Chateau Belvedere

 

A stunning seven-bedroom European Country Estate on over five acres, with outstanding panoramic ocean views from almost every window—looking upon the Queen’s Necklace, Pales Verdes, Catalina Island and beyond—located in a peaceful setting nestled into the natural beauty of the Santa Monica mountains adjacent to Malibu, California. Situated behind stone pillars, and a wrought iron automated gate for privacy, this beautifully landscaped, highly styled, ultimate retreat estate waits to surpass the needs and wishes of the most discerning buyer. 

 

The French Normandy style of the Main Residence and Guest House provides the perfect balance between elegant entertaining and comfortable causal living at its best. Every surface and designer touch reiterates the extraordinary quality and craftsmanship that a decade of passion has yielded, resulting in a truly world class trophy estate.

 

FORMAL ENTRY

 

The tumbled antique cobble pavers of the large and impressive driveway, beautifully flanked with an array of landscape color and texture, sweeps down to the formal front entry with Limestone steps containing recessed lighting, and the rich hand-carved solid Mahogany front door with leaded glass viewing window that only hints of the excellence beyond. 

 

Arriving at the front door, there is a large semi-circle of Limestone steps, flanked by two Copper-patina lanterns mounted on the raised Limestone surround, and two large handmade urns, each planted with a Kumquat tree and flowering foliage. Before you, the turreted front entrance is framed with hand-carved Limestone and a hand-painted rose within the leaded glass window above.

 

FAMILY ROOM 

 

Following the cross-cut Travertine marble floor of the Main Hallway, and seamlessly drawing you past the elegantly mounted wall sconces to the Family Room, this stunning area, with a seventeen-foot high Douglas Fir beamed ceiling, waits to envelope you in old-world comfort and warmth. Four separate areas in the Family Room accommodate the Italian Espresso bar, the wood burning fireplace with its Mahogany and Dark Jade marble surround, situated on a wall of Limestone blocks, the seating area along the Verde Maritaca granite peninsula and the the lavish sixteen-foot wide, hand-crafted, European-style Mahogany entertainment center, with its classic Gothic arched wood panel detail. 

 

KITCHEN 

 

Designed to surpass any gourmet chef’s needs, the Kitchen is located between the Formal Dining Room and the Family Room that fully opens to allow conversation to flow. The detail of the hand-finished custom cabinetry and hardware complement the room beyond. An unusually large peninsula divides the beautiful rooms allowing additional preparation space along with a casual dining bar. Most appliances including the side-by-side Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer are hidden behind the hand-applied finishes of the custom cabinetry, and the expansive granite counters. This Kitchen includes an oversized island, a Franke stainless steel sink with Jado faucet and RO water spigot, commercial grade six-burner gas Russell Range with adjacent Russell indoor gas barbecue grill, high-powered stainless steel Vent-a-Hood, Maytag dishwasher and trash compactor and plenty of cabinets with pullout shelves, drawers and tray storage. Adjacent is the Thermador Convection-Microwave double oven and warming drawer, complimenting the restaurant grade and style of the kitchen. Expansive picture windows, with Roman Shades, are located above the double stainless steel Franke sink with Jado faucet, Insta-Hot, RO 

water and soap dispenser, set into a granite countertop housing the second Maytag dishwasher. All of the counters, the peninsula, and the center island, have surfaces and back-splashes of Verde Maritaca granite slab. The large walk-in pantry, upper cabinets with adjustable glass shelves, leaded glass doors and ambient lighting, the lower cabinets with pullout shelves and ample storage drawers, unite in a functional space where every choice of equipment is aimed to deliver the highest standard of quality, and state-of-the-art convenience.

 

MASTER SUITE 

 

Set behind tall double-entry doors with French-designed, carved, frosted glass handles, this large exquisite Master Suite has been designed and finished with most every possible amenity and luxury finish you could wish for. Every surface and fabric carries the rich tone and sense of elegance that has been created throughout this fine home. As you step over the Verde Antigua Classico marble threshold onto the fine textured carpet, this large room lies out before you with a perfectly proportioned Rosso Levanto marble encased fireplace, hearth-side seating, and a deep window seat area with under-cushion storage, framed with detailed European tapestry fabric drapes, scalloped shears and Roman shades. 

