Relax and enjoy the view
Rain, mud, wildfires and landslides are as predictable in Laguna Beach as the annual influx of summer tourists. None of those issues, however, has dissuaded eager buyers from getting a piece of the good life in the Orange County artists’ colony over the decades.
That’s because the pocket beaches, hot surf spots, laid-back attitude and leafy properties with drop-dead views are too great a lure, residents say.
Newport Beach architect Brion Jeannette capitalized on the unfettered views of downtown Laguna, the ocean and Santa Catalina Island from this property’s hilltop perch by creating a modern, four-level steel-and-glass house with a terrace off of every room.
“The home has a very spacious feel,” Jeannette said. He also “captured the sunlight for active and passive heating and cooling. There are a lot of green elements in the house.”
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To submit a candidate for Home of the Week, send high-resolution color photos with caption and credit information on a CD and a detailed description of the house to Diane Wedner, Real Estate, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A., CA 90012. Questions may be sent to homeoftheweek@latimes.com.
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Laguna luxury
Location: Mystic Hills neighborhood of Laguna Beach
Asking price: $12.5 million
Previously sold: The land was purchased for an undisclosed amount in 1991.
Size: There are five bedrooms and 6 1/2 bathrooms in 9,500 square feet. The lot is about 20,000 square feet.
About this home: Featuring natural granite, slate and marble, this home has a cool, seamless sensibility. The entry has a wide stone staircase descending to a spacious great room with 25-foot ceilings. Windows are made of curved azure light glass, which cuts down on heat and glare. Owner Arthur Bunzel installed a high-end sound system throughout the house and underwater speakers in the 74-foot lap pool.
Additional features: Every bedroom has a bathroom and walk-in closets. The great room consists of the living area, a den with a bar and the kitchen. The kitchen has double islands, each with a sink; two full-size refrigerators, two stoves and two dishwashers; and a glass-block wall. The master bedroom suite has a separate terrace, his-and-hers baths, a sitting room, a library and a kitchenette. The bottom level has a game room, full kitchen, sauna and steam rooms, gym, terrace and access to the pool and spa. A rooftop terrace is designed for entertaining. The home has an eight-passenger elevator.
Around the neighborhood: 147 single-family homes sold in the 92651 ZIP Code through August this year, according to MDA DataQuick. The median price was $1,727,000. In 2007, 315 homes sold and the median price was $1,615,000. There are 13 single-family homes listed for sale in the Mystic Hills neighborhood. The least expensive, at $1.65 million, has three bedrooms and two baths in 2,010 square feet. This week’s featured home is the most expensive.
Listing agent: Chris Guziak, Tropo Properties, (949) 285-0509
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HOME OF THE WEEK UPDATE
Country Club Estate
Location: Westlake Village
Size: Five bedrooms, seven bathrooms in 18,000 square feet.
The lot size is 4 1/2 acres.
Published on: Nov. 4, 2007
Listed then for: $20 million
Relisted for: $20 million in May 2008, after a five-month hiatus
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John Kilbane Midcentury Modern
Location: Playa del Rey
Size: Four bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths in 5,000 square feet
Published on: Dec. 9, 2007
Listed then for: $3.95 million
In escrow now for: $3 million
-- Diane Wedner
