Elegance in the Details – A Spanish colonial holds true to its style in this masterfully decorated Westridge mansion

True elegance is in the details.  For Tom and Loretta Tunnicliffe, it’s the subtle elements that give their custom home in Westridge its polished, stylized look and luxuriously relaxing character.  More than 8,000 square feet of total indoor and outdoor living space encompass five bedrooms and seven bathrooms, in addition to a wine cellar and office.  From deliberate lighting choices to hand-finished details, this Spanish colonial mansion feels like walking into a dream.
Though the Tunnicliffes moved in on Valentine’s Day 2014, the house was originally built in 2012.  Much of the finishing work was left up to the home’s second owners, but the Tunnicliffes were up for the challenge.  Owner of a realty investment and management firm in Burbank, Tom relied on his own staff for much of the final touches – from molding to hand-painted wall details.
“This house was built in a Spanish colonial style, and we wanted to stick with that feeling as we brought in the décor,” Tom said of their home’s overall style.
Even before guests walk through the front door, the feeling of calm and manicured greenery set the tone for an afternoon of peaceful living.  Immediately, Spanish colonial influences – pottery and beautifully trimmed plants – are noticeable in the entry.  Stunning beams run across the ceiling to create a formal yet natural look, and a heavy metal and candle chandelier calls for a much earlier time.

To the left, the formal living room offers an elegant sitting room flooded with natural light, as well as one of the home’s five fireplaces.  The décor astounds as intricate patterns and varied textures come together for one harmonious Old World feeling.  Because the Tunnicliffes wanted a cohesive look throughout their home, they bought their décor almost exclusively from one retailer, and they fell in love with Bella Venezia.
“One day, we came by looking for a few more things to finish up the house, but we weren’t sure what direction to go, so Hortencia, who owns Bella Venezia, came over to take a look around.  With just one look, she could hand pick the right pieces.  We really relied on her.”
Further down the hallway, the formal dining room is another example of design mastery.  An exposed stone accent wall immediately draws in the eye, and a two-tier chandelier warms the room, bringing all the elements together.
Once at the end, the hallway opens up to the most frequented room in the house, the family room.  Exposed beams match the ceiling work in the entry to lend a seamlessness to the bottom floor.  The home’s second fireplace features exposed stone and the family’s mounted flat screen TV.  Saltillo tile adds warm color and natural texture to the flooring, which carries across into the open kitchen.
The massive, seamless polished granite island and counter also houses an inset sink for functionality.  Multiple sources of lighting layer in various ambiences, from a softer, romantic setting to a warm, inviting gathering place.  Hiding the appliance from view, the refrigerator is finished to match the cabinetry, and the backsplash over the stove features hand-painted tiles.  Also downstairs, a guest bedroom and full bath is perfect for entertaining and accommodating visiting  family.
From the family room, a hand-painted tile and Saltillo tile staircase carries guests up to the library,  a rectangular landing that serves as an open place for the Tunnicliffe’s daughters, Roxanne and Gwen, to study and play on the computer.  The view of the rotunda provides a grandness to the library that carries into the details of the hand-painted display hutch and Spanish colonial architecture.
Tom’s favorite room lies off the library.  The media room comes complete with four flatscreen TVs, three of which are mounted, and surround sound.  The music, as is the same in every room in the house, is all controlled via an app that allows the user to play different sources of music at different volumes anywhere.  Tom often keeps abreast of sports and entertains friends during the sports season.
Further down are the bedrooms.  The girls’ bedrooms are decorated in similar styles with different color palettes, and each sister has her own bathroom.
The master suite features a sitting room and full balcony, and it boasts an open floor plan that’s given dimension by various styles of lighting.  Chandeliers hang above the bed, emitting a soft warm glow, while the wall sconces light the sitting room and mantle.  On a nice evening, Tom and Loretta like to enjoy a bottle of wine on the covered outdoor patio, with the pool and barbecue below them, and take in the view of the valley.
“Ideally, your home is your sanctuary,” Tom said.

photos by Joie de Vivre Photographie

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