Mountain Views News          Saturday, February 5, 2011

HOMES AND PROPERTY

15

 Mountain Views-News Saturday, February 5, 2011 

One Of A Kind: Featuring unique homes and gardens and the people whoe create them Story By Chris Bertrand 


PICTURE PERFECT… FRENCH STYLE ESTATE HIGH ABOVE SIERRA MADRE

It was a picture perfect day when I drove 
up into the northeast reaches of Sierra 
Madre. Just a couple of blocks, in fact, 
from last week’s feature, but a world apart 
in the home’s personality. 

The owner’s vision was to create the 
feeling of a beautiful, old estate in the 
French countryside, where the stones had 
crumbled over the centuries. The effect 
is beautiful and yes, picture perfect. But 
don’t look for anything to be crumbling inside or out. This is one of 
the best engineered, constructed and maintained homes I have ever 
seen, taking three years to morph from a remodel into an almost 
completely new home in 2003.

“There’s a lot of steel in this house, chuckled the seller. “It’s not 
going… anywhere!” Much loved as this meticulously remodeled and 
expanded home is, it’s not close enough to the four grandchildren, 
so it’s now reluctantly offered for sale.

Every I and T is dotted and crossed in this house. And a lot of 
research and oversight went into each detail. The sellers chose alder 
wood for all the cabinet and staircase applications throughout the 
house, for its warm, sophisticated color and beautiful tight grain.

The formal rooms are detailed with custom milled Fabrica carpet, 
handsewn and assembled with a double border. The light sconces 
and dining room chandelier are Waterford crystal, and were chosen 
to exactly match the seller’s crystal ware. Such is the level of detail 
and care.

In the foyer, a massive, bronze and leaded glass fixture, imported 
specially from Spain, hangs center stage above the staircase. The 
clerestory window atop the staircase was custom crafted by stained 
glass artisans. The glass used is translucent but not transparent, so 
privacy is preserved for those traversing the staircase in pajamas.

Honed travertine flooring provides a unifying element, from the 
foyer through the kitchen, casual dining area, the main floor bath 
and walkways. 

The kitchen sink, the focal point of the kitchen looks out to the 
pool, spa and wrought iron fenced yard and the dramatic hillside 
dotted with huge agaves, other natives and succulents. The windows 
were purposely curved, to give a soft finish to the outdoor outlook. 

The casual living space all looks out to the back yard and pool, 
with three functional areas in the “family room.” A large wet bar 
with refrigerator and seating lines one part of the room. A billiard 
table fills another. The third area centers around the custom slate 
fireplace and media center. Note the lion theme in the corubels and 
other family room detailing 

A main level bedroom and bath with walk in shower is located 
in a private wing, perfect for guests, staff or extended family. Four 
bedrooms and three baths are located on the second level.

Upstairs, they’ve created a huge second floor deck for entertaining 
up to fifty, accessed by three of the bedrooms through French 
doors and an outside staircase. Naturally, an easy setup for caterer’s 
access and staging begins in the meticulous garage and goes up the 
outdoor stairway to the deck, for easy food delivery and serving.

The seller again chuckles, saying they’ve named the master bath, 
the Bellagio room, after the Las Vegas hotel and all its marble. 
Functionally, it’s well laid out, with double sinks, a walk in steam 
shower, jetted tub, private commode room and huge closet set up 
for two, with built in dressers. 

The garage… oh the garage. I suggested that any garage lover 
be sent directly from the front door to the extra deep garage and 
workshop area, bypassing the rest of the home, beautiful though 
it is. Of course, it’s painted in textured epoxy. Of course, there are 
cabinets storing HVAC and other utilities behind closed doors. Of 
course, there are over twenty feet of workbench space. Though it’s 
so immaculate, you could sew your daughter’s wedding dress there!

667 Camillo Street in Sierra Madre is listed at $2, 250,000 by 
Cindy Hunefeld Salcido of Sotheyby’s International Realty. For more 
information on this home, visit www.667Camillo.com or contact 
the agent at 626-396-3918 or Cindy.Salcido@SothebysHomes.com.


It’s A Small 
World

If you’re anticipating selling your smaller-than-average home, do not despair, because the 
days of the overly sized and overly priced McMansions are shrinking in the rearview mirror! 
Buyers these days are looking for ways to save money on utilities and taxes, as well as save 
time on yard work and maintenance.

Your smaller property offers benefits to first-time buyers and those with an eye towards 
conservation. Be sure to highlight your lower utility costs, and if your home sits on a small 
lot, research property taxes on larger lots in the neighborhood and show how much money 
buyers can save with yours.

People who are downsizing or buying for the first time want easy maintenance, so you 
should absolutely list any new appliances or systems you’ve installed, like heating and/or 
air, and Energy Star refrigerators, water heaters, and the like. First time buyers are usually 
accustomed to the landlord fixing any problems, so new appliances still under warranty are 
very attractive to that segment.

Buyers who are downsizing will be rethinking their space, so make sure you make your 
rooms look larger and show off your storage space. Cut the clutter, remove some furniture, 
and let in the light!

If you live within walking distance to shopping and activities, have your agent promote that, 
and emphasize that location and function offset your home’s smaller size.