MAIN HOUSE:
A striking formal facade presents a grand old-world Tuscan villa. The villa's charm lies in its mix of casual and formal elements combining simplicity with grandeur which makes entering this home like stepping back in time to a gracious elegant Europe.
As you enter the home circular walls of meticulously placed limestone graced by two Italian antique Savonarola chairs greet the visitor. An elegantly curtained passage of gold velvet and Renaissance-inspired prints hide a spiral staircase that leads from the ground floor to a private retreat above. Custom designed Travertine flooring is hand chiseled into a Versailles pattern that runs from the entry courtyard through the bottom floor and out to the garden patios. As the house's structure combines the charm of more traditional materials with the space and light of modern architectural sensibilities, so too the decoration of the rooms mixes old and new to great effect.
GREAT HALL:
This is the core of the home. At the very center of this space, set into the travertine floor, is an imported hand-carved floor medallion based on a German Renaissance rosette design. An oil painted mural executed in 15th century Renaissance style graces the pendentive dome ceiling; a strong rich palette of jeweled tones portray classical figures and painted landscapes and the 'Joys of Life': music, dance, courtship, and family. Through the oculus sits a gold-leafed cupola with cobalt blue windows divided by hand carved marble columns.
Four soaring arches frame the eighteen foot square space that is sectioned into several conversation zones. Comfortable, intimate seating flanks the enormous fireplace on either side along with an oversized leather ottoman. Two curved Renaissance-inspired couches covered in fabrics of gold, cobalt blue, and deep red beckon visitors to sit.
DINING ROOM:
With a groin vaulted ceiling of cobalt blue and eight-point gilded stars, the dining room is done in a medieval castle decor. Heavy wooden furniture establishes a solid presence in the dining room featuring a hand-carved table and twelve crested high-backed chairs. An oversized, hand-carved wood hutch hugs the golden, hand-rubbed walls arched windows are trimmed with crimson velvet curtains and amber beaded fringe and a fresh water aquarium lined with cobalt blue glass tile finishes the effect.
marks the location of the property in California Desert
