Inside a Serene Carmel Sanctuary

Sotheby's International Realty Extraordinary Living Blog

This chic contemporary residence is set on expansive acreage in Carmel’s protected Santa Lucia Preserve, where wooded hillsides and open meadows roll toward the sea.

The bountiful terrain between California’s Gabilan Mountains and the Pacific Ocean—a place where land and sea meet in breathtaking fashion—is one of America’s treasured settings, a place of rugged coastline, old-growth forests, pastures, vineyards, and quaint villages. Literary giant John Steinbeck fueled his Nobel Prize–winning writing with this unique landscape and its people, ensuring its place in the canon of celebrated destinations.

Carmel, California | Canning Properties Group, Sotheby’s International Realty – Carmel Brokerage

The dramatic qualities of this rarefied region are exemplified by the Santa Lucia Preserve, an enclave of thousands of precious preserved acres that allow for architecture to harmonize with the land. Here—on open meadows and grasslands, oak savannas, knolls, ridgetops, and wooded hillsides—environmentally conscious homes benefit from enviable privacy that is protected in perpetuity by a conservation land trust. Owners benefit from easy access to world-class golfing, hiking, and horseback riding as well as what is widely considered one of the loveliest beaches in the United States. Set into one sun-dappled hillside, this 4,574-square-foot contemporary residence basks in the grandeur of its coveted surroundings, gazing out over some 49 acres via oversized windows, walls of glass, and tiered terraces.

The home’s crisp angles and cool stone and steel stand in sophisticated contrast to the soft organic shapes and soothing hues of the enveloping flora, while trees hover overhead, creating a gentle drapery of green. Beginning at the entrance, the dedication to the setting and vistas is apparent, with a sightline that stretches through the living spaces to a terrace toward the mountains in the distance. Interior highlights include a chicly minimalist living and dining area with a ceiling of reclaimed wood, buffed hand-troweled plaster walls, and an anchoring fireplace; a warm sunrise-facing chef’s kitchen with an island, a window-wrapped breakfast banquette, and touches of vintage country charm; serene bedrooms with subdued palettes and lavish spa-inspired baths; a family and game room with a wall-mounted screen and sliding glass doors; a delightfully rustic bunk room that sleeps up to four; wine storage; and a media room with wood panels that slide to discreetly conceal the screen.

Just outside the main living spaces is an extensive deck designed for reveling in the fresh air and cinematic scenery. It includes a covered and heated dining area, a built-in grill, space for alfresco living and lounging around a fire table, water features, and vibrant garden beds lush with colorful, fragrant lavender and grasses. Steps below is a swimming pool and spa terrace with an area for lounging in the sun or stargazing at night. The home’s lower level opens to a stepping-stone path that meanders through the grass to the pool. From nearly every vantage point, the view encompasses mountains, valleys, and flourishing redwoods, which Steinbeck called “ambassadors from another time” that “create a vision that stays with you always.”