On The Island

Located on the Little Island of Balboa Island in Newport Beach, this home occupies the corner of East Bayfront and Grand Canal. This home is sheer island perfection! Not only does it have a sizable front yard (a rare treat), it also boasts a very private inner courtyard. The massive chimneys, beautiful shingles, and white trim all just make me LOVE this house.

Yes, that behemoth of a yacht is owned by the owners of this house. In fact, they own quite the menagerie of watercraft.

Through the olive tree you can just make out the only bridge onto the island. It should just be named the bridge to paradise.

HOORAY! Who doesn't love a nice conservatory?

The interiors are a smidge hoity-toity for my taste. I mean a mosaic back splash? Oh well, give me a marble counter top and I'll be a happy camper.

The dinning room of this house definitely has that yacht-y feeling with all the wooden built-ins.

I don't think I would really ever need to leave this room. If you look out the windows on the right you get a vista of the bay and if you venture out the doors on the left you reach the courtyard.

Tower room anyone?

BEAMS. LANTERN.

Chinoiserie is beautiful!

Even thought this tub is a little stunted, claw-foot tubs are the epitome of elegance.

Balboa Island has always been one of my favorite places in the whole wide world and I am very happy to share it with you. This home has never been on the market but it has been featured on HGTV. This home just radiates class and sophistication, and I love how it weaves and conforms to its triangular shaped lot. As always, a tour would be much appreciated!

Crystal Cove

Located midway between Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach is the Irvine Company's latest seaside development. Crystal Cove is located on the hillsides of Newport Coast above Pacific Coast Highway and offers SPECTACULAR ocean views. Upon entering the guard gated community you will pass the tract developments and as you ascend Reef Point Drive you will eventually reach another set of gates that signify the Custom Homes. These homes must adhere the the architectural styles the Irvine Company deems acceptable.

1. Tuscan

This home is located in Shady Canyon but defines the Tuscan style the Irvine Company requires. The beautifully simple, low slung walls and the informal combination of masonry and stucco are the heart of this style of architecture. This home, named Val Verde, was previously the home of John McMonigle until he sold it in December of 2008 for $10.9 million.

2. Santa Barbara

Also located in Shady Canyon, this home is a prime example of the Santa Barbara style. A previous post about this house can be found here. The architect George Washington Smith pioneered this style by designing houses with thick stucco walls and calling on the architecture of North Africa, Andalusia, and Mexico. This style offers a relaxed sophistication that is the back bone of California style.

3. Provence

Inspired by the farmhouses of Provence, this style is blends the informal with the formal. Notice the use of a pediment above the door in this example and how it is used with the shutters and weathered wood doors. My favorite part of this style is how the terra cotta tiles are bought down into the exterior walls, effectively blurring the roof line and creating a very romantic effect. This home is located in the neighboring community of Pelican Hill.

4. Northern Italian

This style is inspired by the hillside villas that dot the Northern Italian countryside. The defining element of all these compositions is their use of roof tiles and the use of stucco. Northern Italian is the most formal of all the styles and can turn out the most heavy handed houses. However, when this style is executed by a true architect its effect is sensational. The home used as an example is located in the front row of the Pelican Point Community, the only Irvine Company community located below PCH.

As a whole, these four architectural styles provide the Mediterranean atmosphere that the Irvine Company so desires. When the concept is firmly grasped the results are unparalleled. It is a sad reality that many of the homes created in the community lack that architectural pedigree that these four examples exude. However, with the opening of a new custom home section in the community, new homes will be created that will hopefully exceed all stylistic expectations.

A True Harbor View

Located above the Newport Harbor is this stunner! It has a perfect blend of old and new, plus it incorporates anything you could ever wish for. Cut me off a piece of that!

The rusticated area around the front door just speaks to me! i love the mix of the uber formal pediment with the casual stucco and sage colored shutters. Also the white roses = perfection.

I've always been a fan of courtyards; they just seem like such a nice tranquil space to relax and decompress.

BA DONK-A-DONK. This house is formal in the front and PARTY in the back! I love the floor to ceiling windows and the disappearing door that makes the terrace part of the entertaining area.

This slim infinity pool is truly a masterpiece! It hangs over the cliff and seems to become one with the bay.

