Northern California’s exclusive Blackhawk community was named for an Irish racehorse owned by the family of its founder, Ansel Mills Easton. Although not known today as an equestrian destination, it has attracted thoroughbreds of another sort—executives, entrepreneurs, business professionals, and athletic and media luminaries. This majestic 4.9-acre estate—a residence of some 10,775 square feet, a guesthouse, and impressive outdoor amenities—occupies a perfect perch in this prestigious place, a spot nestled among the rolling golden Mt. Diablo foothills that makes it one of the most desirable retreats for a discerning buyer from any walk of life.
Danville, California | Debi DiCello, Sotheby’s International Realty – San Francisco Brokerage
The property is a 21st-century refuge, easily accommodating both business and pleasure. The busy professional or ambitious telecommuter will appreciate the exceptionally spacious and thoughtfully outfitted office as well as a light-filled home gym with a mirrored wall and capabilities for mounting a wide-screen television or monitor. On the upper level is a flexible space capable of serving a variety of purposes.
Sure to please the entertainer are rooms ideally scaled and appointed for grand gatherings, including elegant formal living and dining rooms, a theatrical wine room with a glass door, a family room, and a recreation and media room—many with “disappearing” glass doors that blur the line between indoors and out. Cooks of all skill levels will enjoy the magnificent kitchen, which boasts a full complement of Miele appliances and ample space for casual dining. The chic interiors have been finished with custom lighting, wallcoverings from esteemed Phillip Jeffries, eye-catching mosaics, striking stone surfaces, distinctive tiles, and white oak floors.
The grounds are a veritable private resort, with an alluring infinity-edge swimming pool and spa accompanied by a water feature, a warming fire pit, a putting green and practice tee, a sports court—suitable for tennis, basketball, and newly popular pickleball—with a trellised viewing pavilion, and two outdoor kitchens and grilling areas—one benefiting from the shelter of the home’s heated loggia. Enveloping it all is meticulously designed and maintained professional landscaping.
For quiet private moments, the home offers five bedrooms—among them an owner’s suite with a lavish spa-inspired bath and two room-sized walk-in closets with admirable built-ins. Guest quarters include a spacious upper-level “junior” suite with a private balcony. Visitors will welcome the privacy and luxury of the freestanding 576-square-foot guesthouse that is introduced by a fountain and a regal arbored walkway; it offers one stylish bedroom and bath, a living area, and a convenient small kitchen.
The de rigueur contemporary elements are all here—among them in-floor radiant heat for comfort, a whole house automation system for convenience, and solar arrays that power the entire property. Two attached garages—offering space for up to five vehicles as well as auxiliary built-in storage options—will please the auto afficionado. If one ever found a reason to leave home, the amenities of Blackhawk—two golf courses and renowned fitness and recreation centers—are mere moments away.
