18th century

Desert Retreat

With its near-constant sunshine and numerous golf courses, the Southern California desert can prove irresistible especially for those who reside in cold climes. Such was the case for a Chicago-based businessman and his wife who 20 years ago purchased a home at the Vintage Club, a private resort and golf community in Indian Wells, Calif. Their Mediterranean-inspired estate, which they completed in 2005, encompasses a 19,500-square-foot main house, a 1,100-square-foot guest residence, and 3,400 square feet of terraces and patios. Since the conclusion of the four-year design-and-build process, the homeowners and their family members have been taking full advantage of the property on special occasions and, of course, in winter.

Chat Rooms

Among the conversation pieces in the dining room is the floor a composition of 8-inch-by-8-inch handmade concrete tiles infused with pewter- and ivory-colored pigments. The space also includes an antique William IV mahogany dining table, a 19th-century French chandelier, a trio of Han Dynasty figurines, and an elegant coffered ceiling. Distinctive touches in the family room range from a Han Dynasty figure of a reclining horse to an 18th-century Italian console to an antique wood-and-walnut box inlaid with bronze and bone. The box, which rests on a circular 19th-century French table, is one of several such compartments that Allardyce placed throughout the home.

Suite Escape

To ensure the master suite would feel like a private retreat for the homeowners even when they were hosting the whole family Jakway situated it at a far end of the main house. A tranquil ambience extends from the space’s secluded patio, with its sitting area, fireplace, and water feature, to the bedroom, bathroom, separate dressing room, and his and her closets. The bedroom’s furnishings include a black chinoiserie four-poster, an 18th-century European limestone fireplace, and an 18th-century French desk. In the bathroom, a leaded-glass window lets in natural light while affording privacy. A terra-cotta-colored marble bathtub, a 19th-century alabaster chandelier, and an English chinoiserie table also decorate the space.
The master suite’s blend of international styles is an aesthetic that carries over to the property’s three guest bedrooms.

Back Stage

Unlike traditional Mediterranean homes, which tend to have dark interiors, this reinterpretation of the style features floor-to-ceiling windows that let in plenty of light. “We didn’t want anything too classic Mediterranean,” says the husband, “because we wanted a lot of glass to be able to enjoy the view.”The homeowners also requested that the back of the main house be broad and open. The outdoor dining terrace is just steps from the colonnade off the living room and the pool. Wayne Connor brought the home’s landscaping of palm trees, bougainvillea, and boulders right to the edge of the Vintage Club’s lake. Across the water lies one of the club’s golf courses.