Tucked behind the living room is this intimate dining room. There aren't any windows in this room, and it seems a little dark and too small to do any serious entertaining, but i do enjoy the built-ins.

The kitchen is just wonderful! The blend of textures, from cold marble to hard wood is just superb. I'm glad the designers didn't forget about the ceiling either!

I always thought that a roof deck would be awesome and this one just proves it! The glass railings, which would need a ton of cleaning, are perfect for extending the view.

This home was sold way back in April of 2008 for $10,250,000 and with a view like that who wouldn't pay that price? Like many of my houses, this one blends the indoors with the outdoors seamlessly, the true California ideal.

The Philharmonic House of Design

This home was the 2009 Orange County Philharmonic House of Design. Touted as a home that " evokes the glamour and sophistication of the Wallace Neff period with an emphasis on timelessness and contemporary sensibility." Sure...

This view of the house is magnificent! I love the fountain and the pure white stucco of the house.

However, if we take a step forward we learn that the exterior is not all it seems to be. The unusually large stone carvings seem a tad Addison Mizner and the chunky balcony to the left throws the whole composition off balance. Also, the balcony above the door seems to harken Palm Beach as well, not the California stlye of the 1930's.

Once inside you'll see why I like this house. I love this extra tall ceiling and that there is wood throughout.

My favorite part of the dinning room is the use of substantial materials. The dark wood ceiling is perfect, as is the beautiful globe chandelier.

The kitchen is a pleasant foray into the modern world. I like its stark, angular look when compared with the rest of the house. The only thing that gets me is the oven placement... it's just a little awkward.

My favorite part of the family room are the hanging wall sconces and how they appear out of the drapes! Also the piece of furniture with the fun print is awesome!

I love the cool geometry of the master baths flooring!

These wall hangings are beyond words!

Ahhhhhhh, what a pool! It is a tad big but I enjoy how it weaves around the house.

This home was for sale but was recently withdrawn from the market. It lies behind the big gates of Shady Canyon, taunting me to try and see it in real life.

Corona del Mar

Located a block away from Ocean Boulevard in Corona del Mar is this stunning modern home. Sure "modern" has a definition that is constantly evolving, but I do like it in moderation. This home has the clean lines that I crave and still satisfies my need for warmth and a pleasing environment.

I love the stark juxtaposition this house has when compared to its shingle style neighbor.

This patio is sheer perfection! Its elevation enables more privacy from the street, the tiles laid on a diagonal enliven a square space, the fire pit is awesome, and you can never go wrong with drought tolerant plants!

My favorite room isn't even technically inside! The disappearing doors blur the lines between the outside and the kitchen and the hanging heaters make my day!

Vacationing on a Greek island? Nope, it's just my roof deck.

This home recently sold for $3,595,000 and was worth every penny. Corona del Mar (Spanish for Crown of the Ocean) is a beautiful little village that is bisected by PCH; its small town vibe is a rare treat and should be valued for what it is. All the streets are named after flowers and are alphabetical so it starts with Avocado and ends with Poppy (but there's a random street named Hazel after Poppy, for reasons unknown). If your in the area head over to Corona del Mar Plaza, they have a Sprinkles cupcake store! YUM.

A Craftsman Montage

14 custom home lots lie next to Laguna Beach's Montage Resort, which is on of the most gorgeous hotels I have ever seen! The craftsman theme of the resort MUST be carried out though each of the custom homes. Each of the homes can use ALL of the amenities the resort offers, including room service (my dream!).

Shingles AND white trim, oh boy!

BEAMS. DISAPPEARING DOORS. This room has the interplay of light and dark that I find oh so interesting.

I love the simple and honest cabinetry and I can respect the choice of countertops, after all, we don't need all kitchens to be a carbon copy of the greatest and latest one we just saw.

This is where the house gets a little wonky to me. I've never been a fan of having a TV in the bedroom and I can't understand why anyone would want one in the bathroom...

I love these substantial columns! This outdoor loggia gives ample outdoor space all year round, it's basically another living room and dining room. The one thing I wish that was incorporated into the ceiling were some heaters, so that standing space heaters wouldn't be needed.

This home recently sold for $17,700,000, which is quite a pretty penny. But heck, I'd take it too since its your own private residence that's PART of one of the best resort's in the county.