These rural retreats in tranquil tree-strewn locales benefit from coveted privacy, inspiring views, fresh air, and interiors that are as enchanting as their surroundings.
The Mountain House
Eric Lavey | Sotheby’s International Realty – Beverly Hills Brokerage
Enveloped by some 60 acres of evergreens in the Sierra Nevada foothills, this unique contemporary getaway is a livable work of art designed by the renowned Tokyo-based Atelier Bow-Wow. In many rooms, wood-framed glass doors open to integrate the interiors with the surroundings, which are criss-crossed by creeks and streams and bordered on three sides by the U.S. Forest Service land. Three quiet bedrooms, comfortable bunks, cozy nooks and daybeds, and a covered rooftop terrace ideal for a hammock encourage true rest and relaxation.
Light-Filled Northern California Contemporary
Canning Properties Group | Sotheby’s International Realty – Carmel Brokerage
Surrounded by golden grassland and grandfather trees in the Santa Lucia Preserve, this contemporary getaway exemplifies stylish, accessible seclusion. The open, light-filled floor plan features a luxurious primary suite, a chef’s kitchen, a formal dining room, and a media or family room. Walls and doors of glass turn views of the hills and mountains into dynamic art and open to the gardens, an alluring terrace, and the infinity-edge pool. The 13.33-acre grounds also include a detached three-car garage, a barn, and a kennel.
Rugged Santa Fe Retreat
David Woodard, Stedman Kehoe Hirsch Pollack | Sotheby’s International Realty – Santa Fe Brokerage
This one-of-a-kind mountain retreat, nestled amid junipers and piñons high above Santa Fe, features a chef’s kitchen with an 18-foot island and superior appliances, two private bedroom suites, and an office or third bedroom. Distinctive details include hand-plastered double-adobe walls, hand-carved reclaimed beams, windows trimmed in rugged native rock, warming fireplaces, and radiant-heated brick flooring. Spacious traditional portales and patios allow for enjoyment of fresh air and the forested setting of the Sangre de Cristo foothills.
