Photography: Jon Day
High in the hills sits ‘1859 Bel Air’ one of the area’s last great contemporary mansions. Zoning rule changes have ensured that the 20,000 ft2 of unapologetic modernity with views clear out to Catalina Island, will be one of the last of its kind.
Seven years in the making, this mammoth undertaking required a legion of craftsmen, from the architect, builder and artists to the two driving forces of the aesthetic: the developer Sean Balakhani and the interior designer César Giraldo. Their collaboration has crafted a truly impressive, sophisticated space, but one that never feels austere. As Sean says, “That was the challenge that we had. With this kind of a magnitude and size, to create coziness and make you feel you’re at home.”
You are welcomed into the home by its own, bespoke, scent and three floors dedicated to the view. In a house filled with scene-stealing touches: floating staircase, infinity pool artwork and wall to wall vistas; the kitchen stands out as an example of the ‘immense yet welcoming’ philosophy.
“From the kitchen, you have the most beautiful views of the house. It shares the stage with the beautiful lounges that we have in front of the kitchen, which makes it amazing.” enthuses Sean.
There was only ever one appliance brand that would feel at home in rooms of this scale and aesthetic. Equally, the developer, Sean and the architect César are all Gaggenau advocates. “I love Gaggenau. I only work with Gaggenau.” says César emphatically. Sean agrees, “, I think Gaggenau is one of the best brands in the industry. They use a beautiful technology. They’re very clean, easy to use and have the contemporary look that I look for all the time. Designers love it too because it looks amazing on the project.”
Outside of their professional capacity, are they quite so committed? “I personally put Gaggenau in my own house too.” explains Sean while César adds, “Being from Colombia, I love coffee. I’m a coffee addict, so in my studio I have the coffee maker, which I love, and the wine cellar.”
