A Coastal California Architect’s Former Carmel Home Can Be Yours for $4.5 Million
- Sterling Malish and Jennifer Nazareno purchased a historic Spanish-style residence in Carmel Woods, transforming the neglected backyard into an outdoor sanctuary perfect for gatherings and celebrations.
Around two years ago, critical-care doctor Sterling Malish and his wife Jennifer Nazareno, a public health professor, fell in love with a historic Spanish-style residence in Central California’s Carmel Woods neighborhood tucked secretly away just above the charming seaside village of Carmel-by-the-Sea. But there was a problem: It had a backyard that was “nothing more than a mountain of dirt.”
Seeing its limitless potential, the couple wound up purchasing the nearly 90-year-old property in June 2023 for around $4 million and subsequently transformed the once-neglected backyard into an “incredible outdoor sanctuary,” replete with plenty of spots for cozy movie nights, lively birthday celebrations, and large family gatherings amid its terraced surroundings. Now the nearly half-acre hillside spread has popped up on the market with Dana Bambace and Mark Peterson of Compass, asking just under $4.5 million.
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Originally designed and built in the mid-1930s by architect Guy O. Koepp—widely known for his work on local landmarks like the Carmel Dairy and La Rambla buildings—the architect’s former personal residence includes a main home and a separate guesthouse. A combined total of four bedrooms and five baths can be found in a little more than 2,700 square feet of updated living space, all of it boasting a mix of tile and refinished hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings, and arched doorways. There’s also some pretty dreamy views of Carmel Bay, Point Lobos, Pebble Beach’s Del Monte Forest, and the Pacific Ocean.
Especially standing out in the two-story main dwelling is the upper level, which includes a spacious living room sporting a wood-burning fireplace and a built-in seating nook. Around the corner is a galley-style kitchen outfitted with custom cabinetry, Brazilian granite countertops, a carved stone sink, and a pricey La Cornue range. A pass-through window connects on the other side to a breakfast bar and a dining room that opens to a deck on one side and a courtyard on the other.
Secluded in a wing by itself is the primary suite, which has a limestone-clad bath equipped with dual vanities and a combination soaking tub and rain shower. Other highlights include a striking mosaic-lined staircase that descends to a lower level holding two additional en suite bedrooms and a laundry room, along with a detached two-story guesthouse that was previously a historic Spanish carriage home and comes with a bedroom, bath, kitchen, and living area spilling out to a deck.
Perhaps the most alluring part of the property, though, is the backyard, which is laced with greenery and hosts numerous alfresco vignettes ideal for a wealth of pleasurable pursuits. “The seamless connection between the kitchen, deck, and backyard created an effortless flow, making entertaining a breeze,” the owners said in a statement. “This home wasn’t just a place for us to live in—it was a place where we created fond memories.”
Click here for more photos of the Carmel residence.
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