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The very nature of home building and remodeling makes it the "stuff of dreams." We've been accused at Gentry of over-using the term "dream home," but interestingly enough, the homeowners we speak with increasingly use the term themselves. Dream homes surround us here now. People are creating the homes they've always wanted-right down to the tiniest detail.

The owners of this treasure of an estate spent years hunting for the right piece of property. Once they'd found it and purchased the land, they had very specific ideas of what they wanted their home to look like, how they wanted it to feel, and how they wanted it to function. Thus, they chose a team of professionals who were as dedicated to the project as they were.

The result is a home that has been meticulously crafted and embellished with style and grace. The overall exterior has an old country farmhouse feel with a broad covered porch that lazily winds its way around two sides of the home. A split-rail white fence encircles the property's perimeter and is dotted with climbing roses. A perfectly simple azure-colored pool laps up to the master suite and generously proportioned guest/pool house.

Once inside this stately home careful detailing makes guests feel cozy and welcome. The walls are painted a warm bisque which is offset by deep white moldings, chair rails and a lattice of ceiling beams. Two over-sized sofas covered in a beige chenille with a subtle damask pattern are closely set to the hearth in the living room. A plush Oriental carpet, alive with sage, toffee and cinnamon tones, anchors the room and provides a sophisticated complement to the rich wood floors and mahogany grand piano seen in the music room beyond. Designer Sharyl Montague utilized the same color scheme in the formal dining room where a Queen Anne-style table and chairs mix well with a 19th-century French sideboard and an antique European tapestry. "The owners wanted the home to be sophisticated, but not fussy," notes Montague. "They truly wanted the architecture to shine through."

The kitchen, family, and breakfast rooms flow in a free-form fashion, creating the core of the two-story home. Hardwood floors run throughout the space and custom cabinetry with Old World touches dominates the kitchen, while a brick hearth and comfortable loveseat covered in distressed leather and a woven chenille provide a cozy spot to curl up with a good book in the family room. Although there is plenty of seating at the kitchen's breakfast bar, the family opts to take most of their meals in the charming breakfast room, complete with sunny bay window and marble-topped table surrounded by ladder-back chairs.

Beyond the family room and conveniently adjacent to the master suite are the library and office. Custom shelves are filled with favorite volumes and enhanced by antique pieces, including a 19th-century English library stair ladder and classic leather topped library desk. The home also boasts a full basement, which has been fitted with a variety of rooms, including a stately game room with billiards table, built-in bar and temperature-controlled wine cellar.

In a note the owners penned to the contractors on this project, they stated, "We have to say now, we are so pleased. We love and cherish our new home. It will, no doubt, be filled with years of fond memories."

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Los Altos designer Sharyl Montague worked with the homeowners to create rooms that had a lived-in feel. "They weren't after a decorator showcase look, but rather something comfortable and natural," relates Montague. For the living room she chose two sofas from Sherle and had them covered in a beige chenille from Pindler & Pindler. An Oriental carpet from Stephen Miller Gallery adds color, and two California landscapes from the Simic Gallery in Carmel tie the room together.

The homeowners had the traditional-style dining room table, seen above, custom made so that it can be fitted together to form a rectangle for formal gatherings or taken apart as two perfect squares for more informal parties. The antique French sideboard was found by Montague at the San Mateo Antiques Collective, and the antique tapestry and rug came from Stephen Miller Gallery. The kitchen, opposite, features a workspace with glazed maple cabinetry, a sitting room and breakfast nook. An elegant still life from the Simic Gallery is set above the hearth in the kitchen and a rustic landscape resembling the home was commissioned especially for the breakfast room.

Rich mahogany cabinetry was used extensively throughout the home. In the office, bookshelves surround an antique English partners desk from Sen's Antiques in San Francisco. An Arts and Crafts billiards table is at home in the game room, along with a temperature controlled wine cellar.

Lomax Landscaping created the architectural plan for the garden and installed the lush trees, plants, and lawns. Since the homeowners originally hail from the mid-west, they wanted certain traditional elements to be incorporated into their new home. One of their favorite architectural features is the wide wrap-around porch, complete with porch swing, perfect for enjoying a cool lemonade on a summer day.