Tuscan villa with California flair in Atherton
A fountain and travertine walkway lead to the two-story home that was built in 2000.Matthew Anello/Blu Skye Media
It was a modest ranch house on a sizable lot at the end of a cul-de-sac, and Candi Athens and her husband saw the unlimited potential of the Atherton property when they purchased it in the late 1990s. By 2000, they had razed the original structure at 49 Lowery Drive and erected a two-story Tuscan villa with a contemporary layout and classical design elements.
"We wanted a Tuscan style, but didn't want a whole theme," Athens said. "We like the idea of a Tuscan villa but wanted something more contemporary and more in line with California living. So we have a little Old World with some California living for balance."
By thumbing through design magazines and consulting with a network of designers, the couple crafted a dignified estate home with five bedrooms, an office, three full bathrooms and two half baths. Outside, the couple expanded on the pool originally on the property and added basketball hoops above the illuminated tennis court. Additionally, they put in five manicured putting greens so they and their guests could practice their short game.
