Villa Rental: Bon Vivant

Lush grounds and rich interiors turn a Malibu estate into a French-inspired retreat.

text by: Sarah Firshein

photos by: Cris Nolasco

February 1, 2009

California’s Pacific Coast Highway—arguably the most scenic stretch of paved road in the country—runs through Malibu for 21 miles. The long and narrow city, located just northwest of Los Angeles, is home to extravagant estates, some of the best surf breaks in the state, and fine shops and restaurants. And while the lack of luxury hotels in the area maintains the beach town’s exclusivity, it means that renting a home is the best way for vacationers to enjoy everything the locale has to offer.

Located on the northern end of town, within the mountains and around the corner from the city’s famed Zuma Beach, Church Estate Vineyards—where weekly rental rates start at $25,000—is the ideal escape for large families. Most beachfront homes in Malibu occupy small lots, but this home’s setting within the hills allows for nine acres of open space and a long list of amenities. The owner, who was inspired by Claude Monet’s garden in Giverny, France, for the landscaping, added a 500-foot-long meandering creek with waterfall that runs adjacent to the house, from the top of the property down to a private lake. Indigenous flowers that bloom at different points throughout the year dot the landscape and ensure that there will always be blossoms. In the evening, outdoor lights highlight the pathways that connect the vineyard (planted with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes), the creek and waterfall, the red-clay tennis court (modeled after the French Open’s Stade de Roland Garros), and the stables, which house Thoroughbred polo horses.

At the top of the property, overlooking the grounds and Pacific Ocean, sits Church Estate’s 8,000-square-foot French château–style home. The owner’s love of storied pieces informed the design—from the 200-year-old French pavers that make up the floors in the family room and kitchen to the reclaimed bricks from France used in many of the home’s fireplaces. The beams and trusses anchoring the estate add a rustic feel and are made of ash wood salvaged from New England houses and barns. And the 4,000-bottle wine cellar, complete with cheese and cigar storage, features antique Italian paving stones that Roman gladiators once walked on.

Each of the five bedrooms, including the one in the guesthouse, has a distinctive design scheme and a private patio. The master suite on the second floor offers a large sleeping area as well as a spalike bathroom with a large steam shower. Other notable rooms include the library, with its coffered tin ceiling and pewter bar, and the great room, the focal point of which is a limited-edition Steinway piano, one of three fashioned in 1911 and painted with elaborate turn-of-the-century scenes. The spacious kitchen, equipped with a black, French-style La Cornue oven with copper detailing and a wood-fired pizza oven, opens up to the backyard and deck.

Church Estate Vineyards, 310.457.0600, www.churchestatevineyards.com