Casa Romantica

Sitting on a hill overlooking San Clemente’s pier is the 1920’s home of the city’s founder, Ole Hanson.  He built the home for his family of ten children but lost it only a few years later with the stock market crash.  Eventually the historical society got hold of it and now it’s used for weddings and cultural events, besides being open for tours.  The fact that it was so close to us and was still sitting around on our to-do list was really starting to grate at me, so it became a priority for the long President’s Day weekend.

Not too shabby!
  We flirted with, but ultimately avoided, a repeat of San Juan Capistrano’s desecration.
   The kids appear to be listening so nicely to the friendly volunteer.

Ooh, outdoor living area! 

Looking down the central courtyard toward the front door.  There are six bedrooms that all open onto this courtyard; four for the ten kids and separate his-and-hers master suites. I guess they’d decided that ten was enough.

 
The grand salon (at the far end of the courtyard) was really stunning.  The center of the room, where the fountain is, is two-stories and as lit by an immense chandelier, while the perimeter has that beautiful wood ceiling and the combined effect of the two hits just the right notes of light/dark, open/cozy.  The arched pocket doors both lead out to the garden and provide the room with a spectacular view.

                            
                            
On one side of the salon is the dining room, on the other was Mr. Hanson’s completely drool-worthy office and library.  Both also taking advantage of the exquisite view.


Yes, this view.

  
But just in case that wasn’t enough all-natural eye candy for you, there’s an impressive garden as well.

Our self-portrait was backlit by the sun.  Oops!

                          
Gotta give the guy credit, it’s a nice piece of property.

  
It was such a pretty morning at such a pretty place.

Naomi made herself right at home and was not inclined to leave!