When You Want to Have A Sweet Escape Without Boarding a Plane
Written By: Sarah Hood
Photography Provided By: Willis Allen Real Estate
Winding its way through eucalyptus-lined hillsides and past one-lane drives leading up to sprawling estates, San Dieguito Road enchants passersby with its tantalizing glimpses of long-established private communities. But as you travel down the eastern-most section of the road, you’ll find yourself approaching a rather different sort of community—just as exclusive as its neighbors to the west, and yet warmer and more open-aired. Welcome to Santaluz, the newest addition to San Diego County’s collection of gated communities and, as its elegant name implies, an almost holy location for the residents who adore their sunlight-bathed houses.
You can’t help but wonder if you have entered into another world as you proceed, with the Tuscan-style homes evoking images of timeless little villages situated against a Mediterranean landscape. A pristine golf course lies amongst the gentle, grassy hillsides and tidy walking trails, and nestled between the eleventh and twelfth greens is a private driveway belonging to an estate of particular elegance. When you reach the end of the lane after a lengthy drive under a canopy of olive trees, you realize that you have discovered the ultimate destination for privacy—6,274 square feet of paradise.
The single-level property’s most notable feature is on display the minute you pull up on the breezeway: this Hacienda-style house has been intentionally designed for both indoor and outdoor living. When you set foot in the courtyard by the front entryway, you are greeted by a spectacular lounge area, complete with an outdoor kitchen for evening barbecues. Just through the front doors is a living room that, just like nearly all the other rooms, offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding canyons. Furnishings in various shades of beige, brown and gold complement the chiseled-stone floor and the wood ceiling.
To the immediate left of the front door is a wrought iron entryway that welcomes you into the dining area. Bordered by ceiling-high cabinets along the walls and by tall French doors on the far side of the room, this airy space is an ideal setting for wining and dining, especially since the little passage to the right contains a built-in wine cellar. Walk straight across the intersecting hallway and you’ll find yourself in a spacious kitchen featuring more dark wood custom cabinets, granite countertops with a stone backsplash, and an enormous island. The presence of side-by-side refrigerators and a double oven hints at infinite cooking possibilities, while the adjoining family room promises to perk up your afternoon through its onyx-lined mini-bar.
Two parallel hallways on the left-hand side of the kitchen lead you to a secondary wing whose rooms skillfully combine luxury with functionality. Just off the kitchen, you find a pantry with bright terra-cotta-colored walls, while the next room on the right displays a laundry area large enough for you to wash, fold and organize in one clean and convenient spot. Down the hall you’ll see one of six bathrooms, which maintains the sleek brown and beige color theme with a tiled shower, dappled onyx countertops and deep bronze details adding spots of contrast on the light fixtures and faucets. Stepping into the last room in the corridor denotes a notable shift in tone as you enter a game room that exudes a far more casual atmosphere than anything you’ve seen in the rest of the house so far. Complete with a pool table and mounted TV on the wall, it’s the perfect place to wind down after a long drive.
As you turn to the right of the living room, you will find a hallway that will take you to the heart of the primary wing of the house, where five bedrooms, an office and the rest of the bathrooms are located. The office showcases handsome built-in bookcases and a fireplace hewn from stone, along with a cast-iron chandelier. The other spare rooms all beckon you in for a bit of rest after a long day and entice you to sit at vanities tucked into alcoves or enjoy a relaxing steam shower in their bathrooms (some of which contain plenty of closet space).
However, the final room in the corridor is the ultimate treat in pampering: the master suite surrounds you in tranquility and enchants you with an incredible view of the property. Once you tear your eyes away from the vaulted ceiling and spotless Travertine floors, you’ll be drawn into the enormous walk-in closet that can house even the most expansive of wardrobes. Also enclosed in this suite is a lavish bathroom in which you can marvel at the twin sinks, spotless free-standing tub and the full shower that appears to be the size of a small sauna.
Once you move outside to the pool and recreation areas, it becomes apparent that no expense has been spared to make this already remarkable house a vacationer’s dream hideaway. The pool itself is a wonder to behold: surrounded by natural stone and flanked by a graceful waterfall where it meets the adjacent hot tub. Multiple fountains and outdoor furniture dot the premises, along with fire pits for marshmallow roasting and a couple of bocce ball pits for additional fun and games. It is here, beyond the walls of the house, where you enjoy the best views that Santaluz has to offer—views that extend all the way to La Jolla on exceptionally clear days.
As you bid farewell to this one-of-a-kind estate, you feel a sensation almost akin to leaving for home after a weekend getaway. Having had a taste of the most exquisite lifestyle imaginable and having indulged in unbelievable pampering, you’ll wish that you could stay a little longer before plunging back into reality.
Privacy Please: This house is one of only eight properties on its cul-de-sac, but the spacing between these homes (and the lengths of their driveways) ensures that residents will not be looking into each other’s windows!
Views: During the summer, the estate’s large back patio doubles as front row seats for the community’s hot air balloon festival.
7832 Santaluz Inlet
San Diego, CA 92127
Willis Allen Real Estate
877.515.7443 | [email protected]
Listing Agent:
Eileen Anderson
CalBRE# 01191148
877.515.7443 | [email protected]
This House Is So Beautiful You’ll Have to See It to Believe It
