Toast of the Town
by Chérie L. Turner
This is the story of a Lake Tahoe home. Like many, it's a warm and inviting place where a retired Bay Area executive, his wife and their little terrier have lived for seven wonderful years. In it, they have celebrated holidays and many other special occasions with their three married children and grandchildren. It's a home, like other Tahoe homes, filled with love, a place where its inhabitants can read a good book and settle in for a nice dinner when its cold and snowy outside, or enjoy the view on a sunny day. But with the Incline Village home of Al and Jane Duffield, that's where comparisons to most other Tahoe homes end.
The Duffields' home encompasses more than 16,000 square feet of living space on 12 acres perched several hundred feet up a mountainside with spectacular views out over Lake Tahoe. The home has 8 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, 10 fireplaces, a Bon Vivant kitchen, a 2,500-bottle wine cellar that sits adjacent to an entertainment area with seating for 12, Butler's pantry, executive office, den with a wet bar, game room, and a gym with sauna, spa and hot tub. It has 11 staircases (8 of them spiral) and 135 hips, valleys and ridges in the roof. "Resort" might be as appropriate a description as "home."
Located on what is known locally as "Rock 'n' Roll Road," nearby homes are owned by a member of The Beach Boys, a member of White Snake and smooth-singer Babyface. It's luxury living on an international scale tucked away among the Basin's abundant pines and cedars.
Al was a top executive of Pleasanton, California–based PeopleSoft, which was founded and run by his brother, David Duffield. After years of high-stress living, Al decided that once his career was over, he wanted to move somewhere peaceful. "When I knew I was going to retire, I told my wife that I didn't want to stay in the Bay Area," recalls Al. "Lake Tahoe has always been a place where I can really relax."
"We bought this property in 1994," he continues, "and then we started developing the vision for how we were going to build. We were in design mode from ‘94 to ‘97, thinking of what kind of house we wanted." The Duffields elicited the services of Pleasanton–based architect Barry Halloway, who gave form to their dream.
"I told Barry I wanted the house quiet and traditional from the outside," says Jane. "But because of the location, I wanted great views from every window. He gave us that; every room you go into you have a wonderful view." Halloway coordinated with interior designer Lindy Smallwood to create the type of living space the Duffields desired, grand but cozy.
"Lindy brought in a lot of warmth with the wood and the limestone," Jane says. "She really pulled it all together." Ground was broken by local builder Gary Pulver in 1997, and 22 months later the Duffields were hosting a 200-person pre-wedding dinner for their son.
Building such an enormous structure in that period of time—which included two severe winters—was no small feat. To even break ground, 500 semi-truck loads of rock had to be removed from the site. Then 2,000 yards of concrete were poured to create the foundation. Then 5 semi-truck loads of plasterboard, 300 tons of stone, 16,000 square feet of limestone and 45 miles of wire, among other materials, had to be brought in. Every piece that went in to creating the home was specialty. "If they sell it at Home Depot, we didn't use it," Pulver says with a chuckle.
The approach to this Champagne Road home sets the tone for the grand experience that awaits: a 350-foot driveway (which semi-trucks had to back down during the building process). Immediately through the front door, a panoramic view of Lake Tahoe explodes before you. From this lofty perch with no impeding trees, all edges of Tahoe are visible. Huge, floor-to-ceiling windows obstruct as little as possible; the only better viewing experience is from the wrap-around deck at the back of the house.
As stipulated by the Duffields, and elegantly executed by the architect, the view is a focal point of every south-facing room (which is just about every room in the house). The main living room, kitchen, most bathrooms, most bedrooms and the wet bar all take in the spectacular beauty of The Lake and surrounding Sierra. The effect is particularly grand in the great room, with its 28-foot ceiling.
The entryway marks the exact center of this symmetrically designed house, making access to any other part of this grand structure relatively easy. This design makes the enormous space navigable, though the grandeur of the house is never diminished.
The fine details of the Duffield house complete the picture. Soft beige Bamiere limestone, imported from France, covers floors, bathroom vanities, bar tops and shower walls throughout the home. The stairways feature wrought iron banisters fabricated by Hans Standteiner and sons of Tahoe City–based Mountain Forge. Every window in the house was custom designed and fabricated. A deep brown walnut trim creates a feeling of warmth throughout the house.
Complementing the French Chateau–esque design, the furnishing and interior design are European in nature. To ensure the highest quality, Smallwood called on the expertise of Antonio's Antiques, a company that specializes in fine eighteenth- and nineteenth-century antiques, and counts among its clients Ralph Lauren, Oprah Winfrey and Danielle Steele. The San Francisco–based company either handcrafted replicas or acquired most of the antique furniture and interior details in the house.
The "no expenses spared/no convenience ungranted" policy that runs through the home is most impressive in the kitchen and master bedroom. "The kitchen is where we spend all of our time," Jane admits. Appropriately, it is as inviting as it is cooking friendly. "I've had caterers in here, and they've said this is the best kitchen they've ever cooked in," she says. "It's very operational, user friendly." With plenty of counter space and an island surrounded by room to move, the chef is never cramped, even if he or she has a few helpers. An abundance of state-of-the-art appliances—Sub-Zero freezer, icemaker and refrigerator, two Miele dishwashers, 60-inch Viking stove, GE profile microwave, Thermador warming drawers, Braon trash compactor, among others—ensure the ability to create any delicacy for as many people as the house could host. Decorative dark wood handcrafted cabinets, designed by Smallwood and built by Midland Cabinets of San Carlos, California, conceal both storage and the appliances. Adding an element of softness that contributes to the room's welcoming, familial atmosphere, the cabinets feature natural elements carved in relief, as well as a crest complete with the home's finish date of 1999. A bar table with seating for seven, wraps around the perimeter of the cooking area, allowing onlookers to gather around the action.
The master bedroom features a large sitting area that looks out to the mountains and Lake. The room is warmed by a fireplace that is elegantly framed by an antique pink mantle. For the ultimate in convenience, a large-screen TV rises from an antique chest at the foot of the bed. The room also has a mini-fridge and coffeepot. The adjoining bathroom features a large sunken limestone Jacuzzi as well as a round double-headed shower complete with Lake view.
"It's been a great family house," Jane says a bit nostalgically. "We've entertained and had every bedroom in the house full and even people in sleeping bags. Most people who come away from this house realize the size of it, but will also tell you the warmth of it. It's not overwhelming. I'm very happy we succeeded with that." As happy as they've been with the home, the Duffields, who spend half the year in Palm Desert, are looking for a slightly smaller home in Incline, and have put the house on Champagne on the market. New lords and/or ladies of this mountaintop chateau can take up residence for a mere $15.95 million.