Developer and designer Scott Gillen purchased this bird’s nest of a property high on a Malibu cliff, overlooking the Pacific on one side and a dramatic, verdant canyon on the other. He built the 15,500-square-foot home—and its adjacent guesthouse—from scratch, putting obsessive thought into every joist and hinge. This vast open floor plan allows for seamless flow between an ultra-modern kitchen and warm living spaces, both indoors and out. The estate, furnished with custom pieces, is listed at $75 million.
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CHANDELIER
Image Credit: Courtesy of Unvarnished Dangling above the custom sofa are orbs of light hand-blown in the Czech Republic. Gillen saw it as the centerpiece of the room, which gets reflected in windows at night, doubling the glow. A smaller version hangs in the stairwell.
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KITCHEN
Image Credit: Courtesy of Scott Gillen The stone countertops were made in Germany to Gillen’s specs: He wanted a thinner look less common than the thick slabs he sees elsewhere. Cabinetry is by Bulthaup, and appliances are from Miele, Sub-Zero and Gaggenau.
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CEILING BEAMS
Image Credit: Courtesy of Unvarnished One of Gillen’s signature traits is how little he uses machinery in crafting certain elements of his homes. The thick glulam beams are made of Douglas fir and each is sanded by hand to create a raw-wood look that’s still polished.
