Nestled in the western hills just minutes north of St. Helena, this architecturally-refined, authentic country retreat is as integral to its secluded site as birdsong and ancient oaks.  Crafted with basic natural materials, stone-sided and wood-trussed, it looks as American as Teddy Roosevelt. And yet it is more Palladian than most Italian villas. Designed by Andrew Batey for a former president of Paramount Studios, it honors Palladio's classic symmetry, cruciform shape, and integrated loggias. The entry porch is room-sized, and its high, sheltering gabled roof is supported by a substantial sun-ray wood truss. The porch, living room, and two valley-side bedrooms enjoy woodland-framed views of the eastern hills and the valley below.  Entering the house, one is taken by the great room's soaring space, massive rock-faced fireplace, large windows and another mighty sun-ray truss above the living room. The floor to apex fireplace marks the center, and serves both halves, of the great room, with the dining room enjoying its warmth on the hill-side of the home. The large, wide kitchen features a Subzero refrigerator, 6 burner Viking cooktop, Miele dishwasher, and Thermador convection oven, and looks over its own garden terrace.  The master suite has a rock-face wood-burning fireplace, large view windows on two sides, and a walk-in closet.  The lower level of the home includes the knotty-pine lined family media room, the laundry room, and a dazzling 5,000 bottle wine cellar with custom redwood racks and commercial grade temperature and humidity controls.  All bedrooms in the house enjoy private loggias and have independent, direct access to the surrounding gardens and landscaped spaces, with native rock walls and mature woodlands. A special delight is the cadet-blue 45' lap pool, fed by a three tier cascading water fall, and served by a large, adjacent trellised stone patio.  Greeting friends on the grand entry porch, or reading quietly in your private loggia, you will feel as much a part of the natural setting as your distinguished country retreat.

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