 

MASTER BATHROOM 

 

The Master Bathroom opens with tall double-entry doors, mirroring the entry to the Master Suite. The Verde Antigua Classico and Bianco Venato marble floor, is inlaid with Black Fossil stone and Rojo Alicante marble and is automatically radiant-heated. Highest quality, hand-etched, extra-thick Starfire glass has been used in the Bianco Venato marble steam shower that offers an array of settings, luxuriously bathing you through any of six Grohe shower-heads, while standing or seated on the radiantly-heated marble bench. There is a two-person Kohler spa-tub encased in Bianco Venato marble twenty-four jet, temperature controlled, overlooking the rose garden and stunning outdoor view. State-of-the-art Lightolier-controlled ambient lighting effects, wide crown moldings, and hand-crafted Mahogany cabinetry with Verde Antigua Classico marble counters holding side-by-side, under-mount, hand-cut crystal basins—dramatically lit from beneath—heated towel bar, wide three-waymirrored wall cabinetry with hand-etched and back-lit Starfire Glass panels, bidet, IV Georges Fixtures in Vibrant Brushed Nickel, a hand-etched and lit Starfire Glass privacy wall, vanity table with three-way mirror, and walk-in closet having adjustable glass shelving, all combine to provide a uniquely spectacular 

 

BEAUTY SALON - EXERCISE ROOM - SAUNA 

 

Connecting to the Master Suite, and accessible from the Motor Court through a solid Mahogany door with leaded-glass panels, this professionally designed and proportioned, full-service Beauty Salon contains a custom-built beauty station with mirrored walls and salon lighting, cabinetry, and sink inlaid into a counter of French Breche marble. The Beauty Salon is equipped with a swivel reclining hairdresser’s chair, professional hair dryer chair, a full makeup station, a TV hidden behind the mirrored walls, an exercise equipment area and a storage room. Behind a solid Cedar door is a professionally built, multi-couple, Cedar-paneled Sauna. The quality and sense of style of this room, finished with French Breche Marble and Cedar, provides a gorgeous setting.

 

GUEST - Housekeeper Suite 

 

Entering though the Laundry-Utility Room, or though the separate entrance provided for your family, guests or housekeeping staff, is an extremely well-appointed, carpeted and Travertine marble-floored three-room suite featuring a Living Room with space saving, pull-down Seico Queen bed incorporated into an elegant wall unit of cabinets, drawers and Juparano Oro granite countertops. The Kitchen counters are of the identical granite, with a Franke double stainless-steel sink, KWC faucet, Waste King disposal, RO filtered water spigot, GE Profile Performance microwave/convection oven and electric countertop range. Travertine floors are used throughout the kitchen, breakfast nook and full bathroom. The carpeted, ample-sized dressing room and closet includes wardrobe hanging and dresser storage sufficient for family, long-term guests or full-time staff. There is a small office/ storage area off of the Living Room and access to a planter area through a sliding door.

 

GUEST HOUSE 

 

Standing separately within these beautifully landscaped grounds, and constructed from the same quality materials as the Main Residence, the three-bedroom Guest House is itself reminiscent of a classic European home. It is well-detailed, both inside and out, to ensure that your guests are surrounded by high style, luxury and comfort. The entry deck, situated between two Arbutus Strawberry Trees, commands outstanding views. A three-car Garage of sufficient size to house the largest of SUVs, is accessed from outside the Guest House along with the Caretaker’s/ Gardener’s Office and the Greenhouse with a garden supply storage room. Behind the Greenhouse, adjoining the Orchard, are the deliciously-fruity Blackberry bushes, ever-tasty Mint and French Lavender.

 

SOUTHWESTERN ACREAGE 

 

The classic beauty and design of these gardens is only enhanced by the acres of estate grounds that sit beyond. This is also a wonderful location for traversing the gentle slopes with neighboring vineyards to the East. There is a crushed granite-paved road that connects to the West of the formal driveway is fenced and gated to ensure privacy and security. This road provides access to the largely flat areas of the cleared Southwestern acreage, which has been designed for the possible construction of a tennis court, sport court, or stables, as it is the perfect place to turn out horses. 

 

The thoughtfulness and classic attention to detail, by a team of French, Italian and American-trained architects and craftsmen, has resulted in a standard which is rarely seen in today’s construction. Not only has this high style of quality been carried to the grounds, but also used to enhance every aspect of this truly inviting home, framed in color, and balanced by nature.

 

MORE OUTSTANDING FEATURES 

 

Indoor: 

 

Entertainment Systems—the Family Room is equipped with a Panasonic forty-two inch plasma monitor component system, and the Master Bedroom has an eighty inch automatic drop-down screen projection component system. There is a six station house-wide Russound music systems for music inside and outdoors. 

