Nestled 30 miles south of San Francisco in Silicon Valley, sought-after Atherton offers sophisticated upscale urban/suburban living within easy distance of a wide variety of coastal and Bay protected open space lands. Just minutes from Stanford University, downtown Menlo Park offers a mix of fine dining and shopping, as well as the vibrancy of a college town. Proximity to major Peninsula thoroughfares -- plus international airports in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose – make greater Bay Area commuting and executive travel effortless.

Offering serenity and structured formality worthy of a Jane Austen novel, the lushly landscaped wrap-around grounds boast long stretches of level lawn, European-style packed-sand strolling paths and a parterre garden, stately columned pergolas plus a striking granite gazebo, and a broad motor-court terrace with a modern stone fountain. Adjacent to the sparkling swimming pool and spa, a substantial balustraded twin staircase leads to a sunken courtyard terrace with pillared arcades that evoke the Roman Baths, complete with a sauna- and mud bath-appointed gym and massage salon. Completing the sense of miles-away seclusion, the gated property boasts mature perimeter trees, including soaring redwoods, sculptural live oaks, and elegant Italian cypresses.

A sleek, contemporary interpretation of the Neoclassical movement in architecture that defined the opulent palaces and country homes of  Europe for centuries, this exceptional estate celebrates the past while thoroughly embracing modern comforts. Nods to historical antecedents include weighty structural elements entirely faced with thick slab granite, purely Palladian arched windows, doorways, and parades of formal columns, and fireplaces built on a baronial scale. Adding to the Romanesque dignity throughout, copper and bronze are lavishly used, adorning elements that range from the massed geometry of the chimneypiece in the formal dining room and sitting parlor, to intimate details such as lion’s-head discharges on exterior drain spouts. Classical design vocabulary is everywhere expressed with chic updated twists, highlighted by chevron-patterned beveled marble and walnut flooring, soaring custom doors and mantelpieces that eschew filigree for spare, stylized Art Deco lines, and unexpected touches of glass and leather. Seamless integrations of state-of-the-art technology include Lutron scene-programmable lighting, whole-home CAT5 connectivity, a built-in sound system, and radiant-heated flooring in all the Italian marble-finished bathrooms.

Entered through spectacular antiqued-copper double doors, a two-story ceiling that references Gothic cross-vaulting unifies a trio of elegant entertaining spaces, including a solid-marble wood-burning fireplace, a formal dining area crowned by a gleaming chrome candle-style chandelier, and a spacious sitting parlor that shares the dining room’s wood-burning fireplace. The sweeping staircase rises to a curved gallery overlook, perfect for a mood-music quartet. Two deluxe powder rooms serve this vast and versatile space, while a cherry-paneled library offers a more intimate, gentleman’s club-style retreat. Quietly secluded, a generous bedroom suite is suitable for guest accommodations or an au pair.

Perfectly positioned and professionally equipped to cater gourmet repasts on almost any scale, the granite- and cherry-finished chef’s kitchen is anchored by a giant center island with an antiqued copper hood. A sunny breakfast room beckons casual meals, while a distinctive motor-court entry is ideal for deliveries and catering, as well as facilitating festivities that spill out to the pergola-terraces and gardens.

Occupying its own extensive wing, the master bedroom suite is crowned by a high angular ceiling that showcases the wood-burning fireplace’s soaring solid travertine chimneypiece. Two sets of French doors open to romantic balconets with pool and courtyard views. Offering a sumptuous haven-within-a-haven, the stunning master bath features a free-standing circular whirlpool tub, floating dual-sink vanity, and a wall of frosted frameless glass that artfully conceals the commode and European-style bidet and an oversized shower.

Two additional upper-level bedrooms enjoy garden views on three sides plus a spacious balcony that opens from the wing’s hallway. Each bedroom features an en suite bath complete with a whirlpool tub and separate shower.

Continuing the theme of Greco-Roman opulence, this vast entertainment complex centers around an enormous versatile-use recreation area with a heavily beamed ceiling, paneled colonnade, multiple French doors to the sunken garden courtyard and separate spa/gym facilities, and gleaming ballroom-worthy flooring of inlaid marble and travertine. A dual-entry wet bar links this space with the adjoining home theatre that is lined with temperature-controlled custom-racked wine storage that houses up to 2,000 bottles. Arranged around this spectacular relaxation arena are three generous bedroom suites, including two with French doors to the sunken courtyard, affording convenient separate entry.

7 bedrooms, each with en suite bath, and 3 half-baths

Separate gym/spa facility with sauna and full bath

Detached 4-car garage

Automatically gated driveway entrance off a private side-road

Approximately 12,000 square feet of living space

Lot size of approximately one acre

Excellent location with easy access to Highways 82, 84, 101, and 280

Prestigious Atherton location

Highly regarded local schools