A Spanish-style home built more than a century ago and located within the Carmel Highlands community just south of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California—one of Northern California’s most tranquil and picturesque (and dog-friendly) towns—recently listed for $8 million.
The property, which is perched near a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, oozes with history. It was first designed by and for John O’Shea, a prolific California-based impressionist artist who often entertained socialites and politicians, along with the who’s who of Carmel. He lived in the home with his friend Elizabeth Bigelow, a socialite and patron of the arts. Listing agent Dillon Staples of Compass says, “The home was used to entertain and host some of Bigelow and O’Shea’s friends, which included Carmel’s biggest and original developer, James Franklin Davendorf, and other artists that were pivotal in the establishment of Carmel as an artist town.”
Carmel Highlands has long been known as an artist enclave, attracting creatives for nearly a century. While it has traded hands several times over the years, the current owner is tech executive Paul Mountford, CEO of Progenity, a data privacy company. The home, referred to as Stonewater, is just 100 yards from Brad Pitt’s DL James House, another historic home built within a few years of Stonewater.
The open-plan great room flows out to an ocean-view deck.
Glen McDowell
While Stonewater today has been comprehensively renovated with up-to-date amenities, the façade retains its original Spanish-style design from 1919. There have been several structural additions over the years and new roofing, yet some of the interior rooms feature original stone fireplaces and wood wall paneling.
The ultra-private parcel isn’t visible from the street. A winding stone-lined driveway, towering trees, and native plants…