By: JEAN NAYAR
WITH AN EMPHASIS ON BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT, FOUR SPECTACULAR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DWELLINGS BRING WELLNESS TO A NEW LEVEL.
Tucked into Santaluz, one of the most exclusive communities in San Diego, this super-private custom-designed $8.88 million, 10,600-square-foot, modern dwelling was planned with top technology and amenities to meet the expectations of the most pampered wellness buffs. “Athletes are especially drawn to the home,” says the six-bedroom, 11-bath home’s listing agent Cecilia Guerrero de Zavala. “Not only do you have your own workout gym with all the equipment, a boxing ring, and a ballet studio, where you can also do yoga or pilates, but you also have four different kinds of showers, a Turkish bath lined with marble from Cappadocia, a sauna, and a steam room.” Outdoors, a beautiful zero-edge pool with a built-in spa pool offers an ideal spot for an afternoon dip, while two nearby clubs—one with a Rees Jones-designed 18-hole golf course, the other with tennis and basketball courts and a spectacular pool—offer an array of fitness options to enjoy outside of the home. In addition, miles of biking and hiking trails within the community present alternative ways to de-stress in a completely secure and private setting that includes 3,000+acres of open space and parks, including an 11-acre village green. “It’s very peaceful here, with miles and miles of open space,” says Guerrero de Zavala, “truly a private oasis.”
Custom-designed and built in 2003 by Trip Bennett & Associates, this gated five-bedroom, seven-bath Muirlands estate was crafted with clean lines and exceptional structural integrity to stand the test of time and embrace the great outdoors with a blend of natural materials that soothe the spirit and delight the senses in a resort-style setting. “The clean, sleek architecture and extremely private grounds bring a welcome, uncluttered Zen-like quality to this extremely peaceful and comforting environment—especially in an era where we are otherwise bombarded with media and information,” says listing agent Greg Noonan. Noonan notes that the high-quality construction, expansive volumes, and attention to detail of the $6.8 million, 7,482-square-foot home also spare its owners from the hassle of frequent repairs. At the same time, its fine materials, integrated technology, and multiple fireplaces offer a sense of effortless luxury and comfort inside and out. “The property also caters to the sport and fitness enthusiast with a private workout gym in the primary suite indoors, plus a sparkling pool and spa and a sports court for practicing pickleball and basketball outdoors,” adds the agent. Another key to well-being is elements that allow for socializing in style. This home has it in spades, including multiple living and dining spaces, a music room par excellence, a mini fruit orchard, and an inviting veranda. “There is also a great outdoor kitchen and pagoda for entertaining alfresco,” says Noonan. “This home can party like a rock star.”
The resort-like residence and 22-acre Ranch at Buena Terra in Goleta is a world of wellness unto itself, offering panoramic views of the ocean, islands, and mountains. “Gracious, serene, and soulful, the custom-designed Mediterranean estate offers a winning combination of scale, substance, and privacy,” says listing agent Marsha Kotlyar. The $10.799 million property, including a 6,077-square-foot three-bedroom, five-bath home with an office/library, high-end amenities, a private gym, and an extra-large pool, is also an equestrian’s dream featuring a fully appointed six-horse barn, twelve sheltered pastures, nine covered paddocks, a covered round pen, a riding arena, and a jump course as well as farmland currently leased by Sunrise Organic Farms. “You can live a true farm-to-table lifestyle with your own organic farm yielding produce truly ripe for the picking,” says the agent, noting the home was conceived by Los Angeles designer Mark Shields for single-level living. “You can also spend your mornings doing yoga by the pool or in your gym, take the horses out for a ride in the state-of-the-art equestrian center in the afternoon, and extend your wellness routine outdoors by meditating in one of the gardens or swimming laps in the large pool.” The terrace off the living room offers the quintessential Santa Barbara setting, where you can relax by the covered fireplace and enjoy the setting sun into the ocean at dusk. “The peaceful location ensures you have unlimited stargazing at night, and yet you’re still close to all the amenities of charming downtown Santa Barbara,” adds Kotlyar. “The living here is tough to beat!”
Situated on picturesque Stone Canyon Road, a coveted stretch in the hills of Bel Air, this custom-built contemporary estate puts wellness at the heart of daily living on various fronts, indoors and out. “Ever since the pandemic, wellness in the home has become part of a whole-life experience,” says Elisabeth Halsted, who holds the $15.9 million, five-bedroom, eight-bath listing. Among the elements that support a healthy lifestyle in the 9,391-square-foot dwelling are a sports court for shooting hoops and well-equipped indoor and outdoor gyms with running machines, punching bags, and large screens to watch online training sessions. A shower/spa with an infrared sauna also links the workout spaces. “These areas are perfect for private training on your own time with access to a breath of fresh air,” says the agent. Other bonuses, says Halsted, include “a separate chef’s kitchen where vegan meals or alternative diet specialties can be prepared, and a private movie theater next to the kitchen, where the whole family can watch a film without going to a crowded theater.” In air-quality-conscious L.A., an integrated microbial air filtration system treats allergy issues or sensitivities to pollutants.
In contrast, a whole-house water filtration system keeps drinking water pure throughout, while a marble-clad shower, dual-rain showerheads, and a luxe note to the primary bath. Outdoors, lots of covered verandas, an expansive pool with a spa, a cabana with surround sound and infrared heaters, and relaxing garden trails that wind through a lush canopy of trees and lead to a Zen-like spot on a hill for private meditation completes the mix. “It has everything I would prescribe to make you feel good, emotionally, physically, and spiritually far from the madding crowd,” says Halsted, who notes the proximity of the Hotel Bel-Air nearby should the mood for an end-of-day cocktail strike as an extra bonus.