DIGS is the premiere luxury real estate lifestyle magazine serving the most affluent neighborhoods in the South Bay and Westside of Los Angeles, California.
Issue link: https://www.southbaydiggs.com/i/1529310
54 DIGS.NET | 11.15.24 S W E E T D I G S | 2 2 2 5 C H E L S E A livable, easy to manage property," the agent adds, "but you also get a prime location and all the nice benefits and lifestyle." Given the home's link with nature, the outdoor spaces are equally considered. A U-shaped paver driveway—an engineering feat that took 6 months to approve—can accommodate up to 15 cars. The back- yard is a private getaway. There's a custom fire pit and hot tub, with string lights creat- ing an enchanting atmosphere at night. By day the green yard beckons, and the land- scape design, executed by a Santa Barbara architect, includes privacy-ensuring Ficus hedging and distinctive seating areas. Like the home itself, the lot—spanning about a quarter of an acre—feels spacious. And there's a perk in the form of a setback that adds more space to the stated footprint of about 10,464 square feet. SMARTLY DESIGNED & CRAFTED What sets this home apart is its easygo- ing elegance. It's luxury without pretense, sophistication without stuffiness. "It's warm and comfortable," Whitcombe reflects. This balance is achieved through careful material selection and spatial planning that priori- tizes both aesthetics and functionality. High-end finishes and craftsmanship are a hallmark of the home, and a point of emphasis for the developer. White oak, a central material in the home, appears in the custom cabinetry, shelving and other details. "Almost everything is crafted in real white oak," the developer remarks, pointing out hand- crafted details, like the front Dutch door, that have been crafted in the richly grained hardwood. The kitchen is a visual standout, with ceiling-height backsplash crafted in softly veined quartz. "That's a signature design element I do in most of the houses," says the developer. Thick slab quartz features along the count- ers and atop the center island, and there are professional-grade appliances, including a 48-inch range and a 60-inch refrigera- tor-freezer combination. Perhaps the most striking feature is the temperature-controlled wine cellar, a sculp- tural element that doubles as functional art. Encased in floor-to-ceiling glass with ambient backlighting, it serves as a focal point that Whitcombe includes in many of his projects. The master suite epitomizes the home's blend of sophistication and usability. There are custom built-ins crafted in wood, includ- ing a reading nook. A spa-inspired bathroom decked in Calacatta Quartz is finished to a gleaming, marble finish, with floors of slate stone set in a herringbone pattern. His-and- her closets and an L-shaped shower bench are well-tempered notes of practical luxe. For Whitcombe, this project represents the culmination of over a decade of evolu- tion of his craft. "This one is a nice balance of finishes, of fixtures, and materials like stone and wood—and it's very elegant," he says. "From the feedback I've gotten, it speaks to a lot of people. I know whoever moves in is going to be extremely happy to have it as their home." A R C H I T E C T U R E + D E S I G N