A Grand Entrance

Step inside the front door of this Mission-style ranch in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., and for a moment you might think you're in a European castle. The entry turret, which anchors the home, has walls sheathed in stone and is softly lit by an antique chandelier and wall sconces. Sight lines extend the width of the house in two directions from the entry rotunda along the spine and offer vistas to the rear of the 10-acre property. The mosaic tile floor inlay is a work of art itself. These are all hints of a rich architectural past, but the rambling, 12,570-square-foot residence is actually a modern courtyard home.

Builder: Lance Waite, Encinitas, Calif. Architect: Bassenian/Lagoni Architects, Newport Beach, Calif. Interior designer: Design Visions, San Clemente, Calif.