Palladian Villa Demeter

$899,000
2035 Thornsberry Road, Sonoma
Presented by
Bonnie Spindler

First Time Available on the Market

James Beauchamp Alexander (Beach) was stationed in Northern Italy during World War II where he worked and lived surrounded by Palladian Villas. After the war, he studied at the Royal Academy in Copenhagen and their focus was also on Palladian architecture. 
You can be forgiven if you haven’t heard of the Italian Renaissance architect, Andrea Palladio, even though he is considered one of architecture's  most influential  historical figures. He lived in Veneto, the Venetian region of Italy, and designed much of what we think of as “Venetian buildings.” His style, while influenced by Greek and Roman architecture,  is now called the Palladian style of architecture. It is  grand and formal, based on  symmetry and balance and usually features large arched windows, domes like temples, pediments, and Doric columns. They often have large Loggia (porches) or porticos held up by columns. 
When Thomas Jefferson was a US ambassador to France, he became aware of Palladio’s designs so when he returned to the United States he remodeled Monticello into a Palladian style dwelling. The White House is also Palladian, as is the Jefferson Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial. 
After the war and college, Beach returned to Sonoma county and designed his obsession, a Palladian villa. He called his creation “Villa Demeter”. What better Goddess for Sonoma  than the goddess of the harvest and agriculture? She looks down from the roof flanked by cherubs . Notice that the house is very symmetrical from the front and has a pediment and an arched Palladian window/door. It feels so very Italian in the sun. The soaring ceilings, French doors, and slate floors  keep the home  naturally cool. The indoor/outdoor living is fabulous with doors all the way around the house opening onto decks, patios or plinths. The views into the acre yard are spotted folly-esque with statues, birth baths and a spectacular koi fish pond with water lilies. Along one edge of the property is a seasonal stream. Live oaks, pomegranate, oleander, limes and jasmine are just some of the vegetation around the property. There is also an artist studio and a Lutyens bridge to a Orientalia gazebo decorated with bats, seen as good luck in many Asian countries.  
The living room has columns, a wood burning fireplace, and slate floors. There are two bedrooms, ensuite. The primary bedroom has a French stove and a relief of Swedish King Karl XII.  There is a laundry off the master. 
The kitchen has been renovated since its construction with fresh white cabinets, Carrara marble and open shelves. 
There is a butler’s pantry for dry goods between the kitchen and dining room. The dining room has a spectacular antique French ormolu chandelier and walls of shelves for all your curios. 
Villa Demeter is available for the first time since its construction and really cannot be missed. 


Floor Plans

Floor plan

Download plan

Neighborhood

A small town with a rich history, the center of the locavore food movement, and situated in the heart of Wine Country, the city of Sonoma is content to play country mouse to its more citified cousin, Napa. You won't find enormous tour buses disgorging hundreds of passengers in downtown Sonoma; the city of 10,000 residents is mostly laid-back and quiet.
 
Centered on what many call one of the most beautiful town plazas in the state, with its historic, preserved Mission that dates back to 1823, Sonoma has the feel of a small country town -- that is, if a small country town boasted more than a dozen tasting rooms of award-winning wineries. Surrounded by vineyards and more than 60 world-class wineries that mix the elegant with the down home, Sonoma is ground zero for great wine and the lifestyle that goes with it.

All that makes Sonoma a premier destination, sought after for its mellow pace, natural beauty, and proximity to San Francisco, just 45 miles south. Sonoma offers plenty of things to do, including jazz festivals, parades, cooking classes, the Sonoma International Film Festival, and exhibitions and openings at Sonoma Valley Museum of Art.

Spacious homes in the vineyards and rolling hills around Sonoma command spectacular views. Today, the multimillion-dollar estates of Sonoma range from Tuscan-style villas to more adventurous concrete and glass architectural statements.
Agent avatar image

Bonnie Spindler

Corcoran Icon Properties

REALTORĀ®

DRE:
#01175723
Mobile:
415.706.6660

www.BonnieSpindler.com

The Victorian Specialist

Open Houses

Upcoming Events

Thursday

October 10

Open House Tours

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM