Design firm the Luxford Group, led by Michael Chen, created the outstanding home, called Elementi and located in the upmarket enclave of the Trousdale Estates, in collaboration with SAOTA Architects. Everything about the home is perfection, from the views over the skyline and out to the ocean, to the ultra-high-end finishes, using many Italian brands, like Molteni Closet, Rimadesio millwork, Rimadesio Interior doors, Antonio Lupi vanity and mirrors, and Dada Kitchen. See: World’s best homes – tour the globe’s most beautiful houses The entrance and facade of Elementi were inspired by a journey through Big Sur, and emulates an experience traveling over an iconic bridge where a cascading waterfall is revealed as you get closer to it and flows down under the bridge into the Pacific Ocean. Upon crossing entirely over the bridge and passing through a mysterious mountainside tunnel you exit and immediately experience the beauty and wide-open views of the ocean and sunset. The architectural elements and design of the home was was drawn from inspirations encountered during Chen’s travels around the world. The home features a 20-foot ledge stone water wall that cascades from the exterior moat, passes through the main-level dining room that is suspended over a lower courtyard and fills the area down below that surrounds and nourishes a 150-year-old, 15ft-tall ancient olive tree imported from Tuscany. Elementi boasts 18,000sqft of space, and is the only house in the Trousdale Estates that has a permitted daylight basement and only one of few houses in Trousdale that has a half-length Olympic size swimming lane integrated into the pool. There are seven bedrooms and a spectacular master quarter that cantilevers over the balcony. See: Bedroom ideas – designs and inspiration for beautiful bedrooms Upscale artwork features throughout the home, including a Baltasar Lobo sculpture that sits above a marble moat that waterfalls into the courtyard below, and a George Condo painting worth $2.5 million. Each corner of the home has been meticulously engineered with the ultimate attention to detail. The impressive great room with marble details inspired by the rhythmic keys of a piano boasts a striking ambiance worthy of a royal hall. See: Living room ideas – clever ways to decorate living spaces The main kitchen includes state-of-the-art Gaggenau appliances, Dada cabinetry, and a 14ft leathered marble Island. Other features include a 2000 bottle wine cellar, a wellness center and gym, an office, a touch screen elevator, a bar, butler’s kitchen, and a home theater for 24 people. The home is listed with Michael Chen and Aaron Kirman of Aaron Kirman Group at Compass (opens in new tab)
Who is Michael Chen?
Taiwanese-born Chen has worked in entertainment set design for Warner Brothers and furniture design work in Milan to theme park design in Hong Kong, as well as luxury home design-development across Southern California. He is now also the President of the Asia-Pacific International Division of Aaron Kirman Group at Compass.