 

Panasonic Digital Telephone System—with capability of up to sixteen phone lines along with room-to-room and paging intercom and voicemail. 

 

High Speed Network—Verizon FIOS (Fiber Optics) wired to the Control Room provides telephone and networking speeds surpassing T-1. 

 

Vacuum Cleaner System—central vacuum cleaner systems are located in both residences. 

 

Soft Water Systems—separate full house automatic soft water systems in Main House and Guest House, providing clean, soap-scum free bathing and eliminating water and rust stains inherent from hard-water. 

 

Everpure Reverse Osmosis Systems (RO)—separate commercial quality systems are plumbed from a central source throughout the Main Residence and the Guest House to provide the finest in highly-filtered drinking water. 

 

Lighting System—low-voltage high-quality centralized Lightolier Brilliance II™ Control System with digital time-clock, providing astronomical settings to automatically compensate for varying sunrise and sunset times. The touch of a single button will turn on a ‘path of lights’ through the foyer, hallway, kitchen, and stairs to the Master Bedroom. At dusk, or on command, it automatically illuminates indoor paths, rooms, outside landscape, pool and spa. This system is programmable to suit. 

 

Inclinator Stair Chair—pre-wired in both the Main Residence and Guest House. 

 

Security System—including four security cameras, intrusion control, and other sophisticated 

features. Upgradeable to include additional custom features. 

 

Control Room—provides a central location for the major electronic systems including telephone, security, lighting, and high-speed network. 

 

Pella Sliding Doors—double or triple-panel Pella Custom Architectural Series Sliding Doors with hidden screens are used throughout the Main Residence and the Guest House. 

 

Pella Opening Windows—in the Main Residence and Guest House have a hidden pull down screen that retracts when not in use. 

 

HVAC—both residences are zoned for efficient and comfortable air conditioning and heating. The Main Residence has an automatic humidifier and electrostatic filter. 

 

Ceiling Fans—all of the bedrooms, along with many of the other rooms have speed controlled ceiling fans for improved comfort and economy. 

 

Outdoor: 

 

Gate System—commercial quality Elite automatic gate system with gate intercom and coded access, fully controlled from the telephones or remote hand-held controllers. 

 

 

Landscaping—forms a properly planned xeriscape, i.e. appropriate to the natural environment, including an abundance of native plants and other drought resistant species. A large variety of mature trees and Mediterranean herbs are featured 

throughout. 

 

Rose Gardens—providing beautiful, colorful, sweet-scented flowers are featured in prominent landscape locations. 

 

Orchard—numerous trees featuring two varieties of apples, Satsuma plum, Santa Rosa plum, nectarine, peaches, apricot, orange and a vine of table grapes, all for your fresh eating enjoyment or preserving. 

 

Greenhouse—adjacent to the orchard, the Greenhouse provides indoor growing space for cutting and exotics. 

 

Rear Lawn—prepared like a golf course, the lawn is planted with Marathon II grass, offering approximately 8000 square feet of elegant greenery, sufficient for entertaining or lawn games. 

 

RainMaster Evolution Multi-Station Irrigation System—automatically provides ecologically significant moisture control to the landscaped gardens as well as the cut-flower areas. 

 

Swimming Pool—with large decks of Utah Buff flagstone, the pool has an automatic chlorine generator and pool sweep and is finished with PebbleTech, providing a beautiful long-life finish and inviting natural water color. 

 

Waterfalls—adjacent to the pool are an array of scenic waterfalls that cascade sparkling water over rocks into the pool including one from a sixteen-foot high natural hillside. 

 

Pool Lavatory—with outside shower, convenient for your and your guests when enjoying the pool or a lawn party. 

 

Water Wall—over sixteen feet wide and eight feet high, made of stacked Utah Buff Sandstone, provides a cooling water-feature to the entertaining areas adjacent to the Great Room and Wine Cellar. 

 

Outdoor Lighting—provides for a very dramatic night-time lighting effect of the Main Residence, Guest House, and main landscape areas in the front and rear areas of this property. Electrical outlets have been provided at various locations 

for additional outdoor use as well as for party and/or seasonal lighting. 

 

Caterpillar 25KW backup generator—with automatic transfer switch maintains operation of the refrigerators, telephones, garage doors, automatic gate, selected lighting, and other circuits, when required. 

 

Astronomical Pedestal—for use with various telescope mounts, this is in an excellent 

location for extraterrestrial observation.