Being close to nature is both a pleasure and a privilege. At a time when environmental protection, ecological stewardship, and sustainable living are top-of-mind for so many, perhaps the most covetable lifestyle of all is one that embraces the earth and its wonders.
It’s this type of lifestyle that sets the affluent, radiant Crystal Cove village apart from the rest of Newport Beach on the coast of California. Set among the hills and trees are unique, ultramodern works of architecture that coexist beautifully with their surroundings, because they’re designed with forward-thinking, eco-friendly features. This brand new custom build at the top of the community’s gated, forested hilltop, is a perfect example of how these elements—ecology, luxury, sustainability, and innovation—come together. Imagine a day here, and see for yourself.
Morning: A Nature Preserve Next Door
Newport Beach, California | John Cain, Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty
From the moment you awaken, your home appears calibrated to maximize your comfort—the lights have adjusted to the ideal brightness and the air conditioning provides the perfect temperature. That’s because intuitive, smart home technology brings this property to life, featuring a solar panel system supported by Tesla batteries.
It’s warm and bright today, and the outdoors are beckoning. You descend the floating spiral staircase, which encircles a striking 32-foot crystal chandelier, and collect an energizing breakfast from your gourmet kitchen, with its Italian custom cabinetry and accents of brushed gold. Once you leave through the home’s grand entryway of curved archways and palatial pillars, you’re just steps away from Crystal Cove State Park.
You’ve already explored many of its 4,000 acres on foot, bicycle, and horseback, navigating the chaparral canyons of El Moro and the scenic summits of Pelican Point. Today, you opt for the Los Trancos trail, which takes you towards Crystal Cove State Beach and the 46 perfectly preserved heritage cottages that overlook it.
Noon: From the Hilltop to the Seafloor
By the time you arrive home, you’re pleased you had the foresight to book a spa appointment at The Resort at Pelican Hill—the glamorous retreat Crystal Cove is known for. You pass some time in your garden, with its loggias, terraces, sports court, and courtyards. The state-of-the-art BBQ island is enticing, but you know you can grab lunch at the resort. So you head down to your subterranean 3,000-square-foot garage and drive over to Pelican Hill.
Once you’ve gotten a bite to eat at the Pelican Hill Golf Club’s delicious café, you treat yourself to a blissful few hours at the spa. Feeling rejuvenated, you surprise yourself—rather than returning home, you venture back to play a round of golf at one of the finest courses in the country. The vistas of Crystal Cove Beach are exhilarating, as always, and provide inspiration for future excursions. The wilderness conservation area extends out to sea, and the 1,140 acres of protected ocean provides some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in the state.
Night: The Best Kind of Island-Hopping
After a tranquil day, you’re ready to head north to other areas of Newport Beach. You start at Fashion Island, an open-air shopping destination that hosts designer boutiques alongside iconic department stores, before venturing off to Balboa Island, where the waterfront boardwalks lead to the signature ferris wheel.
As afternoon turns to evening, you browse contentedly from Balboa Island over to the Balboa Peninsula. You pass by three national landmarks as you stroll this renowned stretch of California coastline—the Balboa Pavilion, the Balboa Pier, and the Newport Pier—and as the sun begins to set, you arrive at the Wedge. Here, the breakwater near the entrance to Newport Harbor produces some of the world’s most picturesque waves, with swells hitting heights of 30 feet.
At the end of such a full day, your home is a peaceful haven. As you enter your yard, the two outdoor fireplaces are already welcoming you with their shimmering flames, as are the elegant fire pots that flank your negative-edge pool. You bask in the warmth and beauty, and this continues within the home as well, where the hearth is lit in the great room and the lamps glow serenely in the library, with its paneling of white oak.
After enjoying a glass of wine from the waterfall bar, you contentedly meander to the primary bedroom suite to drift off, knowing there is already so much you want to see and do when morning comes again.
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