Del Mar artistic vision, sea views, private pool and spa

My house is suitable for families with children and related mature groups, but not for groups of younger unrelated adults who might bring many vehicles, party with alcohol or stay outside late. The beds (2 Kings, 1 Queen etc.) are best suited to families. The house primarily faces over a little used back alley and is quiet and private. It has a complex layout that is much liked by children, with a play loft, a fixed crib, a portable pack-and-play, two high chairs, a digital piano, a large collection of children's books, and there are bolts 5 feet up on all exterior doors.

This 2800-square-foot, split level architectural house inspired by the artist who commissioned it in the 1970s. From the sidewalk directly in front of the house where you will park, there is a spectacular view downhill to the ocean 0.4 miles away. From several rooms and the rear deck there are scattered glimpses of ocean between an overgrowth of trees, bushes and plants. The living room, dining room, kitchen and master bedroom all have high or very high open-beam ceilings. Decorated with a mix of the traditional (marble floors, 5 chandeliers, 25 hanging pendant lights, antique furniture and lights), artistic (silver nickel bathtub, track spotlights illuminating original art) and eclectic items, the property invites you to breathe, rest, dream, laugh and play. It is not the standard in-style manicured hotel with neatly mowed short lawns, and it is not a property newly furnished for rent only. There is fast internet, and you could stream from your own satellite or cable service to two smaller TVs, but the seating is not set up for TV viewing. Please do NOT ask to stay if the house does not match your preferences.

The pool is 3 - 6 feet deep, about 42 feet long, and is heated most of the year, but please ask about extra charges if you want it to be heated for multiple days when the air temperature is very low. Neither the pool nor spar can be used after 8pm, and because of noise restrictions, there can be no music played or heard outside at any time. Kids playing is not a problem.

The two full suites are upstairs, each with a small ocean view between trees, and private full baths. The master suite has a king bed, a fold out full sofa-bed suitable for a child, lots room for an air-mattress (we may or may not have any since they do not last long - please ask), private balcony and a marble floor in its private bathroom. The guest suite also has a king bed and twin pull down Murphy bed. A smaller bedroom downstairs has one queen bed, and French doors to its own small private patio. A ladder loft at the top of the house, with four twin beds, serves as a fourth play/sleeping area for kids. There is also a twin bed in the large study room.

It is easy for large groups to spread out in the house. You can cook and feast in the oversized old kitchen, equipped with a six-burner, two-oven Wolf commercial-style range and a large prep island. The kitchen table can seat 8, and the island has 3 stools. The dining room is bright and its table seats 8 comfortably, 10 with a squeeze. The big living room has 2 couches, a marbled floor and tall double French doors leading to the pool and the adjacent elevated deck. Or you can retreat upstairs to one of the two very private suites.

There are two areas to gather outside, on either side of the house. There is a French style white wooden dining table and BBQ in the kitchen garden, on a tiled area adjoining the kitchen. There is a small "lawn" like area of tall local grasses and natural wild plants and weeds that are adapted to the shade under the huge tree - very little will grow in the shade.

In the rear, you can sit on the deck to talk, in shade if you like, or splash in the lap pool, and soaking in the attached spa, but not after 8pm. We do not have a sun lounger - the frequent overnight ocean fog and day time sun destroy many materials. You can eat by the pool on a Balinese teak dining table, … and if you ever decide to venture off the property, Del Mar's best beaches, parks, restaurants, shopping, race track, fair grounds and dining are all down the hill.

My house is near the top of a steep hill facing the ocean, about 0.4 miles straight downhill to the beach, so you may hear waves at night, but there is a steep cliff there. It is 1 mile from house to either of two popular beaches. The
North beach is a walk-able distance north of the shops and high end restaurants of Olde Del Mar on Camino Del Mar from 11th to 15th St. The very north tip of this beach is for dogs. The South beach is inside the Torrey Pines State Beach and is much more beautiful because it lacks ocean front houses. It accessed from the coast road with the best views in the county. You can park right by beside beach if you pick your timing and walk over the large breakwater rocks, of you can pay for one of two large parking lots with restrooms, but no shops. You could walk to the south beach via roads or a wilderness trail but almost everyone would drive because you will want to have towels, water, snacks, clothes etc. The amount of exposed sand varies year by year so we prefer to go near a low tide.

This is usually a very quiet neighborhood; hence when outside, no shouting, screaming, and never any music or radios. Do not open gates to neighbors’ houses and do not knock on their doors. Make sure all people arriving know the house number. No events, parties, receptions etc. You must never drink alcohol to point where judgement or actions are impaired, or speech become loud. No people on the property other than the guests specified at time of booking. Do not use the spa or pool after 8 pm.

This is the house I live in when it is not rented. It contains my personal property including clothes. It is NOT a hotel. If you are looking for convention, and all new decorations please stay in one of the 8 excellent nearby hotels including two very high ends ones. You have responsibilities and duties similar to those of any homeowner (strip beds you used and begin one cycle of washing, wash and put away dishes, put trash bins out on Sunday, clean up and put away things you moved, leaving house as you found it...). Only when you help in this way can we complete the cleaning in a few hours before the next group arrives.

You can park directly in front of the house on the street, which is busy, from where there is a 50 foot path with three separated 4 inch steps down to the house. The house is set back from and faces away from the road. There is unlimited unrestricted free parking downhill from the house, but NO parking uphill, in front of mailboxes or in the alley in the rear. There is room from one car or truck (but not RV) on loose stones in the rear. The garage is not part of the rental.

Please make sure everyone in your group is aware of the house rules. Your deposit will not be returned if anyone complains about a violation of a house rule. We have not had trouble with kids playing; it is always adults who cause problems.

Keywords: house, 2 suites, pool, spa, some ocean views, trees, Del Mar location