Touring a Romantic Mediterranean Estate with Cindy Ambuehl

A Residence Created for Open, Connected Living

Thomas Proctor’s work is unique not just because of its size, but also because of the way it makes you feel. Cindy talks about how the home lets her move easily between the inside and outside without giving up comfort or privacy. “You have doors that go from every room in the house that enter out to the courtyard or out to the beautiful backyard” she explains, describing how the architecture encourages daily life to spill naturally into the landscape. Arched walkways, soaring ceilings, and old-world detailing evoke Mediterranean villas of another era, yet the floor plan remains distinctly suited to contemporary California living.

Formal Rooms with Warmth and Character

The formal living spaces have the right amount of architectural drama and a comfortable, welcoming feel. As you walk into the living room, the solid stone walls, oak floors, coffered ceilings, and fireplace create a space that looks regal and exclusive. Cindy thinks that this is where the usual routines of daily living would unfold. “I would turn a fire on. I would cozy up in this room. I would love to entertain guests in this room” she says, envisioning holiday gatherings beneath the intricate wood detailing. The room embraces comfort, adding to the overall warmth and soul of the house.

A Sophisticated Workspace Within the Residence

One of the home’s most interesting features is its circular office study, positioned to function independently from the rest of the residence. Accessed through double doors and connected directly to the courtyard, the office conveys the practical considerations that went into the design. “When you have a home like this, you don’t really want to leave” Cindy says, “So, what you need is a phenomenal office right here in your residence.” Separate access for guests or colleagues allows the space to operate professionally while preserving the privacy of the main home, a detail that feels especially relevant to modern lifestyles.

Spaces Created for Entertaining

The dining room captures the spirit of relaxed California hospitality. Large openings connect the room to fountains, courtyards, and outdoor terraces, allowing guests to move fluidly between spaces. Cindy describes the atmosphere with playful enthusiasm: “Your guests can be indoors, outdoors, walking around sipping mimosas.” The architecture never isolates people within formal boundaries. Instead, every room is intentionally connected, encouraging movement, conversation, and long afternoons that drift easily into evening.

The Heart of the Home

At the center of the residence, the kitchen and family room create a more intimate rhythm. The family room is softened by the walnut wood ceilings, and the landscape is continuously visible through the large windows and doors. Cindy praises Thomas Proctor’s instinctive understanding of how families actually live, noting that the kitchen has been designed so entertaining, cooking, and outdoor living all happen simultaneously. Oversized windows above the sink open directly to the exterior, while views stretch across the pool, olive trees, and canyon beyond. “Thomas Proctor is so smart about imagining if he was living in the house, what he would want” she says.

Resort-Style Grounds with Ocean Breezes

Instead of being just entirely huge, the outdoor areas are quite complex and engaging. A large pool, elevated jacuzzi, covered loggia, outdoor fireplace, and broad lawn create multiple destinations across the grounds, each oriented toward the southwest sunlight and distant ocean views. Cindy focuses on the ambience of the setting, describing the breeze that rises through the canyon each day. “You can sit down, you can relax, turn on a fire, have a drink” she says while standing beneath the arches of the loggia. The design encourages a slower pace, influenced by evening sunsets, outdoor dinners, and the changing light across the hillside.

A Mediterranean-Inspired Romantic Primary Suite

Upstairs, five bedrooms line dramatic hallways filled with Juliet balconies, built-in shelving, and elevated canyon views. Yet it is the primary suite that fully embodies the home’s romantic narrative. Vaulted ceilings, wood flooring, expansive windows, dual walk-in closets, and private terraces combine to create a retreat that feels quietly cinematic. “Every room is special”, Cindy reflects, before pausing at the primary view. “I’m looking out right now to what appears to be a painting, but it’s my view.” The statement captures the essence of the home, designed not just around luxury, but around nature, passion, and history.

A Home with Soul

As the tour concludes, Cindy identifies what ultimately separates this residence from many contemporary luxury homes. “It’s really hard to find a home that has this level of luxury but also has charm, it has character and it has soul.” That balance between refinement and authenticity defines the property at every level. Through its courtyards, architecture, cozy interiors, and lasting Mediterranean influences, this Thomas Proctor residence offers more than visual beauty. It provides a lifestyle rooted in romance, exclusivity, and timeless California design.

For more information on this Lower Riviera residence, view the official listing via Zillow Listing for 563 Spoleto Drive.

To explore more of Thomas Proctor  and his signature approach to California Mediterranean design, visit his studio website.

You can also watch the full property tour on The Luxury Home Show YouTube here.