A Rancho Santa Fe house so extravagant, it does the boasting

Casa Bonito Del Rio is a Spanish-style estate encompassing nearly 13,000 square feet of living space on a 9.9-acre equestrian parcel within the historic and exclusive Covenant of Rancho Santa Fe.

Boasting eight bedrooms and ten baths, the residence at 17585 Ranchito Del Rio was designed in 2006 by “internationally recognized architects Bassenian Lagoni,” who, according to listing materials, worked to create “a classic Andalusian estate with an authentic floor plan that is characteristic of this region of Spain and its rich, eclectic history.”

Modern technologies and classic luxuries are found throughout the home, which is equipped with solar electric and water-heating systems as well as “smart home” technology with controllable Lutron lighting, multiple heating and cooling systems, an indoor/outdoor whole-house music system, and closed-circuit security cameras. Solid walnut flooring and cabinetry, “etched and tumbled Italian travertine,” solid alder wood interior doors, exposed-beam loft ceilings, and custom mosaic tile designs are features to be found throughout the property.

An entryway and hand-chiseled rotunda opens up to the home’s interior spaces, including a formal dining room, office, and parlor room, “each with its own fireplace.”

Beyond lies a great room, game room, and “exhibition kitchen,” with an adjacent prep kitchen. In addition to a “walk-in island,” the main kitchen boasts “multiple pairs” of high-end Viking appliances. There’s another outdoor cooking island by the pool deck.

Present on the home’s main level are six en-suite bedrooms in addition to the multi-room master suite, which includes a wet bar and a bath with two steam showers in addition to the spa tub. The bathroom also has its own fireplace.

The home’s lower level features another two-bedroom suite, plus a dine-in wine cellar and a movie theater with a snack bar and seating for ten.

Outside the home is a large lagoon-style pool with rock waterfall and more than one outdoor seating and entertainment area, two grass lawns, and an equestrian facility with a four-stall barn, tack room, riding arena, and groom quarters. A two-bedroom guest casita also sits nearby, and the property provides access to miles of horse trails through the Rancho Santa Fe countryside.

Public records show the owners of the property to be the Waite family, which has held ownership of the land dating back years prior to the current home’s construction. Lance Waite is a real-estate developer and children’s book author — the Reader’s Matt Potter noted last October that his firm, Integral Communities, had invested heavily in last year’s political races amid a controversial push to build 284 apartment and condominium units in eastern Chula Vista.

Casa Bonito Del Rio has been offered for sale once before, when it was listed in February 2009 with an asking price of $13,995,000. By the time the listing expired that September, the price had been dropped to $11,900,000. It stayed off-market until late April of 2014, when it was re-listed with a new asking price of $10,900,000, which remains unchanged to date.