On the Market: Rancho Mirage, California

01/01/2008

Location: Within Rancho Mirage’s golfing community, 12 miles south of Palm Springs.

Background: The current owner, a jewelry designer and artist, conceptualized the home with a local architect to showcase her work alongside the treasures collected on her world travels. The owner wanted the California Mission–style home, built in 2003, to be whimsical, unique and appear centuries old. In addition to using rammed-earth construction to create two-foot-thick adobe walls, the owner acquired wall heaters for the kitchen that once belonged in some of Europe’s older homes. Antique stained-glass windows (also from Europe), large gardenias painted on the vaulted ceiling and a wall that doubles as a wine rack enhance the great room’s eclectic character. Outside, the owner’s artistic talents are evidenced in the African-inspired motifs embedded into the coach house’s exterior.

Stats: The 1.5-acre estate consists of 9,500 square feet of indoor space, spread out among a two-bedroom main house; a one-bedroom gate house with a full kitchen, living and dining area and private patio; a one-bedroom coach house; and a split-level studio loft that opens to the swimming pool on the first floor. Including the his-and-her bathroom suites attached to the master bedroom, there are eight bathrooms total. There are two oversize fireplaces, one in the main house and the other in the outdoor entertainment area, which is adjacent to an aviary and circular lagoon-style pool.

What Sets It Apart: "The home was built for the collector in mind and has expansive walls for displaying works of art," says Realtor Randy Heinitz. "It’s also a work of art unto itself. Instead of a typical concrete wall surrounding the property, the owner went with poured concrete to create a wall that looked like stacks of library books. There are all sorts of touches like that throughout the property. It’s very unique."

Market Inquiries: $12 million furnished. Randy Heinitz, Tyler Morgan and Blair Alexander, Pacific Union GMAC Real Estate, www.alexps.com, www.villaroberge.com, 760.883.1425; Christie’s Great Estates, 505.983.8733, www.christiesgreatestates.com