Villa Lauriston - 5050 Alpine Road, Portola Valley, CA

Villa Interior

Detailed description of main residence — First Level

Entresol or Grand Foyer

• Antiqued verdigris wrought iron doors of grille work and massive concealed sliding wooden doors.
• Floor of polished black Belgian and white Carrara marble, originally from the Borel residence
• Coffered ceiling with triple arched opening to stir hall
• Leaded glass windows
• Two ancient breccia marble columns
• Leads to transverse hall and the grand marble stair
• Intricate carved oak door and wood grille, the entrance to the Great Hall

Transverse Hall

• Leads to the picturesque east terrace
• Polished black and white marble floor
• Twin walnut doors on north wall lead to the powder room and butler’s staircase
• Walnut doors on south wall provide access to tow hall storage closets

Great Room or Main Living Room

• Four marble steps down from entresol
• Baronial sized room of approximately 1,200 square feet
• Hand painted, 18 foot high ceiling in colors of the Renaissance era; flat area are gold leaf
• Shield-shaped corbels adorn the main ceiling beams
• Ornate carved and gilded wood chandelier
• Floor of polished black and white marble
• Original hand crafted plaster walls with a raised diagonal motif
• Massive fireplace with twin columns and crest
• Built-in teak and inlaid ivory altar imported from Padua
• Three arched windows with leaded and etched glass above altar: two supporting columns of white carved marble from an early Christian church in Rome
• Three large arched French doors, enhanced by onyx columns, open onto the belvedere; views from here are the east terrace, as well as Silicon Valley San Francisco Bay in the distance
• Four Italian Florentine baroque style carved wood sconces
• Down two steps from the Living room is the Music room, or Crystal Drawing room; the gold leaf barrel ceiling in this walkway is enhanced by rosettes, and on the east wall are doors to the Rathskeller and the silver vault

Music Room or Crystal Drawing Room

• Finished in cherry paneling from the Borel residence
• Parquet floors with black and white marble border
• Cast plaster ceiling with an ornate cornice and finished in gold leaf
• Two large crystal chandeliers
• Fireplace of carved San Laurent black and rose veined marble
• Wall above fireplace finished in grooved mirrors which are framed in bronze
• Secret panel to a stair leading to private rooms above as well as to one of the three walk-in vaults in the villa

Formal Dining Room

• Floor of polished black and white marble
• Wool plush walls
• Arched windows framing panoramic Eastern terrace and San Francisco Bay views
• Gently coved ceiling enhanced with egg and dart cornice
• Gilded floral chandelier and decorative ceiling medallion
• Hand carved double walnut doors with eagle motif

English Garden or Family Breakfast room

• Step down from entresol
• Parquet floors with black and white marble border
• Hand tooled Venetian wall frescoes crafted by artisans at Lauriston
• Wood burning fireplace
• Mirrored wall
• French doors open onto grand front terrace
• Arched leaded glass window facing reflecting pool

Guest Powder Room

• Black and white marble floors
• Carved marble seashell pedestal sink with gold plated fixtures
• Antique brass sconces
• Oval beveled mirror with gilt edged frame

Gourmet Kitchen and Family Area Kitchen

• Recently remodeled to include most every culinary convenience
• Stone arch cooking area includes commercial quality U.S. Range with six gas burners, large oven and griddle, hammered copper facing and large sink
• State-of-the-art appliances include: Bosh dishwasher, Sub-Zero refrigerator/freezer, Kitchen-Aid ice-maker, and Viking double ovens
• Floor of terra cotta paver tiles framed in oak
• Grey and rose hued granite and French blue ceramic tile countertops
• Half-round copper sinks which were originally commercial containers for cooking candy
• Cherry wood cabinets
• Cooking island with granite countertops
• Coffered wooden ceiling with recessed down lights
• Family eating area located next to three arched beveled glass windows that overlook the east terrace and pool areas
• Location of original "enunciator", or servant’s call board, from which calls for service form 25 locations in the Villa could be answered
• Family Area
• Fireplace with raised tile hearth and hammered copper hood
• Built-in banquette seating and storage underneath
• Custom cherry cabinets designed to house television and music equipment

Traditional Butler’s Pantry

• Located for service to kitchen or dining areas
• Leaded glass windows enhanced by a grape motif
• Parquet floor
• China and crystal storage
• Wine storage for immediate table use
• Bosh dishwasher and beverage refrigerator
• Granite countertops
• Gleaming brass sink
• Housekeeper’s office

