M A R K A B E L
A R C H I T E C T
ABEL architecture
668 N. Coast Highway
Suite 1255
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
ph: 949-813-8058
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Shirley Residence
1225 Roosevelt Lane Laguna Beach, Ca
Seven Oaks Ranch
5200 Armor Ranch Road Santa Ynez Valley, Ca
This project was the alignment of client, site, budget, style and research that made for an epic undertaking. We had designed a prior Newport Beach residence for the Matthews Family, they contacted us again for their destination dream home.
Mr. Matthews had attended USC on an architecture scholarship, he held a deep interest in the British Arts & Crafts houses of architect Sir Edwin Lutyens and the landscaping of Gertrude Jekyl, contemporaries of Frank Lloyd Wright.
We flew into the Santa Ynez Valley to walk 122 acres being sold by Santa Barbara Thoroughbred Farms. We enter the property of rolling hills of massive oaks as a dozen polo ponies circle like puppies and follow us through the day. We site the entrance gate, the layout of a 2,000 ft. driveway to locate the house with mountain view's within a circle of seven mighty Oaks beside a stream. With the property in hand, we took off for one mighty lap of merry old England.
Extensive research went into the design and detail of this authentic estate. We traveled through the Cotswold's, Bath, Lyme Regis, Cornwall then back to Kent studying the great country houses, wrapping up in London. We scoured the shops and galleries of Kings Road, collecting rugs, artwork, furnishings and the perfect grandfather clock. Our goal was to create an authentic estate true to the period in every detail with the ethic of the British Arts & Crafts movement.
The client wished to be very involved in all phases of research, design and construction documents. The steep 16:12 roofing is double cambered hand-made clay tile from England with swept valleys and bonnet tiles.
The exterior stucco is a true pebble dash finish literally thrown on creating the rough texture. All exposed beamwork and half-timbering is hand adzed. Walls are 14" thick with custom limestone lintels and custom bricks framing each window with custom leaded glass.
Carved limestone surrounds the entrance door with Lutyens' exposed spring steel lockset hardware replicated back East by artisan Kevin Moreau.
Hand-carved detailed oak arches line the entrance hall with distressed, wide plank polished dark wood floors.
Authentic lighting, adzed beamwork, period millwork & cabinetry, period rugs and five custom brick fireplaces complete the continuity of British Arts & Crafts detail throughout this wine country equestrian estate.
Proctor Residence
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Italian Residence Trabuco Canyon, Ca
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Matthews Residence
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Lock Residence Encinitas, Ca
Flowers Residence
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Clemence Residence
1508 Galaxy Street Newport Beach, Ca
Period lighting by Sue Bacon of Historic Lighting highlight the Clemence's rich collection of period furniture, pottery, tapestries, pewter and glass from Tiffany, Stickley and Roycroft.
Bunting Residence
353 Hawthorne Laguna Beach, Ca
Before
After
Christ Residence
605 Lombardy Laguna Beach, Ca
Bense Residence
31567 Wildwood Laguna Beach, Ca
Reinhart Ranch Silverado Canyon, Ca
All designs shown are copyright protected. All rights reserved.
ABEL architecture
668 N. Coast Highway
Suite 1255
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
ph: 949-813-8058
mark