The Huntington, Rustic Canyon, El Medio and now the North Village – each of these neighborhoods boasts spectacular one-of-a-kind homes bearing the signature style of developer Bob Akerblom. He heads up John H. Akerblom & Sons, the company his grandfather founded some 50 years ago.
“We moved to the Palisades in 1986 and have been building here ever since,” said Bob Akerblom’s wife Teresa Akerblom, a real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services. Teresa Akerblom recently took this writer on a tour of their latest work of art, a contemporary farmhouse on Bestor.
The Dutch door that welcomes you into the home instantly provides that warm, inviting farmhouse ambience. So do the solid walnut wide-plank hardwood floors found throughout the main and upper levels. However, it’s the clean lines and top-of-the-line amenities that lend it a contemporary feel.
“Bob prides himself on quality,” said Teresa Akerblom. “He’s really fanatical about high-end details.”
The attention to detail in this nearly 6,000-square-foot, ocean-view home shines through in abundance. One step inside the entryway reveals a stunning view – through an artfully placed window – of a sun-drenched stone water fountain in the backyard.
Arrive at the top of the stairs to the third floor and you’re met with yet another picture window that offers spectacular views of Palos Verdes and Catalina.
Wood ceilings, which add to the farmhouse appeal, take on an individualized look in each of the five generously sized bedrooms. Similarly the six and a half spacious bathrooms maintain a common theme – sleek and white – yet each is imbued with a personalized flair. For example, one features Carrara tiles in a mosaic pattern while another has seagrass limestone in a patchwork pattern that is echoed in the sink’s slab limestone countertop and intricate backsplash.
One of the home’s best features? “You get light from every side of the house, yet it is still very private,” Teresa Akerblom said pointing to the full-view casement windows with pull-down screens.
On the street-level “basement” is an expansive entertainment room that’s wired for surround sound and designed for a 100-inch TV screen. A wet bar – one of the latest de rigueur trends in home building – and a 1,000-bottle temperature-controlled wine room complete the space for the ultimate in entertaining.
At the heart of the home is the chef’s kitchen with fully integrated appliances, including a built-in Miele espresso coffee machine. A massive center island with a rich Brazilian cherry top boasts a bar-top finish for enhanced functionality and wearability.
White sliding “barn doors” between the kitchen and the formal dining room can be opened while entertaining or closed for privacy. On the opposite side of the kitchen, windows open wide to the covered backyard patio and lushly landscaped yard.
How is Bob Akerblom able to produce homes with such attention to detail? According to Teresa Akerblom, it’s because he focuses on one project at a time. “He’s on site every single day of a project so he’s able to get every detail just right.” He’s definitely gotten it right with this contemporary farmhouse.
Address: 15405 Bestor Blvd.
Price: $4,750,000
Open House: Sunday, Dec. 8, 1-4 p.m.
Developer: John H. Akerblom & Sons
Realtor, Teresa Akerblom: (310) 230-3721, TRAkerblom@gmail.com.
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