The sink in this gem of a powder room is the unadulterated stuff of nature, a large geode of color-rich, sparkling amethyst. The countertop is of curry-gold marble. Sconces are of bronze. Custom redwood burl cabinetry is accented with rusted metal.

The layer of fabric closest to the window is a black, very sheer and durable polyester; the “sandwich” or middle layer is a gauzy, shiny copper, “so that you see a nice shine from inside or out”; and the top layer is garnet-red silk, the designer says.
Elegant gauzy draperies aside, this is a home that welcomes visits from a tribe of grandchildren—14 of them—who at various times come to stay in an attached Western-style “bunkhouse.”
This also is a homey home, one touched by the personalities of its owners. For example, an elevator to a lower-level laundry area and garage is testimony to the husband’s love of golf. A mural in this tight spot depicts the man of the house standing with full-size figures of some of golf’s greatest, including Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods, and another golf aficionado, comedian Bob Hope. Actor John Wayne is depicted, too, “because the person who did this painted great John Waynes,” laughs the wife. A powder room sink was a special whim of her own. Made from a large amethyst geode, its jewel-like crystals remain as spiny and gleaming as they were in nature. Amethyst, it turns out, is her birthstone, and a fitting element in a house of stone.

Golfing greats, other notables and the homeowner himself (center) are the subjects of this mural, which is located in an elevator with floor tiles that look like a manicured fairway.

Her husband says they could not be happier with how the design team translated the family’s love of stone in the 5,000-square-foot residence. “We just talked to them and told them what we wanted and they picked up on it.”
What he conveyed to them about the qualities of stone were words his company used in a radio commercial about 35 years ago. “The guy had the deepest voice. He said, it’s warm, gracious, everlasting—a part of today’s lifestyle.”
 
Design tips from Dorothy and Eric Bron
• If there is stone in a setting, treat it as another pattern in the space. Be sure that the scale and texture of other materials, such as textiles and flooring, play well against the stone rather than conflict with it, and that they emphasize contrast.
• Don’t be afraid to mix woods of different colors. Trying to match them perfectly is frustrating, and the end result can be boring.
• Find your favorite colors and indulge.
• Lighting brings the space to life. Use a mix of task and ambient lighting to “wake up” your room.
• Add a sense of unity and flair to your home with the judicious repetition of a design motif.
• It is important to select furnishings of proper scale for a given space. “Oversize” pieces can be effective, but remember that something that is too big is too big, and too small is just plain dreadful.
• Glass-top tables allow you to use large-scale pieces without adding too much “visual” weight.