Big Sur House: A coastal home on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean

 Big Sur, California, United States

Architecture: Francis Palms and Mickey Muennig

Photography © Mike Gilson/Coldwell Banker Realty

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Located along a quiet stretch of California State Route 1 in Big Sur, California, the home sits within one of the most visually distinctive and tightly controlled coastal landscapes in the United States. Part of California’s coastal route which runs from LA to San Francisco, Route 1 is widely considered one of the most beautiful drives in the USA.

The main house includes 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms arranged across 2 levels, each with a wood-burning fireplace. The upper level is centered around a cupolaed living room with floor-to-ceiling windows and a wraparound deck facing sunset views and the coastline extending north toward Pfeiffer Point. An open kitchen leads to a second deck overlooking a lily pond, with south-facing ocean views.

Set on an isolated, forested bluff above the Pacific Ocean, this coastal home features 180-degree coastal views.

The primary suite includes a bathroom with radiant-heated marble floors, a large soaking tub, and access to a secret garden. Next to it are a study/kid’s room, a half bath, and a traditional Japanese room looking onto its own garden with a Bodhi tree.

The grounds extend across approximately 5 acres and include landscaped gardens, paths, and a lily pond.

Development here is limited, with regulations restricting where and how homes can be built in order to preserve the landscape and coastal views.