202 Georgina Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90402

A Samuel Yellin-designed wrought iron gate, together with an expanse of French Bourgogne limestone and potted topiaries, give this Santa Monica residence the feel of a wine country escape. Reclaimed roof tiles from Burgundy, terra-cotta flooring, an antique horse trough and iron-and-glass doors complete the light-filled entryway to the meticulously designed house set on an expansive lot along palm-lined Georgina Avenue. Garage-concealing coach doors that open outward, hand-shaped window shutters and reclaimed beams throughout the house establish a neutral palette of natural materials. Climbing wisteria blooms add a touch of color. Terra-cotta tiles on the enclosed front courtyard lead to a glass-and-metal front door created by Architectural Iron Works artisans in San Luis Obispo. The house's outdoor earthy hues are mirrored by interiors with walls made entirely of plaster, adding softness and dimension. A seamless curving staircase establishes the space's clean, artistic lines. French white oak floors throughout the two-level residence are smoked rather than stained, revealing an embrace of modern restraint. Living room doors open to a spa deck and an Uzes pottery-lined pool, while a library, complete with a gas fireplace and Ingo Maurer lighting is situated above the house's underground wine cellar, visible through a window in the floor. The temperature-controlled cellar, with minimalist shelving made of African walnut, has French limestone flooring and connects to a stone staircase. The light-filled open kitchen with a Roman brick wall includes an island with a Spekva wooden countertop from Denmark, a copper-and-white La Cornue range and hood with electric and gas ovens, and an indoor pizza oven leading to an alfresco outdoor dining area and Kalamazoo grill atop terra-cotta tiles matching those in the living room, all with radiant heat beneath (both indoors and out). A powder room with mother-of-pearl tiles and lighting designed by Venice-based artisans adds a new pale shade to the house's neutral palette. Upstairs, the media room includes a fully-equipped theater with light-minimizing pocket doors and a laser projector plus the hub of the house's electronics including HomeWorks and Savant systems. The residence also has security, complete with cameras surrounding its perimeters and motion-detecting lasers. The theater doubles as an office with a pull-out desk, and is lit with Ingo Maurer flying LED candles. The natural light-filled master bedroom, bordered by a balcony filled with fragrant night-blooming jasmine, includes a custom walk-in closet and overlooks the patio and pool. A spa-like bathroom with a full-size tub plus a shower with steam includes exterior stairs leading to the jacuzzi and pool below. A north-facing guest bedroom, also on the second floor, has an adjoining guest bath with black and white tile and a subtle Greek key print. Hand-painted tiles and plates sourced from San Diego and inspired by Lisbon's blue-and-white azulejos adorn a jacuzzi on the house's back porch. Deep-blue glass tiles line the rectangular pool rimmed with Moroccan lanterns and topiaries in circular Uzes pots. A large one-bedroom guesthouse sits beyond the pool's sun-drenched far corners. Additionally, there is the possibility of creating adjoining exterior space or a second residence through the acquisition of the adjacent property directly to the East of 202 Georgina.