$4.5 Million Homes in California – The New York Times

Newport Beach | $4.45 MillionA new Craftsman-inspired house with four bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, on a 0.06-acre lot

This house is in the Balboa Peninsula Point section of Newport Beach, just across the bay from Corona del Mar. The neighborhood is family-oriented, with annual Fourth of July and Easter events. Within walking distance is West Jetty View Park, a strip of waterfront that includes the Wedge, a spot known for its high waves and for inspiring the surf music legend Dick Dales 1963 hit of the same name.

About a mile away is the ferry crossing to Balboa Island, where vintage boats carry passengers across an 800-foot stretch of Newport Bay. Heading inland, John Wayne Airport is about a half-hour drive, while downtown Los Angeles is about an hour away.

Size: 2,948 square feet

Price per square foot: $1,509

Indoors: A low brick wall with a gate separates the front patio from the sidewalk. The front door opens into a living room with white-oak floors that continue throughout the house. Along one wall a fireplace is framed in floor-to-ceiling white stone and flanked by built-in bookshelves. Glass doors at the front of the room open to the street-facing patio.

The living area flows into a dining space, and both are open to the kitchen, which has a waterfall island with a white-stone counter and appliances from Sub-Zero and Miele. Off the kitchen is a home office with a built-in workstation, as well as a half bathroom.

An open staircase, brightened by a skylight, leads from the front of the lower level to the second floor. Turning left at the top of the stairs leads to the primary suite, which has a limestone fireplace and more built-in storage. In the primary bathroom, which connects the bedroom to a walk-in closet and dressing area, a separate shower and soaking tub sit across from a double vanity.

Across the hall is a guest room with an en suite bathroom. At the other end of the hallway, facing the back of the property, are two more guest rooms that share a bathroom, one with a built-in window seat.

The house includes an Elan smart-home system that allows the temperature, Lutron lighting and Sonos audio systems to be controlled from a phone, tablet, remote or touch panel.

Outdoor space: A row of succulents lines the path from the street to the front door, and the street-level patio off the front entry has space for a cafe table and chairs. From the dining area at the back of the house, glass doors open to another patio with space for a small seating area. A trio of fountains is set into gravel and framed by colorful flowers. The attached garage has space for two cars.

Taxes: $52,957 (estimated)

Contact: Tara Shapiro, Pacific Sothebys International Realty, 949-478-7781; sothebysrealty.com

This property, less than half a mile from the Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, includes five acres of flat land used by the current owner, a chef with restaurants in San Francisco and Berkeley, as a fruit- and vegetable-producing farm. The home, one of the areas oldest farmhouses, was renovated in 2017 and is now a popular rental venue for weddings, writing and yoga retreats, and family gatherings. The Russian River, a major draw in this part of the state, is a five-minute drive, as is the center of Guerneville. Santa Rosa is about 22 miles away, and San Francisco is a 90-minute drive.

Size: 3,000 square feet

Price per square foot: $1,500

Indoors: A paved driveway leads from the road to the main house, which has a two-tiered patio with brick steps up to the entrance.

The entry is directly into the open living space, which retains a few original details, including a brick fireplace that separates the sitting area from the kitchen. The ceilings have exposed wood beams, and one wall has wood paneling reclaimed from a barn. Between the living area and the kitchen is a windowed dining space.

During the 2017 remodel, the kitchen got new cabinets and quartz countertops. The range is stainless steel, and open shelving is built onto the back of the brick fireplace.

Two en suite bedrooms are off the living area. The first has a private sitting area and a brick fireplace, framed by an original carved mantel. The second has a lofted storage space reached by a wooden ladder. Both bedrooms have access to the grounds.

There are four en suite bedrooms on the second level. One has a private balcony, while another has built-in bunk beds. All of the homes bathrooms were updated during the renovation, with walk-in showers and new sinks.

Outdoor space: The front patio has two levels, both with plenty of space for entertaining; on one side of the lower level is a pizza oven. On the other side of the house is a second patio, with a hot tub surrounded by a small deck made of teak. In front of the house is a small lawn; from there a path leads to the farm, where crops include garlic, tomatillos, squash, onions and chiles. The driveway has space for at least four cars.

Taxes: $56,254 (estimated)

Contact: Cam Thompson, Cam Thompson Team, Coldwell Banker, 650-302-2611; guernevillemodernfarm.com

This house, near the border of Marina del Rey and the Venice section of Los Angeles, is the residence of Kim Gordon, an interior designer who bought it in 2014 and spent several years renovating it, with a focus on bringing the outdoors inside. Abbott Kinney, a Venice neighborhood known for its upscale restaurants and markets, is about a mile north, and Marina Beach, a quiet cove with a play area, is a five-minute drive. Los Angeles International Airport is about 20 minutes away.

Size: 3,256 square feet

Price per square foot: $1,378

Indoors: A wood-and-iron gate separates the public part of the front yard from a private section, landscaped with grass and mature trees. The glass front door leads into an open living area. At the front, next to floor-to-ceiling windows that swing open to the entrance courtyard, is a space used by the owner as a home office.

Farther back in the main living space is a sitting area anchored by a fireplace with a distressed-wood mantel. Beyond that is a dining area framed by more floor-to-ceiling windows. To the right of the dining area is an open kitchen with Wolf appliances and a 10-foot island that has space for four chairs. On the other side of the kitchen is a family room with space for a breakfast table and access to the backyard.

On the second level, four bedrooms are arranged around an open landing. The primary suite is at the front of the house, with a large balcony facing the California pepper trees planted in the front yard. The primary bathroom has a chromotherapy tub with air massage and a separate steam shower. The guest room facing the front has an en suite bathroom, while the two bedrooms that face the backyard share a bathroom off the hallway. Each guest room has its own balcony.

Outdoor space: In addition to the front yard, which has built-in benches and a wood-burning stove, there are several outdoor spaces in back. The main dining area opens to an outdoor seating area with a built-in firepit and a water feature. The swimming pool has an attached waterfall-style spa, and is framed with landscaping. On the other side of the yard is a paved area with space for a dining table and chairs. The attached garage holds two cars.

Taxes: $57,007 (estimated)

Contact: Justin Alexander, Compass, 970-710-1665; compass.com

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$4.5 Million Homes in California - The New York Times