Inspiration And Vision Created an Andalusian Oasis

Only two things make a home truly great: Inspiration and vision. This Andalusian oasis has precisely the right balance of both.

Briggs Freeman Realtors LeeLee Gioia and Anne Goyer nailed it when they described this home as an Andalusian oasis.

“It was inspired by the Southern Spanish region of Andalusia,” Gioia said. “The previous owners have traveled the world and wanted a discreet and sophisticated home that integrated interesting architectural features.”

They succeeded beautifully.

A rich mosaic of cultures is evident throughout the home, from the handmade, imported carved doors to the unusual use of decorative roof finials projecting over the living room from the upstairs gallery.

There is a clever use of jali or jaali, a key architectural element in India. These beautiful perforated lattice screens are one of the oldest and most sustainable forms of architectural design, with the first recorded use in Delhi, India, in 1305. They have always been a graceful way to allow maximum air and light to penetrate interiors while minimizing wind and rain. They are also an attractive way to create a great deal of privacy.

Unique details are found in every room of this Andalusian oasis.

Carved wood inserts were designed into the living room ceiling beam and the fireplace features an intricately chiseled stone surround. Although the architectural elements are dramatic, they do not distract. They simply engage the eye as they are integrated into the home so well.

This 6,462-square-foot home has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder bath, and a guest apartment above the three-car garage. The current owners have recently and appropriately updated the kitchen and bathrooms to honor the home’s existing character.

Effortless Elegance

Every room has a quietly casual and effortless elegance, and you can easily sense how calming life is here.

Gioia sold the home to the present owners and recalled the first time she saw it.

“When I walked in, it had the most subtle warm, romantic feeling,” she said. “The verandah is my favorite spot. It’s just heaven. The house is an extraordinary combination of historic elements and a clean, simple architectural backdrop.”

Gioia and Goyer have this Andalusian oasis at 9851 Rockbrook Drive listed at $6.975 million.