Five stately gables are the architectural signature of the 95-foot wide front facade of this architecturally significant property designed by Danielle Wyss Dolan of The Shift Group. Prominent bay windows and an ample front porch suggest the graciousness of years past, yet the woven golden metal mesh in the front door and custom chevron patterning found throughout hint at interior designer Luke van Duyn’s delicate play between traditional and modern. Harmony between classical grace and modern energy, and between an open-floor plan for gathering and specialty rooms for reflection, make this custom new construction one of the most sought-after properties in all Silicon Valley.
The Foyer immediately conveys an inviting yet glamorous style. Chevron-patterned white oak hardwood floors give way to a three-story custom-paneled stair enticing you to explore both up- and downstairs. But not before the formal Parlor beckons with its deep sea green paneling, brass fixtures and trim elements, and polished agatha granite fireplace. It offers the enveloping richness of a century ago; the perfect place to curl up with a good book, receive visitors, or host an elegant dinner.
The main level gallery connects the Foyer, the Parlor, an Office and the Mud Room. The Office provides a convenient place for business with just enough separation from the domestic realm for today’s work-from-home needs. It boasts large windows and doors that allow a view both to the front and back of the house, and because the adjacent bathroom is a full bath with shower, the office has the optionality to serve as a large ground floor guest room.
The main level would not be complete without the main event, a jaw-dropping Kitchen and Great Room. The expansive and elegant chef’s kitchen is bracketed by ample light from matching bay windows looking toward both the front and back yards. Bespoke glass and wood cabinetry is recessed into seemingly every wall. The mammoth 65-square foot waterfall-edge Calacatta Royale marble island and the range backsplash come alive beneath the alabaster and antique brass island pendants. Top-of-the-line appliances from Wolf, Sub-Zero, Fisher & Paykel, Sharp, and Bosch are harmoniously integrated under the ample counterspace or graciously hidden behind custom woodwork.
The Kitchen adjoins the heart of the house: a Great Room with ceilings soaring to 15 feet above. A comforting symmetry comes from the custom casework that flanks the striking gas fireplace. Light spills in from clerestory windows and four skylights above. A Dining area enjoys evening light and sweeping views of the front yard and is decorated with an antique brass and opal swirling glass globes chandelier. And from the Great Room, 9-foot-tall pocketing glass doors slide out of view to allow a 12-foot-wide, unobstructed, indoor-outdoor experience with the covered backyard lounge and dining areas.
The 640 square feet of covered back deck gathers around a black soapstone fireplace. Additional warmth comes from heat lamps above, while light from a stunning bronze chandelier bounces beneath the wood-vaulted ceiling. With Connecticut Bluestone underfoot, and heat lamps and three dramatic golden pendants above, the covered outdoor dining area has space for a 12-person (or more!) dining table and is what California living is all about. A sizable lawn and dramatic and landscaping abut the detached barbecue area, anchoring the rear of the yard and completing the experience of sophisticated indoor-outdoor living.
Ascending the central staircase, a dramatic brass wall sconce illuminates the custom chevron paneling. The four upstairs bedrooms gather around a central atrium, brightly flooded with natural light by a skylight and the large front balcony. In the evening however, a giant Edison bulb chandelier crowns the atrium. Deep vestibules lead to the four upstairs bedrooms, each with wide bay window seating and dramatic angled dormer ceilings.
The Primary Suite offers the serenity of a bay window seat overlooking the backyard, a walk-in closet, and an elegant bathroom that is dressed in honed Graffite marble and offers a sense of sanctuary with a freestanding soaking tub, large shower, private water closet, and two separate sink vanities.
Descending into the full basement, the Bar greets with quartzite counters and gold-flecked black mosaic Solistone glass tile twinkling from the dazzling light of the three perforated brass Kronos pendants. The Wine Room draws the eye with its dramatic wall of backlit Omudhi onyx stone, suspended on custom steel brackets. The large recreation room, illuminated via the adjacent open air sunken patio, provides a fun and social gathering space. Should a movie (or band practice!) be on the agenda, the sound-dampened and secluded screening room with surround sound built-in audio awaits. Two flexible rooms in the basement offer flexibility: space for guests to stay, a fitness room, a project room, or another home office. The entertaining options are myriad.
With construction of this custom home complete in 2021, the fusion of timeless classical architecture and inspired modern design is now ready to be appreciated. This magnificent Hamptons resort-style resort in the heart of Old Palo Alto offers the best of all worlds; easy access to Palo Alto’s vibrant downtown and Stanford University, graceful indoor-outdoor living, and architecturally significant new construction.