On the market for $16.5 million, a highly customized new build in one of Orange County’s most sought-after communities—The Strand at Headlands—is the work of SoCal’s finest.
The panorama from 33 Beach View’s fire pit and pool is one of O.C.’s most epic.
It’s true that there’s no bad part of Orange County’s outrageously picturesque coastline—California’s Riviera to some. But it also must be acknowledged that some spots are indeed superior to others. Anyone who’s stepped foot inside the gates of The Strand, the prestigious Dana Point oceanfront community along what’s referred to as the Gold Coast, can be certain it’s one of the most awe-inspiring. Within the tony neighborhood are further tiers of distinction—quite literally. And on the premier tier of The Headlands, one of the highest points, sits a brand-new estate by a veritable homebuilding dream team. Popular O.C. builder Jack Herron with KJI Construction Inc. led the charge on 33 Beach View Ave. alongside renowned landscaper Daniel Stewart Landscape Services (danielstewart.net) and Sheldon Harte of Harte Brownlee & Associates (hartebrownlee.com) on the coastal-chic interiors.
The street-facing front of the white brick home
“When you stand in the grand three-story entry under the custom chandelier, you look straight out to the gorgeous blue Pacific Ocean,” says listing agent Jim Ardery of Laguna Beach Properties (lagunabeachproperties.net), who has the pleasure of calling the $16.5 million five-bedroom, 6 ½-bath property his occasional office—albeit a 7,218 square foot one on a quarter-acre lot—as he shows it to prospective buyers. “Above the noise and confusion of the sand, it is private and quiet.”
The open-plan scheme nods to the house’s place above the Pacific.
There are views, and then there are Views. This has the latter. Think expansive Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel–level panoramas—after all, the five-star resort is just up the road. It’s as breathtaking as the lobby of Montage Laguna Beach, too, with an instant sense of place and dominating splash of color courtesy of the horizon. The deep-azure Pacific Ocean isn’t the only thing homeowners look out to from the vast picture window beyond the soaring foyer; Catalina and San Clemente Islands are also on the horizon for admiring.
From the moment you enter the soaring foyer, it’s all about the ocean views beyond.
Although 33 Beach View Ave. has never been lived in, the house does have a brief history: It was completed in 2017, purchased and then recustomized, remodeled and decorated by the owner (and his aforementioned team), who then immediately moved out of state and listed it for sale, fully furnished—art included. That ultra-appealing aspect of the property was a collaboration between the owner, Harte and Sue Greenwood of Laguna Beach’s beloved Sue Greenwood Fine Art (suegreenwoodfineart.com).
In the beachy living room, a wall of glass retracts electronically for seamless indoor-outdoor living.
Along with the collaborators behind the striking turnkey residence, Harte and Greenwood are responsible for the one-of-a-kind atmosphere created by a blend of high-end elements. “The home has an East Coast vibe—crisp, starchy and proper, but still fun,” says Ardery. There’s nothing stuffy or harsh about this sharpness. With its fresh, bright palette and beachy refinement, he promises that above all, the home is supremely comfortable. Several fireplaces and an outdoor fire pit add to the warmth, as do cozy family spaces like the media room and elegant private library.
The master bath is cozy yet sumptuous.
Intelligently designed, the space is full of details that are showy without being ostentatious. Take the wall-mounted wine dispenser in the open kitchen, which also features double Bosch dishwashers, double Sub-Zero refrigerators, a built-in espresso machine, plus refrigerator drawers for the pool. There’s also a separate catering kitchen, because this is a house that begs to entertain guests, and a formal dining room with a wine cellar. A fun party trick is built in as well: The southwest-facing glass wall of the spacious open-plan great room electronically retracts to magically bring the heated custom pool and plush patios even closer and solidify the idea of indoor-outdoor living.
Sheldon Harte’s dreamy blue and white palette connects the inside with its inspiration outside.
Each of the five bedrooms boasts its own en suite, but none beats the master, which is on the oceanfront side of the home and rivals the world’s finest hotel suites in terms of view. “It has a large private balcony and fabulous his-and-hers baths that are one-of-a-kind,” says Ardery. “Sheldon is the amazing creator of the look—colors that match the ocean setting, beautifully executed with an eye for the wow factor, but also livable,” he adds. Further perks include the homeowners’ private club at The Strand with its oceanfront pool, and a state-of-the-art gym also seemingly hovering above the sand. Bottom line: Call this place home; it’ll be like living at a top resort, sans the hoi polloi.
Photography by: Jeri Koehel
