A VISIT TO A BEAUTIFUL BALINESE STYLE WATERFRONT HOME

Hello!

Today I’m going to take you on a visit to a beautiful Balinese style waterfront home located in Newport Beach, California.

It is the tranquil Shangri la that my friend Rick Cunningham calls home.  I gave you a sneak-peek into his amazing oasis in my last post when I wrote about my “Weekend in The OC” here.

Rick hosted an incredible Spanish feast for our Comfort Food Group.

While my friends were enjoying an amazing array of Tapas on the terrace, I snuck inside to snap some photos of his breathtakingly beautiful abode.  Rick, a bachelor and successful business man, is a serious globetrotter.  Having ventured many times to the far east, Rick decided to capture the essence of his travels to tropical locales right here at his home in Newport Beach.  He purchased a seriously dated waterfront estate and over the course of 2 years, set about transforming it into his own personal nirvana.  We arrived at Rick’s home by boat.  The Ipe Brazilian Walnut gang plank delivered us to the lush landscaping of the lanai, installed by an Orange County firm called Instant Jungle.

Fully mature plants were introduced and, overnight, a lush jungle materialized where none had existed 24 hours prior.  The fully grown vegetation gave Rick’s terrace instant privacy from the close proximity of adjacent homes that have now virtually vanished from view.  Sitting on this terrace you feel as though you’ve been transported to an Balinese paradise.

Stepping from the lanai through a wall of fully retractable glass doors, one arrives in the great room.   This vast, open-concept room encompases a living area, which is flanked by a dining space, and an expansive open kitchen.

A beautifully lit wet bar area and media wall are ensconced in a creamy white Texas Limestone.

The comfortable modular sofa provides a natural border that defines each area of the great room.

On one side is the beautiful dining area where we enjoyed dinner.

And adjacent to that is the kitchen.  What is most notable about this home is how lighting was used to perfection.  Interior designer Heather Lanham of White Designs in Venice, California worked with General Contractor Chris Wallace to achieve what I think is perfection in lighting.  It provides such drama and warmth to the beautiful decor.

The stone used on the kitchen island is a “leathered” granite called “Cosmos”.  I wish you could reach out and touch it as I did.  The supple texture that is created using the leathering technique is both beautiful to see and feel.

Notice again in this photo how this handsome granite looks lit by the perfectly placed lighting.

This is the downstairs powder room.  The bamboo sink, louvered cabinet doors and stone backsplash are in perfect harmony with the tropical, Balinese-styled home.

As I ventured upstairs, I was struck again by the dramatic use of lighting that illuminated the beautiful Ipe Brazilian Walnut flooring and handrails.

Ipe wood (pronounced ee-pay), also known as Brazilian Walnut, is typically found in Central and South America.  It is one of the densest hardwoods available and, believe it or not, has the same fire rating as concrete and steel.

This beautiful staircase delivered me into the theater loft.

Here, more well placed lighting highlights Rick’s collection of art, gathered on his frequent travels.

Visits to exotic places like Bali, Thailand, East Africa and China helped to inspire the design of his home.

Here, in the master bedroom, we once again find dramatic lighting in the paneled and coved ceiling.

The bedroom opens onto an adjoining terrace where more tropical plants are found……

along with comfortable lounges.

Stepping into the master bathroom, one can’t help but be struck by the astonishing beauty of the tub, ensconced in a granite called “Bamboo”.

The Bamboo granite was also used on the adjacent vanity which features a hand carved vessel sink, made of polished black granite.  The undulating tiles on the wall make it look as if it were made of bamboo.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this peek into one of Newport Harbor’s most unique and beautiful homes.