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Immersed in the frenetic activity of building an empire, Oracle
CEO Larry Ellison wanted his home to be the antithesis of high
tech. So he FOUND a Japanese retreat TO MAKE HIS OWN
The first impression is rather deceiving. A fenced hedge running
the width of the property suggests that something predictable
lies within. Once past the gate, however, that impression gives
way to another. This is a place as serene and tranquil as a Buddhist
haven. And that’s exactly what owner Larry Ellison wanted:
a Zenlike retreat where he could escape the frantic pace of his
high-tech career. The CEO and cofounder of Oracle Corporation
bought the 1.77-acre Atherton property more than 18 years ago
because it gave him the space to create his sanctuary; he loves
the Japanese lifestyle, and this would be as close to living
in Japan as he could get without actually relocating.
Ellison recently built a larger (also Japanese-style) estate
in Woodside, but his Atherton home (now on the market for $16
million) is stamped by years of creating a sanctuary.
An arched gate marks the ancient bonsai and stone lantern–surrounded
entry. Guests
follow a slate path to the front door, then enter a long, narrow
hall where Ellison displayed Asian artwork collected while
working in Tokyo in the 1970s. In addition to ikebana
arrangements, he set out an array of samurai helmets and armor,
and antique chests.
Integral to the house design was incorporating the Japanese
aesthetic of bringing the
outdoors inside. In the living room, for example, a wall of
windows overlooks waterfalls and
a Kyoto-style garden designed by landscape architect Ron Herman,
who studied in Japan. Also key was a floor plan that allows
easy flow from one room to the next. Ellison likes to entertain,
and guests relaxed by a black marble fireplace in the living
room before moving to the dining room or the deck, which look
out onto stone bridges. Ellison was adamant that rooms were
arranged to maximize garden viewing.
Bay Area–based designer Laura Seccombe of Seccombe Design
Associates (which also
designed interiors for Oracle) combined traditional and contemporary
Japanese elements when decorating the interior so she could
work with the art as well as create an inviting place to
enjoy music and conversation. One wall displayed an Edo-period
six-panel screen from Imari; nearby stood a Chinese elmwood
armoire.
Fabrics were from J. Robert Scott. Seccombe chose a warm
palette so colors wouldn’t detract from the view. Living room sofas
were muted brown, and the floor is honey-colored white oak, which
lends itself to the sunlit surroundings. Tatami rugs embraced
the Zen aesthetic.
The kitchen is a mixture of Eastern and Western, with Thermador
and Gaggenau appliances, granite counters, and a granite-top
island where Ellison’s chef prepared meals. A flat-panel
TV enabled news watching while cooking. Decorative accents range
from Alaskan cedar millwork to iron hardware in the Japanese
style.
A walk down the entry hall leads to a sleeping wing with
four of the seven bedrooms, most opening onto a koi pond
or a courtyard with clusters of bamboo. Small details like
rice paper lamps pay homage to contemporary interpretations
of old-world design. Likewise, the master suite juxtaposes
shoji panels opening onto a pond-style hot tub, a computer,
and a wet bar.
On the second level, Ellison featured an entertainment
area with table tennis and miniatures of his America’s Cup boat.
Ellison is passionate about fitness, so he equipped the home
with a decked-out gym, including a treadmill, elliptical trainer,
and free weights. Another room boasted a billiard table and a
display of antique Oriental musical instruments.
The strolling garden is the centerpiece of the grounds.
Azaleas, camellias, and magnolias blossom in spring, but
the most spectacular sight is the cherry bloom. Also integral
to the setting are waterfalls and boulders, including those
surrounding the koi pond–style
pool. A clay tennis court sports a wisteria-draped viewing pavilion
tucked under the redwoods.
Of all the rooms, Ellison’s favorite was perhaps the teahouse
designed by a Zen monk. The minimalist space opens to the garden
and features such modern comforts as a heated floor in the entry
and a half-bath.
A perfect blend of high tech and tranquility,
Ellison’s
Atherton masterpiece holds special memories—of
time spent in a peaceful spot that echoes the tranquility
of Japan.
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