Stay & Play
Jan 31, 2009 04:00PM
● By
Super Admin
Designed to accommodate their extensive antique collection, the home of David and Cheryl Hall imparts casual elegance. Complete with a majestic façade, exquisite outdoor living and entertaining space, and private tennis court and fitness room, this deluxe estate delivers the French countryside to El Dorado County. Listing coordinator Carson Goldberg, with Lyon Real Estate, recommended this home, located on a near 1-acre lot in Shingle Springs, because of its limitless al fresco views and indoor charm. Built in 2004, this estate exudes French Provincial character. The home’s grand exterior is balanced with its interior's warmth and comfort. The Halls worked closely with builder Associate Land Consultants of Folsom to ensure that the layout and design of their home reflected the family’s active lifestyle and desire to entertain, while also capitalizing on the amazing views of the Sierra foothills and mountains in the distance. The Halls chose the location because it offers privacy and 180-degree breathtaking views of unspoiled nature. The homeowners planned each square foot of their five-bedroom, four-and-a-half bathroom home. “We designed the house for casual relaxation and with entertaining in mind,” says Cheryl. “We loved the peacefulness it offered and the proximity to nature. When visiting the property before building, we even saw local wildlife roaming in the distance.”The home’s exterior is stucco, and also features custom stonework unique to El Dorado County. Hand-laid stone walls line the front and rear yards of the estate, featuring rock originating on their lot. The front courtyard provides privacy and greets guests with a warm invitation to enter the home. The stamped concrete within the courtyard exhibits the homeowners’ personal flare. Surrounded by lush landscape, this anterior focal point also boasts a central fountain leading up to a dramatic oversized custom stone archway. A striking feature upon entering the home is an inlaid marble medallion in the center of the travertine floor. The foyer, flanked with robust columns, features a sole antique entryway suite, in deep, rich wood. Understated details like this create a custom accent for the homeowners without intimidating visitors upon entering the home. It also allows for the homeowners’ distinctive antique furnishings to take center court. The homeowners chose a neutral interior color palette accented with rich wooden furnishings, and minimal wall accents and moulding details, to draw the focus to their American Oak antiques. “The interior offers a combination of formal and casual living spaces,” says Cheryl. The openness of the home’s interior seamlessly blends the spaces and allows for entertaining in all common rooms and continually highlights their antique furniture collections and the picturesque setting. The spacious kitchen, with its oversized island, distressed cabinetry, and paneled-door refrigerator, serves as the core of the home, with rooms branching off of it in all directions. “Everyone congregates in the kitchen, so when we were designing it, I laid it out so that I could work around the island and still be engaged with guests at the bar,” says Cheryl. The chef’s kitchen, complete with commercial appliances, dual sinks, a butler’s pass and wine fridge are essential amenities for the numerous gatherings held at the Hall’s home. Adjacent to the kitchen, the formal dining and living areas, framed by arches and columns, offer an amazing outdoor view amidst the subtle elegance of rich furnishings and a piano. The homeowners especially enjoy the large formal living area’s columns and arches on one side and wall-to-wall windows to take in the view of the pool and rolling countryside on the opposite end of the room. The columns and arches create a stately ambiance, while the wall of windows allows natural light to flood the room and draws the outdoors in. The coffered ceiling adorned with double crown moulding is also equipped with ambient rope lighting along the perimeter. The homeowners were instrumental in designing the layout and room sizes as well as placement of the five bedrooms. “I placed each room and chose their sizes after looking at several model homes. I wanted all of the rooms to be large and private with lots of natural light,” states Cheryl. Plantation shutters throughout the home permit as much or as little light flow as the homeowners wish. To increase privacy for family and guests, all of the bedrooms include their own private bathroom, each with their own unique style. Another key element of this home’s features includes a plethora of custom built-in cabinetry—an entertainment center in the living room, and in an additional office space. The office nook includes beautiful cherry cabinetry lining the walls, two desks and a skylight, with enough functional space to ensure a comfortable working environment. Additional features include a media room, multiple fireplaces, premium flooring, and upgraded and custom lighting throughout the home. The Halls have enjoyed playing host to many an afternoon barbecue and evening soiree. The home was built with entertaining in mind, evidenced by the open floor plan and lavish outdoor amenities. Because they are avid tennis players, the Hall’s home is a perfect match for their active and entertaining lifestyles. They have entertained various groups of partygoers, from tennis teammates to friends to business associates and children’s schoolmates. When not hosting a party, the Halls choose to lounge in their outdoor living area. “My favorite area of my home is the pool. The view is beautiful, and it overlooks the tennis court and a stone wall with three waterfalls,” says Cheryl. A covered lanai off of the formal living and dining room with custom stonework leads to the immaculate pool, fire pit, an eight-person spa and outdoor kitchen and dining area, which includes a bar, sink and range, barbecue and seating for eight – perfect for evening parties, overlooking the Sierra foothills. The outdoor space also includes a detached guest house studio with its own two-car garage for accommodating extended visitors.The Halls are an active family, and as such, planned accordingly when they built their home. They have turned one of the bedrooms into a comprehensive fitness center, complete with a wall of mirrors and an assortment of athletic equipment. And since northern California weather allows for year-round outdoor recreation, the family takes full advantage of the lighted full-size tennis court. Steps from the main house, the tennis court provides an outlet for physical activity and accordingly, the spa or pool as the ideal destination to unwind following a match. The homeowners then bask in idyllic conditions and absorb vast rolling hill views. With an elegant exterior, and calming and comfortable interior, premium outdoor entertaining space and tennis court with incredible views, this French Provincial estate is the ultimate abode for party and play.
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