The Monaco: A 2009 Boulevard of Dreams Home

Glitz and glamour meet cozy comfort in this fully customized 7,104-square-foot home. From the cobblestone path outside the entry to the 22 chandeliers throughout the home, every inch was carefully considered and handled by professionals.

“We came up with a theme, and then that drove the design,” says designer JoAnn Romano, who spent months faux painting nearly every room in designs from animal hides to bamboo groves. The result offers a lived-in, distressed feel that suits the project as a whole. In combination with hickory floors throughout the main level, dramatic wood beams and mantels, hand-carved cabinetry with intricately rounded edges, and three custom mosaics commissioned in Beirut, Lebanon, The Monaco invites attention to every aspect of its design. 

Hammering out the details adds to its first-class appeal, whether you see them or not. For instance, the plan calls for handicap-accessible doors throughout to accommodate those with disabilities now or in the future. Also thinking ahead, unfinished space in the basement is ready to become a game room or storm shelter, while an elevator could someday be placed in a prepared cavity in the wall. “Everything that’s done has to be coordinated,” says builder Ron Ratliff — even the behind-the-scenes electrical system is color-coordinated and organized. This kind of dedicated craftsmanship doesn’t go unnoticed. Take it all in on this visual tour.