32 DIGS.NET | 12.10.2021
M
A
R
K
E
T
S W E E T D I G S | P O W E R S T, H E R M O S A B E A C H
"It's all about engaging within the house, instead of looking away,"
says Starr about the orientation of spaces. Even the airy living
room, with its white cathedral ceiling and a flickering fireplace,
has a "conversation pit"—a cozy, sunken seating area where
people tend to congregate. "It's a nice, intimate space for amaz-
ing conversations," points out Condren. So is any one of the
bars, found indoors or outdoors, or fresh-air lounges, whether
situated on the green lawn or warmed by one of the home's four
fire features. There's even a sprawling, peaceful garden situated
on an elevated swath of land at the rear of the property. "There
are so many places to entertain," points out Stroyke, recount-
ing how a 200-person wedding was once hosted on the property.
"One of the many things I love about that property is that it's very
unassuming from the street," explains Condren. "And I think
people are just blown away as they come in and keep walking,
and realize what an incredible piece of property it is." Each of
the five bedrooms is thoughtfully styled, with an emphasis on
connecting to the outdoors. Notable is the master bedroom with
an exposed beam ceiling and doors that open onto an elevated
sun lounge, complete with a bubbling spa. Handy also are the
guest quarters, tucked away on the upper level and equipped
with a butler's kitchen.
"You want to get into the client's mind and thoughts, and
understand how they want to live," says Starr of the design
process. "How do they socialize? How do they live as a family?"
In this case, he didn't need to ask a lot of questions, since he
already knew the answers. He knew, for instance, the Condren's
intended the home to be an inviting place to put one's feet up,
and enjoy life with friends, family and neighbors. A place to
optimize joy and togetherness. "It's such a special place and it's
held such great memories," muses Condren. "It's fun to think
about who we might be passing the torch to."
