MAIN FLOOR
Entry: 19’ x 18’
Through massive 17th Century carved walnut panel doors imported from a Spanish castle lies the two-story Entry with coffered wood ceiling and hand-made terra cotta tiled flooring. Within a panel of the door is the original invoice that identifies the vessel that transported it to the U.S. The oak stairs are carpeted and the wrought-iron balustrade has a wooden handrail, which continues along the upper hall between two carved wooden pillars of spiral design. A 17th Century Spanish hexagonal ceiling lantern and a pair of wrought-iron walls sconces flanking the doors light this space. The windows over the front door and on the side wall are of hand-blown glass. A powder room, cedar closet and upholstered cloak closet are all within the Entry area. A 17th Century Florentine wrought-iron tabernacle lamp hangs from the groined ceiling along the hallway at the rear of the Entry that leads to the back patio, formal Dining Room and the step-down to the Living Room.
Living Room: 34’4" x 21’
Parlor doors of glass and filigreed wrought-iron open onto the Living Room that features a gas starter fireplace with green marble hearth and stone mantel/surround made in 1580 and imported from the Bellini Palace. Windows on either side of the fireplace offer views of the front gardens and the mountains. The expansive rear lawn and the ocean are viewed from the arched window with exterior designed-tile sill and the double French doors to the rear patio that are along the opposing wall. A 10’6” high coffered ceiling of honeycomb pattern was painted in antique watercolor by Pedretti. The floors are of pegged, random-plank oak. Twelve-panel, hand-carved mahogany doors lead to the Library and side hall. The wall sconces are of a Mediterranean style.
Library: 18’ x 14’
The pegged, random-plank oak flooring continues into the Library that has a beamed ceiling, built-in bookcases over cabinets and side windows with louver shutters over floor cabinets. This room has a gas starter fireplace with tile hearth and wood mantel. A storage closet provides additional storage. The rose garden can be entered through double doors that overlook the mountains. There are Mediterranean wall sconces and a 50” diagonal Sansum plasma screen and tuner.
Guest Bedroom: 29’ x 13’
Just off the Living Room is this Guest Bedroom that has views of the front and side gardens; a wrought-iron ceiling lamp of rosette design; a large, glass shower bath with period fixtures and a walk-in cedar closet.
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Billiard Room: 20’ x 15’
An oak floored side hall off the Living Room, leading to the Billiard Room, has a mirrored wall with built-in shelf; oval, carriage light wall sconces; a built-in arch-top display cabinet and French doors to the rear terrace. The Billiard Room, with vaulted and beamed ceiling, is entered through a diamond patterned mahogany door. There is a side window; a rear window overlooking the lawn, ocean and city; and French doors that access the rear patio. Oak flooring is found throughout this small suite that includes a hall with mirrored wall, walk-in closet with shelving, and a storage room with a large built-in bureau that has a window to the side gardens and a door leading to the rear lawn, cabana and pool/Jacuzzi. A tiled shower bath, with separate loo, has a mirrored wall above the tiled vanity.
Dining Room: 24' x 19'
Down the hallway behind the Entry is the formal Dining Room that features a fireplace with marble hearth and an 18th Century carved Carrara marble surround and mantel. The coffered ceiling and hardwood flooring design is carried into this room, as are the French doors along the side and back that offer ocean views and open to the rear terrace and lawn, respectively. The chandelier and wall sconces are brass.
Butler's Pantry: 15’ x 10’
Adjoining the Dining Room and Kitchen is the Butler’s Pantry, which is equipped with a KitchenAid dishwasher; a large sink with tile counter; extensive wooden cabinets with glass display fronts; and indirect, countertop and wall sconce lighting. A window over the sink looks out onto the rear motorcourt.
