A sumptuous Bel-Air Property with an unparalleled view offers seclusion and tranquility
Written by Abigail Stone | Photography Courtesy of Paul Jonason | Presented by Juliette Hohnen of Douglas Elliman & Edward Fitz of the Agency
Few streets in Los Angeles are as fun to navigate as Bellagio Road. Its swooping curves, which wind up through the exclusive community of Bel-Air, past neatly trimmed hedges, make driving a pleasure—the first of many encountered as one arrives at 11531 Orum Road. Entering through the property’s private front gate and down its long sloping driveway, the delights continue. Dip below street level, dropping out of sight, the city quickly feels like a distant memory, and the breathtaking villa in view instantly captivates. This two-story home, capped with a classic red tile roof, is a study in beautiful balance. Echoing the four-car garage that angles out from the main house are neatly manicured hedges that divide the front of the property from the backyard, while a wall of greenery, bisected by an elegant iron gate, offers the first tantalizing glimpse of the magnificent panorama belonging to this home.
The graceful symmetry continues as one enters the house through its double doors, their glass covered in intricate metalwork. Polished white marble slabs, which merge exterior with interior, beckon one inside. A winding stairway embellished with a filigreed iron balustrade leads to the top floor. To the right, the large arched, and aptly named, picture windows flood the spacious living room with light. A pristine white fireplace, adorned by a mirror, offers warmth for chilly evenings. Four sets of double doors on two sides open this room onto a brick veranda, framing the bountiful vista beyond.
Outside, past a pristinely verdant and expansive backyard, punctuated by a sparkling Mediterranean blue pool and Jacuzzi, is a scene that looks as if pulled from a painting by a Renaissance master. Here, it doesn’t take much imagination to recall that trip to the Italian countryside. In fact, if it weren’t for towering palm trees dotting the property evoking Southern California living, the arresting panoramas before you perfectly places this home along the Amalfi Coast. Heightening this impression is the terraced landscape surrounding the house. The property, composed of two parcels, includes four generous acres, providing ample space between neighbors, further optimizing the essence of peace and tranquility, while also availing the option of creating a second home here. The feeling of being transported to another place remains as one wanders throughout the house. Old World elegance permeates here, a feeling reminiscent of the great chateaus of France and the magnificent castellos of Italy. The aura emanates from perfectly scaled and proportioned rooms, the graceful way that one space dissolves into another and the softly diffused light that bathes the interiors in a gentle, calming glow.
Here, luxury is in the details—from slab marble floors to crown moldings, to richly polished wood built-ins, cabinetry and window sashes—that underline the home’s beauty and graciousness. Grand entertaining is part and parcel of the sophisticated life, which this home supports, from formal dinners prepared by a master chef hired for the evening, yet just out of sight in the warm wood kitchen; to elegant mornings in the breakfast nook, encircled in view-framing windows; to sunset cocktails on the patio, lazy pool parties, barbecues, and long al fresco lunches. Of course, entertaining often includes extending hospitality to overnight guests, a group easily accommodated in the wing to the left of the entry, which grants the freedom to come and go without disturbing the family or a party in progress. This wing also includes the gym and an office. A second patio here offers the ideal spot for morning yoga with a view—the sun rising to greet you, as invigorating to the soul as a string of asanas. With two additional bedrooms tucked into this area, this wing can also be designed to accommodate the unique needs of teenage children, offering them a generous space in which to spread out away from the second-floor master bedroom suite. The master bedroom retreat sprawls across a good portion of the second floor, and offers a secluded aerie in which to rejuvenate mind, body and spirit. Every amenity is here, from a sumptuous bathroom to generous-sized closets and a sprawling balcony. The lavish suite is saturated with an abundance of natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Waking up to the views they frame never fails to put a positive spin on the day. From this vantage point, everything is put into perspective. Life is grand. No question about it.
SWEET DIGS
