Two-of-a-Kind Wonders

Fun in the Forest

On a quiet street near Bird Rock in Pebble Beach, a three-bedroom house with twin master suites blends nicely into the trees.

Inside, the sense of space is almost startling, with two-story ceilings that provide an airy feeling. But with rooms that are a livable size but not too big, the house manages to also operate on a scale of intimacy and coziness.

From the playful bedroom loft to the live oak growing right through the rear deck, the house is both fun and elegant simultaneously.

"It''s really cozy, and built like the Rock of Gibraltar," says owner Art Jacobs. "Twelve years ago an architect tore it down and redid the whole thing for himself."

The kitchen, while small, has amenities that include light gray granite countertops, painted white wood cabinets, and light hardwood floors.

The separate laundry room boasts a Neptune washer and dryer. Built-in shelves provide attractive functionality throughout, and the home''s three fireplaces are nestled into walls of stone.

From the living room, large windows allow views into the peaceful greenery of the fenced backyard. The house is built in a horseshoe design that allows access to the newly refinished deck from almost every room.

Another perk adding to the privacy of the house is the hidden location of Hermitage Road. Although located a five-minute walk from the ocean and right off the Monterey Peninsula Country Club golf course, the small road resembles a driveway.

"This particular area is known as the walker''s street," says Jacobs. "We get groups of people walking by at least three times daily. Nobody drives through it."

Finally there''s the price: at just under a million for the 2,000-square-foot house, it''s somewhat of a bargain for privacy in Pebble Beach.

Price: $929,000. 3106 Hermitage Road, Pebble Beach. Contact Joy Jacobs of Windermere Peninsula Properties at 236-7976.

Built to Last

"It sits on a point about four miles from the ocean," says owner Sy Ziswasser, describing his five-bedroom, four-bath, 4,500-square-foot abode above Highway 68. "You''re by yourself at the end of the road--the only neighbor is across the way and is building a French Chateau."

Ziswasser''s gated home is designed to be as durable as it is attractive: with a "fireproof" white simulated-wood façade, concrete roof tiles, recycled bricks and 1,200 square feet of oak hardwood floors.

"There isn''t another house around here that''s constructed like this," Ziswasser says. "We used all upscale materials--from the ten-inch base moldings to the solid oak cabinets."

All the primary rooms, even the laundry room, have views, many of the ocean, and are on one level. Below, a three-car garage and a custom exercise room await recreational endeavors.

The giant kitchen--20 by 25 feet--features a large center island, a Sub-Zero fridge and lots of other gourmet goodies.

Five sets of French doors lead off the home onto decks that provide 330-degree panoramic views stretching from Santa Cruz to Pacific Grove to the Santa Lucia mountains. A usable acre slopes down towards Highway 68 for a total of 3.5 acres of property, only a seven-minute drive from Monterey Airport.

"If you like being quiet, this is the place," Ziswasser says.

Price: $1,795,000.00. 25011 Hidden Mesa Court, Monterey. Contact Joy Jacobs of Windermere Peninsula Properties at 236-7976.