Kitchen: 16’ x 16’
The wooden flooring and designer tiling of the Butler’s Pantry matches that of the Kitchen. A large center island with a maple, butcher-block top has a deep salad sink, cabinets and built-in shelving. Three windows above a double sink overlook the rear motorcourt. Design features include a beamed ceiling, stained cabinets, and a back wall of designer tile. A large pantry increases the already ample cabinet storage area. Appliances include a Wolf four-burner/griddle range and oven, side-by-side Sub-Zero freezer/refrigerator with wood panel finish and a KitchenAid dishwasher. Upon exiting the Kitchen, there is a hallway that access offices, a bedroom wing, the rear motorcourt, garages and the basement.
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Lady's Office: 12’ x 11’
This cozy space offers mountain views from the front pocket window and front garden views from the side window, set in a detailed tile window box. The coffered ceiling is hand-painted. Built-in bookcases and shelving, with interior lighting, provide storage and/or display space. Wrought-iron sconces and a cobblestone tile floor enhance the charm of this room. Additional glass-front display cabinets over floor cabinets with counter are built into the wall in the hallway outside this Office. A 14th Century Portuguese ceiling tile is inset in the hallway between this Office and the Entry.
Office: 166’ x 10’
A larger office with hardwood flooring, overhead lighting and extensive built-in countertops and storage spaces consisting of drawers, cabinets and shelves has a window to mountain views and a door to the balcony along the front of the home.
First Bedroom: 12’ x 12’
A window on the back of the home has views of the rear motorcourt, rear lawn and ocean. The flooring is hardwood and there is a walk-in closet. The bedroom wing also has a large walk-in linen closet with extensive shelving.
Second Bedroom: 12’ x 12’
This bedroom has features identical to the First Bedroom, with the addition of a side window overlooking the rear motorcourt.
Gym: 17’ x 11’
This carpeted room has two mirrored walls, overhead lighting, a walk-in closet, a side window and windows on the front of the home that offer mountain views. A carpeted full bath with mountain views, white French tile and period fixtures serves all rooms off the hallway.
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SECOND FLOOR
Landing: 19’ x 9’
The pegged, random plank oak flooring continues on the upper story, as do the coffered ceilings. The sconces are 17th Century Spanish processional lanterns. Windows overlook the rear terrace, lawn and ocean.
Master Suite
Bedroom: 21’ x 19’:
French doors open onto a 35’ balcony that runs along the front of the home and has mountain views. Windows with louver shutters overlook the side gardens and the lawn and ocean to the rear of the property. The fireplace has a cobblestone tile hearth. Additional design features include hand-painted coffered ceilings and a built-in nook with display shelving and a counter. There is a built-in closet and bureau for storage. An in-room tiled bath has a seven-head shower and separate loo. A window with mountain views is inset in the mirrored wall above the marble vanity counter.
Second Bedroom Suite
Bedroom: 26’ x 14’:
Windows on the back, front and side walls take advantage of mountain views. A sitting area with halogen display lighting has built-in cabinets, bookcases and display shelving. The ceiling design includes a rosette chandelier and plaster molding. The carpeted dressing area has a mirrored wall, mirrored closet doors, a walk-in cedar closet and a window to the rear lawn. An in-room full bath is tiled with a mirrored wall and window to the mountains.
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BASEMENT
Staff Bedroom: 13’ x 11’
Wood stairs and a wooden handrail lead to the tile floored basement. The Staff Bedroom has grated windows that look out to the rear motorcourt. It has a full-bath with French tiling and a walk-in closet
Laundry: 18’ x 17’
The tiled Laundry has clerestory windows, a separate storage room and lav, two large utility sinks and a Whirlpool Heavy Duty electric washer and dryer.
Garage:
The large three-bay Garage also has a door and windows to the motorcourt. The floor is sealed and painted. Built-in cabinets beneath a workbench counter provide ample storage space. There are two wine storage vaults at the rear of the room.