Grand Stair

• Of Italian origin, and made of white Carrara marble with a carved balustrade of small yellow Siena columns and inlaid panels of onyx

Mezzanine Level

Writing or Trophy Room

• Situated at the top of the marble stairs, this room is also the landing for the wrought-iron banister stairs to the second floor
• Parquet floor
• Parquet floor
• Bookcase lined walls
• Wood burning fireplace with black marble hearth and black and white marble surround
• Gold stenciled ceiling
• Three leaded glass windows with views to the East terrace, pool, and beyond

Second Level

Master Bedroom Suite

• Comprised of two bedrooms, each with a fireplace and adjacent bathroom, plus the Villa’s library

Mr. Law’s original bedroom and bath

• Connected to the Music Room by the secret staircase
• Parquet floors
• Paneled in fine wood
• Bloodstone marble crested and twin columned fireplace
• Bay window overlooking a wooded park-like area
• Bath with marble floors and original handcrafted Italian tile walls, traditional pedestal porcelain sink, and built-in personal scale

Library

• Original gentleman’s entrance to the master suite
• Paneled in Circassion walnut
• Parquet floors
• Cream colored, ornately carved marble fireplace with black hearth and surround
• Windows overlook East terrace and beyond with access to the balcony through French doors
• Cast plaster ceiling

Mr. Law’s original bedroom and dressing area

• Three arched windows with handcrafted fleur-de-lis and acanthus leaf molding
• Parquet floors
• Fireplace with turned columns, marble hearth and surround
• Generous closets with mirrored doors and a spacious walk-in closet
• Adjacent tiled bath with tub plus additional closet and storage

East Bedroom Suite

• Moiré covered walls
• Raised platform for the canopy bed
• Mirrored wall with Art Deco feather patterned sconces
• Marble fireplace and comfortable sitting area
• Separate dressing room and built-in closets
• Raised and tiled sitting/viewing area; separated from, but a part of, the bedroom with spectacular views from screed windows
• Vintage burgundy-red tiled bath with tub/shower and leaded glass windows

West Bedroom

• Hardwood floors
• Designer window coverings, including Roman shades
• Adjacent both with tiled floor and walls, tub with shower, and storage
• Walk-in closet
• Sweeping vistas of the west terrace

Third Floor Bedroom

• Formerly servants quarters, this spacious bedroom has curved ceiling and plush carpeting
• Adjacent bath, with stall shower, and leaded glass windows

Private Apartment

• Enter through beveled leaded glass door
• Literally a "residence within a residence"
• Private bedroom
• Separate living room with adjacent kitchenette and eating area
• Large bath with claw-foot tub and large separate tiled shower, charming antique wooden cabinet adapted for use as a sink, and linen closet
• Three storage closets

Guest or Sewing Room

• Connected to the main floor by a separate staircase from the transverse hall
• Shuttered windows
• Adjacent to a full bathroom with tiled floor and walls, stall shower and shuttered windows

Laundry Room

• Medium-load Bosh washer and dryer
• Large-load Bosh washer and dryer
• Large sink
• Built-in ironing board

Lower Level

Rathskeller/Wine Cellar

• Barrel vaulted ceiling
• Original used as the gentlemen’s bar and card room
• Corner hand carved stone fireplace
• Secret door to the 1,000 bottle wine cellar
• One-half bath

Additional Features of the Residence

• Sauna facility with shower at the lower level
• Utility room with high-efficiency steam boiler
• Main electric power panel
• Stand-by generator with automatic switcher (18 KW)
• Water softener/filtration system UV
• Cat 5 cables hub and satellite internet connection
• Direct TV satellite
• Honeywell security system and monitoring service
• 2,000 gallon diesel tank for heating and generator
• Two propane tanks for stove and water heater
• Three fire hoses and a fire escape from the upper level
• Two vaults for secure storage and two concealed jewelry safes
• Attic with storage closets
• Ample additional storage facilities throughout the home
• Centralized PBX telephone wiring system
• Four 8,000 gallon water tanks – Gravity feed from a collection at Windy Hill (5 gallon/min to 20 gallon/min based on the season) mainly irrigation purpose
• Well pump for drinking water (5 to 10 gallon/min)
• Septic tank (cleaned and maintained) for main residence