Charming Elegance
Nothing personifies luxury more than an English Manor. This alone would make this issue’s cover, an up-to-date refined interpretation of this classic, perfect for Unique Homes. But its Newport Beach, Calif., location paired with refined execution of Georgian architecture on a grand scale make it unusually exceptional. Not only is such a property a rarity in Southern California, but few, if any, recently constructed comparable estates can be found anywhere in the country.
“Georgian is one of the most difficult, expensive and time-consuming styles to design and construct. If you don’t follow them, the design doesn’t work,” explains the owner, a passionate devotee of traditional architecture whose meticulous research made this home so authentic.
Unlike the typical English Georgian, there is nothing stuffy about this mansion, which is both elegant and eminently livable. The entry may take its cue from a room in the White House, but a dog bed tucked under an antique table proclaims that this is a real home. Although the dining room seats 40, concealed sliding panels tame the space making it intimate enough for 10. An arched barrel ceiling and skylight flood the second level with natural light creating a cheerful open feeling and an ideal setting for an art gallery. A distinct ceiling treatment and magnificent finishes make each room unique. For example, a numbered set of Zuber wallpapers grace the dining room, while Honduras mahogany outfits the billiards room and library.
Equally impressive, the expansive one-plus-acre site includes a 4,400-square-foot guesthouse and garaging for 15 cars, while the overall landscape scheme includes a regulation tennis court. The setting along the Big Canyon Golf Course assures privacy.
Explore this property and in short order you realize the $27.5 million price represents a singular opportunity to purchase an estate destined to be legendary. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage’s John McMonigle has this exclusive listing.
—Camilla McLaughlin
Photo courtesy Andrew Bramasco
[...] Story: Charming Elegance By Camilla [...]