The Wall Street Journal
The owner of this Castle-like property in Monterey, Calif., spent three years renovating and upgrading the property before listing it for $4.99 million.
Mary Crosson was looking for a home in Monterey, Calif., to renovate and discovered this French-style manor property in the gated community of Monterra. ‘I found this beautiful house that was sad and tired and needed a lot of work,’ she says.
She bought the property in 2017 for $3.15 million and embarked on a three-year renovation. Ms. Crosson, 56, is a designer and former antique dealer. She filled the home with unique accent pieces.
The home has a den and a living room, both with fireplaces and hand hewn beams. The former owners were inspired by the manor homes of Normandy, France, and had the beams built on site, according to Ms. Crosson.
The kitchen received a gut renovation and now boasts quartz crystal counter tops. Ms. Crosson moved the sink so it overlooks gardens and oak trees.
Ms. Crosson commissioned an artist in Bali to make the carved wooden doors specifically for this dining room. The French doors open to a patio that runs along the back of the home.