Mountain Views News          Saturday, February 16, 2013

13

HOMES & PROPERTY

 Mountain Views News Saturday, February 16, 2013 

One Of A Kind: Featuring unique homes and gardens and the people who create them Story by Chris Bertrand Photos by Dexter Development 

JUST COMPLETED 
JUST LISTED

RICH TONG 
DESIGNED 
CUSTOM HOME IN 
ARCADIA

This stunning, 5,068 square foot 
custom estate was just completed by 
Dexter Real Estate Development of 
Arcadia. Designed by well known local 
architect, Robert Tong, the home’s 
design is both classic and sophisticated. 

The home’s curb appeal begins with the diagonal detail lines of the 
hardscape, which draw the eye to the arched double doors of the 
entry. A gated side driveway leads to the three garages accessed at 
the back of the home, preserving the lines of the front edifice. While 
the square footage is large, Tong’s design has made the home feel 
approachable and 
not over-scaled 
from the street.

Once inside, the 
dramatic two story 
foyer continues 
the use of diagonal 
lines. Two types 
of stone flooring 
create a pleasing, 
formal diamond 
pattern using 
matte and polished 
finish stonework, 
which continues 
throughout the 
formal areas and 
kitchen.

The arched 
front doors 
create another 
architectural 
feature which is 
repeated several 
times throughout 
the home, first in 
the window above the front doors, in the living and family room 
wet bar areas, and even the powder room’s sink. 

A clerestory arched window on the second story provides additional 
natural lighting for the foyer and staircase. Here and throughout 
the home, upscale distinctive lighting fixtures were provided by 
Modern Lighting, offering a contemporary flair to the traditional 
interpretation. The formal dining room features a circular inset 
ceiling, creating a large “medallion” effect around the circular 
chandelier. 

 

The color palette is predominantly a warm taupe with crisp accents 
of bright white in the double and triple moldings and wainscot 
style woodwork with intricate 
picture framing in places like a 
tub surround.

The gourmet kitchen boasts 
beautiful white cabinetry with 
dramatic glass front doors 
facing the family room, perfect 
for display use. It offers two 
preparation and cooking 
stations featuring GE Monogram 
appliances, with one designed to 
accommodate a wok kitchen.

The casual areas of the family 
room are floored with distressed, 
dark finish hardwood, and are 
open to the kitchen for a true 
California lifestyle. Sliding 
doors to the patio offer easy 
indoor to outdoor relaxation and 
entertaining possibilities.

The patio is designed as an 
outdoor living room. Protected 
on three sides by the home structure, 
makes this outdoor living space 
innately warmer in the winter months, 
extending its usage throughout the 
year. When the evening chill or the mood calls for it, a gorgeous 
cast stone fireplace can become the warming focal point here.

The separate home theater, outfitted in rich dark wood detailing and 
generous space for theater seating, offers Sony components. 

Distinctive unusual components also include custom cabinetry by 
Quality Craft, Italian bath fixtures, artisan crafted, wrought iron 
work on the spectacular staircase and gallery overlook, engineered, 
distressed hardwood flooring and much more.

With five bedrooms suites and six bathrooms, 920 Paloma Drive in 
Arcadia includes two suites on the main floor plus three more on the 
upper level, including the elegant master suite. This home is offered 
at $3,168,000 by Fred Ashkar of Re/Max Premier Properties. For 
more information, visit www.FredAshkar.com or contact Ashkar at 
818-681-4975.


DON’T FORGET THE VARIABLES

You’re ready to make an offer! You’ve done your homework by reviewing a CMA (Comparative 
Market Analysis), local DOM (Days On Market), and even the LP:SP (List Price to Sales 
Price) ratio to formulate your offer based on the numbers, and you have confidence in the 
mathematics.

However, there may be “non-tangible” factors that don’t fit neatly into the equation. Your 
representative will endeavor to discover variables like the seller’s motivation and your possible 
competition.

If the home you want has been listed much longer than the average DOM, the sellers may have 
become more realistic and more motivated to accept lower offers. Sometimes the sellers are 
motivated by the pressure of having purchased, or offered to purchase, another home. Then 
time becomes more important than money. No one wants to pay two mortgages or risk their 
ability to close on another purchase because they can’t sell their first home.

Also try to find out if other buyers are making offers on your chosen property. If so, make your 
first offer your best offer, because sellers are unlikely to counter in this situation. But… never 
offer more than your representative believes the home will appraise for, or your financing will 
fail and you’ll be back at Square One. Talk to your agent about the facts and the variables, and 
then make your offer with confidence.