Bohemian Rhapsody

Photo Caption: Rock and Sea: The legendary Stone House (left) was one of the first artists'' hangouts in Big Sur. A plot of oceanfront property (right) with nothing on it but a trailer and a spectacular view could be the next.

When

Realtor John Saar speaks of Big Sur, it''s with a reverence that reflects locals'' appreciation for living in a wilderness mostly unscarred by civilization.

"The houses are so sparse that people have a lot of solitude," he says. "You feel you are a part of something that is so rugged and dominant that it makes us insignificant."

One of Saar''s listings, the legendary Stonehouse, possesses all those mythical Big Sur qualities: ocean views, privacy, and a Bohemian past. Built by writer, editor and poet Harry Lafler, the granite home sits on a ridgeline 1,600 feet above the ocean and is surrounded by 23 acres of redwood canyons, streams, and mountains.

Known in San Francisco as "The King of Bohemia," Lafler found frequent inspiration retreating from his artist''s compound on Telegraph Hill down to Big Sur. He spent years staying on the property inside a hollow redwood tree filled with his favorite books. In 1924, after several divorces, Lafler hired Spanish stonemasons and his friend, Big Sur sculptor Harry Dick Ross, to build him a bachelor''s pad "designed to last 1,000 years." The result was Stonehouse, a simple but durable structure erected with two-foot-thick walls, redwood doors, tables and built-in bookshelves.

In a letter to the current owners, John Lafler recalls the rusticity of his father''s original design.

"Since the place is much changed since the ''30s, here is a summary of the way I remember it. The only way to get to the house was on foot...The design and way of life of the stone house matched some sort of rustic ideal of my father''s. He didn''t value comfort and convenience as much as this ideal..."

Today the home has additions such as skylights and offers all modern appliances and comforts. Three bedrooms are located in a separate structure, Treehouse, connected to Stonehouse by a breezeway. The self-sufficient home is supplied with spring water and runs on solar power.

Those seeking inspiration from Stonehouse in the past have included artists and writers such as Jack London, Robinson Jeffers, John Steinbeck, Lillian Bos Ross and Henry Miller.

"If there''s chaos in the rest of the world, you feel protected there," Saar says. "You watch the rolling grasses move towards the ocean, and you feel like you''re transcending into Heaven."

Price: $7,750,000, including all furnishings. Off Highway One, Big Sur. Contact: Hillary Lipman and John Saar of John Saar Properties. (831) 622-7227

Roughing

It

"Here is a land where typewriter keys, and paint brushes and sculptor''s mallets are beginning to establish a tradition on the Big Sur coast. Already a handful of pioneers of art in the Big Sur mourn the good old days before the road came in; the time when a man with twenty-five dollars could come down the coast, get away from it all, and dream of fame." --Lillian Bos Ross, Big Sur Stories

In Gorda, a tiny town on the southern border of Monterey County known for its proximity to jade-filled beaches, 12 unblemished acres await the next dreamer.

"There are just a couple of bits of civilization in this section of the Big Sur Coast," says Saar. "It''s separate, but you''re only a couple of miles to a little grocery store and a gas station."

There''s simply one problem with the unspoiled property: access.

"Originally there was a road to the property," Saar explains. "El Nino washed out the road and now there''s just a hiking trail."

But for those willing to hike about 10 minutes from Highway One, the payoffs are breathtaking. "It''s a dramatic spot to carve out your little oasis," Saar says. "It''s the kind of thing where you could do a little homestead up there. You won''t see anyone--just ocean."

Price: $250,000. Highway One, Gorda. Contact: Hillary Lipman and John Saar of John Saar Properties. (831) 622-7227

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