By Elyse Umlauf-Garneau from duPont REGISTRY Homes.  March 2011 Issue.

Amble through Bill and Dawn Davidson’s estate overlooking the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla, California and you just might be tempted to ask, ‘Where’s the bodega? I’d like to buy a nice bottle of tempranillo.’

The 10,000-square-foot home appears rather modest from street level, but once inside it possesses the kind of warm majesty that brings to mind an uncommonly luxurious Spanish village. “In that sense it’s mystical,” says Dawn, an interior designer who completely re-imagined and rebuilt the property with Bill, a high-end homebuilder, over three-and-ahalf years. “It does look kind of like a village.”

The Davidson’s home is terraced to take advantage of the ocean topography. Its near-acre-sized lot is located on a point overlooking the world-renowned Big Rock surf spot.

“None of the nearby houses create blinders,” Dawn says.  “The views are unimpeded.” And may we add, breathtaking.  The home has eight water-facing balconies overlooking  135 feet of oceanfront. Seven courtyards provide intimate lounging areas, along with four outdoor fireplaces, a large pool and custom Jacuzzi. Among the living spaces are, “A lower apartment with its own fireplace that overlooks the ocean,” Dawn outlines.

“A bedroom that opens onto the pool; and another with a large deck that opens onto a private garden with a fountain.”

“The home was a low-slung ranch style when we got it and had been remodeled several times,” Dawn sums up. “We wanted it to look like an old grand classic from the 20s.”

It’s safe to say they more than succeeded. 

Find out more details on duPont REGISTRY Homes.