French Country Beach House

This estate residence is located in the beautiful southern Orange County private enclave of Cotton Point Estates. This community is also home to former president Richard Nixon’s ‘Western White House’. This home was designed to imbue ‘subtle elegance’. The style is one that might be found in northern Italy. The palette blends earthen materials such as handmade roof tiles, hand-troweled stucco, rubble stone and natural wood elements in a formal yet simplistic way. The formal stately main facade fronts the street, but an unpretentious and secluded motor court tucked behind the main facade greets visitors and leads to the low key entry. A detached 2 car garage with an office above complete the motor court’s perimeter, an ‘aqueduct’ feature ties the elements to the main house. The South side of the site features a private courtyard with a stunning lap pool and sunning area.

The edited interiors were a collaborative effort between the owner and R. Douglas Mansfield Architects to create a wonderful European sensibility and sophistication. The soft blend of limestone floors and plaster walls in a natural light tone enhance light and tie the interior architecture to the exterior architecture.