Much like the other esteemed architectural firms of the world, San Francisco-based Aidlin Darling Design proclaims to create architecture “connecting us to place and to ourselves” and providing “access to and integration with the surrounding environment.” In the case of this cloistered 14,000-square-foot residence, the milieu is roughly 156 acres of rarefied countryside near the wine country burg of Glen Ellen, a pastoral area north of Sonoma known for its historic downtown, hiking trails, relaxed gourmet dining, hiking and horseback riding trails, and—naturally—esteemed wineries.
Glen Ellen, California | Daniel Casabonne, Sotheby’s International Realty – Sonoma Brokerage
Hugging the base of an august mountain on the verge of Jack London State Historic Park, the home is resolutely contemporary yet manages to feel perfectly at one with its setting, with walls of glass and alfresco living spaces that encourage an interplay of interiors and the outdoors. Its clean lines, precise angles, and streamlined surfaces—albeit formed with such elegant natural materials as stone and wood—create a striking contrast with the soft, undulating landscape of flourishing vineyards, abundant orchards, and the majestic mountains strewn along the horizon. The home, its terraces, a lengthy reflecting pool, and a swimming pool accompanied by a spa and outdoor dining area are aligned along a north-south axis, providing a sense of orientation and order amid the enveloping flora and earth.
A series of unique pivoting glass doors introduces the home, which offers seven bedrooms, six full and four half baths, refined formal living and dining areas, an impressively generous wine cellar, and a sleek cook’s kitchen with plentiful countertops and storage. Multiple fireplaces add warmth and a cozy charm. Many of the light-flooded interior spaces give way effortlessly to sunlit courtyards, view balconies, and vast verandas enveloped by grounds thoughtfully designed and lighted by the team of Munden Fry Landscape Associates.
Equally striking and firmly distinctive in its design is a 3,000-square-foot guesthouse with its own expertly appointed gourmet kitchen, chic living and dining areas, and spacious terrace for appreciation of cinematic vistas. Strategically positioned amid the gardens and groves of redwoods is a rugged agricultural barn. Occupying some 42 acres, the estate’s vineyard is composed primarily of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines along with smaller quantities of Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Much like the home, these swaths have been planned and carefully tended to accommodate nearly every palette and predilection.
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