8517 Franklin Avenue

8517 Franklin Avenue. A bold and innovative departure in new construction whose inimitable style will set a new benchmark for design. This resort-like estate is set above the street with a sweeping 120-foot approach that passes through a canopy of mature specimen trees, succulents, and tropical greenery to reach the home’s front entrance. The estate was crafted with exacting precision, high-quality and meticulous attention to detail. Rich textures and finishes abound including luxurious wall coverings, suede paneled doors, slab Nero Marquina marble, oak-paneled walls, walnut cabinetry, and polished concrete flooring.

The main level features soaring 13-foot ceilings and an open floor plan with living, dining, and bar spaces open to the outdoors via floor-to-ceiling, pivot, and automated recessed doors. A showroom-quality kitchen includes floor-to-ceiling, hand-hewn walnut cabinetry, center island with Nero Marquina marble countertops and walnut table extension, Wolfe and Miele ovens, Miele espresso machine, Gaggenau range, and glass front Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer drawers. Automated, 13’ recessed doors open to the outdoor living and dining areas with a built-in barbecue overlooking the pool and spa. A sky-lit, floor-to-ceiling oak-paneled powder room with custom-built Calacatta Gold vanity completes the first floor.

The primary suite is reminiscent of a five-star luxury hotel with a sitting area, two-way fireplace, and dressing room with custom rift white oak cabinetry and vanity desk. Heated floors of antiqued natural oak, laid in a striated chevron pattern stylistically set this space apart from the rest of the home. The spectacular primary is moored by white Calacatta marble slab floors and shower, custom vanity with rift white oak, and freestanding Cascara tub plus heated floors. An adjacent outdoor area is accessed through 11’ floor to ceiling pivot doors. Two additional en-suite bedrooms with custom finishes and built-in desk areas complete the second level.

A separate entrance accented by a living plant wall with backlit onyx leads into the entertainment level. Part lounge, part nightclub, part sports bar, this space brings versatility to entertaining. The theater is unrivaled by any other in its league. With ample room for 16 or more, the theater is equipped with Dolby Digital Surround Sound, a state-of-the-art Da-Lite screen, and JVC projector. Invisible Stealth Acoustic speakers and dual Sunfire subwoofers are concealed from view and the theater walls are wrapped in upholstered panels. Motorized black-out draperies tuck away into pockets when the theater is not in use. The open-plan bar features marble countertops, stainless steel cabinets, a four-tap beer/beverage dispenser with two double-keg refrigerators, plus icemaker, beverage refrigerator, and two dishwasher drawers. Set behind a wall of glass the adjacent, climate-controlled wine room has an open-display capacity of 388 bottles. Ample additional storage capacity can be found in the wall-mounted curvilinear cabinetry. This level is complimented by a powder room with natural cork wallcovering with gold-foil backing and floating vanity of rift white oak plus heated flooring system throughout the theater and bar.

A separate flex-space is staged as an office but is equally suited as a gym, entertainment lounge, or as the home’s fourth bedroom suite. Deeply-hued natural cork wallcovering and a wall of smoke-tinted mirrors lend a moody vibe to the space. Heated cement floors with a grey micro-coating finish and an en-suite bathroom with custom wood and Calacatta marble vanity and a large, glass-enclosed shower with white Calacatta slab-marble walls provides an elegant guest retreat.

Equally distinctive are the serene and tranquil grounds which blend harmoniously with the surrounding hillside. Numerous outdoor spaces seamlessly merge with the indoors. An outdoor living and dining area with a built-in barbeque overlooks commanding views of the city lights. The zero-edge pool and spa with live plant wall and fireplace flanked by a peaceful water wall creates the perfect private refuge or the backdrop for entertaining on a small or large scale.