From the submitter, Emerald63:
Fancy living the life of a Tudor king? Or having one pop in for a bit? Try this 1914 Historic Register beauty, which has actually hosted royalty. It took 1,000 craftsmen 7 years to renovate, so it ought to be fit for royalty!
From the MLS listing description:
One of the finest examples of Tudor architecture in the US on almost 8 flat secluded acres in central Los Altos Hills. Listed on Federal Hist Registry(low Property Tax) and updated for a 21st Century lifestyle. Host to royalty and world leaders, Recent multi-million dollar 7+ year renovation by 1000 craftsmen. Compound 4 Separate structures, incl. guest house, Ballroom, Fitness/caretaker facility.
And from the listing agent’s website:
The Morgan Estate is one of the grandest homes in California; locally, only Filoli and the Chateau Carolands compare. Inspired by Speke Hall in Great Britain, The Morgan Estate was built by Percy Tredegar Morgan, a San Francisco businessman whose many accomplishments included starting the California Wine Association, which was the largest winery in the world at that time.
If your home doesn’t have its own name, you obviously haven’t arrived.
Also, if your pool doesn’t have fountain arches, you’re a poser.
Wow!
Now that’s a lot of half-timbering, eh? A lot of everything, really. I pretty much sat with my mouth hanging open for a couple of minutes when I first saw this one. A place like this… for sale? Wait – it’s not a British “manor house” *cough*palace*cough* open to the public? What – it’s in the United-Freakin-States?!!! whuh
The place speaks for itself. I just wanted to thank Marty for finding a Sotheby’s listing, as the one I submitted was from Redfin. There are a couple pictures at each that the other site doesn’t have, but mostly I am loving the giant photo enlargements at Sotheby’s. WOW! The best find from seeing it bigger is the feet-on-the-coffe-table repellent feature you can see in Pic 5. The one way cool room not featured at Sotheby’s is the dining room in Pic 14 here: redfin.com/CA/Los-Altos-Hills/12335-Stonebrook-Dr-94022/home/1475773.
Whaddya wanna bet after 15 minutes in this place, you start speaking in an English accent without even trying?
@Emerald63: Finding beautiful high-res photos like these makes me want to go back and resurrect an old site I set up a few years ago: Exodus 20:17.
@Marty E.: An excellent thought, Marty! Perhaps on a purposely leisurely update schedule to avoid stress? We do seem to see some candidates, oh, say, once a month, as inspiration strikes?
And re this property: Yoicks! The caretaker likely requires a caretaker. Hmm. I wonder…
@anodean: If it took 1000+ workers several years to update this place, it probably takes a team of maybe a couple dozen to keep it going, especially where the grounds are concerned. And the dusting. And the polishing. And the floors. And the…………….
@Marty E.: Oh Marty, that was an awesome site! I’m with anodean – a periodic update to it would be totally cool. Please?! :D