Sixty-five years after Frank Lloyd Wright designed the most famous private home in the United States for the owner of Pittsburgh’s Kaufmann Department Stores, something similar to Fallingwater was going up in Carmel, California. Perched atop a secluded mountain top overlooking the Pacific Ocean, almost every room and terrace is focused on the view. It is now for sale priced at $5.125 million.
From John Steinbeck to Ansel Adams, Clint Eastwood and Doris Day, Carmel has been a popular decompression chamber and escape for celebrities, where they are treated like average people. A charming and quirky town, Carmel is also known for having some of the strangest town customs and laws in the country. There are no street addresses and no house-to-house mail delivery. Mail is collected at the post office and directions to a specific house are usually given by its paint color or its name. Men are not supposed to wear jackets and slacks that don’t match and women’s heel heights are not to exceed two inches without a permit (issued free of charge). A dog-lover’s heaven, mutts are seated at restaurants, have Yappy Hour and custom doggie menus of kibble, biscuits, grilled chicken, steak tartare and more – thanks to Doris Day’s legendary deep love of dogs.
Built in 2000 on a mountain ridge of 25 acres with panoramic Pacific views, the home’s sweeping contemporary profile is grounded to the ridge by stone walls that turn into glass walls on the ocean side. Measuring 5,400 square feet with three bedrooms and four baths, the home is surrounded by decks and terraces with many features reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright in its stone fireplaces, maple and mahogany wood trim and curving stairway. Also a hat tip to Wright are the home’s doors with their interesting glass patterns, living and dining areas with stone accent walls, and windows that open to the expansive terrace. The large open chef’s kitchen overlooks the ocean with table and chairs positioned for coffee with a view. The 1,800-square-foot master suite has its own living area, office enclave, stone fireplace and is surrounded by a terrace with more ocean views.
Priced at $5.125 million, this Fallingwater-inspired home is listed with Kathleen McCrystal, Douglas Elliman, Carmel.
Link to story: https://www.toptenrealestatedeals.com/weekly-ten-best-home-deals/home/california-contemporary-with-a-fallingwater-vibe
Photo Credit: Douglas Elliman