step-down family room, adjacent sheltered patio with outdoor fireplace, living and dining room and exterior terrace, luxurious master suite and private yoga patio with an outdoor spa, fireplace, and shower, all have incredible vistas of ceaseless sea and cityscape. The main level also includes a powder room and three bedrooms with private baths, including an inviting casita near the home’s main entry. A swimming pool off the kitchen veranda has built-in speakers, a spa, and a swim-in-place system for fun and fitness.
Downstairs is a delightful 750-bottle temperature-controlled wine room with hand-waxed true Venetian plaster walls and plenty of room for beer storage; an adjacent dining or poker room; a curtain-enclosable theater with five screens and a plush art deco-style lounge; a glassed-in fully-equipped weight room; a game room with a pool table, library, and bar/kitchen; a golf simulator screen beneath a padded ceiling surrounded by heavy drapes; a full-sized, noise-buffered music room themed with cymbal light fixtures; a powder room; a laundry room (linked by laundry chute to the Master bedroom above) with a full sink and folding area; and a fifth bedroom or maid’s quarters with its own closet and bath.
Near the house is a lighted area with a putting green and sand traps, a half basketball court, volleyball and paddle tennis courts, and huge grassy expanse for picnicking and play, all with panoramic views and landscaping in perfect pitch with the organic style of the home itself.