Inside a Whimsical Middle Earth-Inspired Estate in Carmel

With its vine-draped façade of handsome stone, gabled windows and doors, engraved steppingstone paths, colorful gardens with fountains, and wood gates with iron accents recalling days of yore, this 5,710-square-foot home on Carmel Point recalls a cottage in a classic fairy tale or the Cotswolds of England. But there’s nothing imaginary or old-fashioned about it. Conceived with extraordinary attention to detail and constructed with outstanding modern craftsmanship, it is a home without peer in the area and is sited at the end of a gated drive on three-quarters of an idyllic acre—a rare eight legal parcels.

The Canning Team | Carmel, California, Sotheby’s International Realty – Carmel Rancho Brokerage 

Nearly every room offers some unique flair, detail, or decorative element. Beneath a dramatic pitched and beamed ceiling, the grand great room features a majestic oversized fireplace—a replica of a 17th-century Gothic mantel—lovely light from numerous windows—including lovely half-moons and striking variations on the oeil-de-boeuf—and French doors opening to the verdant grounds. On the walls of the nearby guest study is a whimsical one-of-a-kind mural depicting images reminiscent of scenes in J.R.R. Tolkien’s fiction—fitting for a residence that would look perfectly at home in the Shire. The more-relaxed kitchen and family room has yet another remarkable ceiling with eye-catching angles and painted beams as well as more artful, light-bearing windows. Chefs will appreciate the spacious island, generous counter and cabinet space, and assemblage of top-tier appliances from Bosch, Sub-Zero, Viking, and Miele. The warm wood-paneled library or office boasts a wealth of built-ins, including a spacious desk.

In its own wing, the restful owner’s bedroom is accompanied by two elegant spa-inspired marble-clad baths and dressing areas. Each of the two guest bedrooms is equally thoughtfully appointed with built-in bookshelves and a quiet, secret loft.

Outdoors, tucked amid the wings of the home, is a secluded stone-tile courtyard with a warming fire pit. Pathways meander throughout the property, through stone archways, to two pergolas—one ornate and pillared, another draped in verdant vines—and to the inviting guesthouse and art studio, which are privately secluded but no less unique in character or charm.

The location of this distinctive estate is enviably ideal, mere blocks from beaches, yet it remains impeccably private, a fanciful retreat from the day-to-day world.

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