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GUEST HOUSE
Kitchen/Breakfast Solarium:
Equipped with a General Electric range/oven/microwave, Frigidaire freezer/refrigerator and double sink set in Corian countertop, the Kitchen has a large pantry and a corner with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that open onto the perimeter balcony and panoramic views of the city and ocean. The ceiling is beamed and the flooring is a light blonde parquet.
Living Room: 23’ x 15’
This large, bright space has a vaulted and beamed ceiling with track lighting, redwood paneled walls, a used-brick fireplace and sliding doors to a brick patio with city and ocean views.
Bedroom: 15’ x 12’
Windows and a door open to the balcony patio that shares the ocean and city views of the Living Room. The floors are parquet and the wood ceiling is vaulted. The carpeted shower bath has Corian countertops.
Second Bedroom: 12’ x 12’
Like the First Bedroom, this Bedroom has parquet flooring and a vaulted ceiling. It also has redwood paneled walls with sliding windows on two sides.
Laundry:
The Laundry has a gas hookup, but the stacked Frigidaire washer/dryer is electric. There is a door to the balcony. A gardener’s lav is located at the rear corner, beneath the guesthouse.
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CABANA
Built into the hillside by the pool/Jacuzzi is a charming cut-stone Cabana that is fully equipped with a General Electric four-burner range/microwave and side-by-side freezer/refrigerator, KitchenAid dishwasher and compactor, and double sink set in a granite countertop and bar. The floor is tiled, the ceiling has inset lighting, there are ample wood-front cabinets, and an electric security curtain rolls down to secure the area. Just outside the door of the Cabana is a built-in outdoor gas barbeque unit and prep sink. The pool and Cabana areas were added to the property in 1988
GARDENER'S sHED
Behind lattice fencing near the front of the property is the Gardener’s Shed. In addition to doors on three sides of the structure, there is a regular garage door entry. Windows provide views up to the mountains. There is a countertop workbench with cabinets and drawers beneath for storage. Outdoor and indoor built-in shelving offers additional storage space. Another workbench runs along an exterior wall and raised beds are in a fenced side yard.
Additional Features:
The 42’x 20' pool and Jacuzzi are located at the upper perimeter of the property and offer dramatic views overlooking the ocean and city. They are set into wide decking equipped with a pool shower. The pool is solar heated with auxiliary gas heat. Within the home is a mechanism to backflow the pool for use in case of a fire.
A bronze plaque commemorating Reginald Johnson, the architect; Ralph Stevens, the landscape architect; and Sook & Kenyon, the contractor, was cast by Gorham for John Behrens, who originally commissioned the home. It is along the path in the rear garden.
A flagstone Loggia and large terrace/courtyard run along the rear of the Living Room, between the two hallways to the Billiard and Dining Rooms. A brass compass inset in the Loggia tiling includes directions to Paris, Peking and Rio de Janeiro.
There is a rose garden at the front of the home, along a flagstone path from the Library. It has a pillared gazebo sitting area with wrought-iron filigree roof and birdbath.
The grounds abound with specimen plants, trees, cacti and succulents, imported from Japan, Korea, china India, Australia, New Zealand, Cape of Good Hope, the Transvaal, Northern Africa, Europe, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Formosa, the South Sea and Canary Islands, Central and South America and Hawaii. Some of the massive live oaks on the property are several centuries old.
- The property is fully fenced and equipped with an ADT alarm system.
- There are five forced air gas furnaces throughout: four provide HVAC for the main home and one for the guesthouse.
- The guesthouse and side wing of the home are not equipped with air conditioning.
- The system is equipped with electrostatic filters.
- An Aqua-Pure water purifier processes water for the entire house.
- The Kitchen and Butler’s Pantry are equipped with a reverse-osmosis system.
- Ample hot water is obtained from a commercial size, 150 gallon, quick recovery water heater located in the basement utility room.
- Phone service is provided via a Panasonic 616 Easa-Phone system.
- The property is served by cable television.
- Three fire hydrants are located directly on the property.
- The grounds are serviced by a fully automated irrigation system.
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