Locksley Hall, Estate of the Day

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed)
May 23rd 2006 at 1:04PM

Locksley Hall made Forbes' list of the most expensive homes in America this year with a list price of $65 million. It is located across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco in the exclusive Belvedere area of Marin County. Its location right on the bay is highly desirable, in a place where both land and coastline are at a premium, not to mention that it allows the residents to be treated to world-class views of the bay area.

UPDATE: Three years later and this home is now listed at $48 million.

The house itself is 10,000-sq. feet and was built around the turn of the last century. It boasts 15-foot high ceilings, bronze and mahogany accents throughout and recessed lighting to highlight all the beautiful architecture. It has state-of-the-art computer and entertainment systems, as well as a full security system with closed-circuit TVs on the premises, all of which were put in when the current owner renovated the home, painstakingly maintaining the original design.

There are a total of 6 bedrooms, including 4 full bedroom suites with marble-finished bathrooms. The master suite has an adjoining office (with a kitchen) that could easily be converted into another bedroom, if desired. There is a full gourmet kitchen, complete with Butler's pantry and a wrap-around veranda for outdoor dining and entertaining. An elevator services all floors.

Outside, there stand the the 4,000-pound bronze gates and rustic stone pillars at the entryway that were designed by Hearst Castle architect Julia Morgan. The exquisitely landscaped grounds have antique paving stones from China to create paths throughout and there is a custom-designed bronze fountain that can be viewed from the great room of the house. A teak-beamed pergola sits beside the stone-lined pool and the pool house has a sauna, steam bath/shower and controls for indoor/outdoor sound systems, the fountain and spa. There is also a caretaker apartment on the property, with a marble full bath, top of line kitchenette and hardwood flooring.

Doubtless, the main highlights of the property are the fantastic views from almost every room in the house, as well as the unprecedented level of privacy that the estate affords.