After living abroad for the last 15 years, the clients wished to retire to a Bay Area home infused with a sense of European elegance.

The house is both formal and intimate; the multi-level interior is coordinated around a spacious central stairway.

The house has a strong connection with the outdoors : the living spaces have been designed to flow effortlessly out onto an expansive paved terrace or into a luscious English garden. The master bedroom suite enjoys its own private terrace perfectly placed above - and away from - the living spaces.

The resulting old-world ambiance is nestled into the landscaped hillside, the ideal setting from which to enjoy the bay area's dramatic climate and views.