The newest of Heritage Estates has it all

Nestled in the hills of north Poway above the Maderas Golf Club, The Heritage Estates is an exclusive 400-acre enclave of 111 custom homes locked behind a 24-hour guarded entry gate.

Most of the Heritage homes were built in the last 20 years, and the 15,323-square-foot residence at 14170 Bryce Point is one of the newer homes in the development, having been completed in 2011.

“Offering expansive luxury and privacy, this magnificent custom home in the exclusive Heritage Estates has it all,” opens the property’s Zillow listing.

Access to the estate is via a winding, palm-lined stone drive leading to a circular turnaround in front with a water feature at the center. You could continue around back to the parking court flanked by eight garage bays, but instead, let’s head toward the covered entryway and its “custom majestic wood doors with ornate wrought iron detail” flanked by still more custom glass and iron.

Once inside, we’re greeted by a curving double grand staircase befitting a centuries-old Tuscan palace, with more custom ironwork on the balusters, an enormous chandelier, and torch-style wall sconces as we approach the second level.

Passing under the stairs’ upper landing we arrive at the formal living room, complete with vaulted ceiling and a marble fireplace (one of four inside the home), with a mantle supported by a pair of circular columns. The setting is fine and good, but serves chiefly to showcase the huge fluffy couches that are likely never sat upon.

Let’s move on to the “amazing kitchen [that] showcases an oversized center island like no other.” Indeed, this is a big island, with a raised bar at one end and a secondary prep sink to one side. It probably occupies more real estate than the entire galley-style kitchen common to most apartments and older houses. Of course, there’s also the requisite professional-grade appliance package with two dishwashers and both wall and range ovens, as well as a “walk-in scullery” where all the unsightly kitchen tasks like cleaning dishes and preparing food can be conducted outside the sightlines of fancy dinner party guests.

There are oversized sliding pocket doors opening the kitchen and family room to the outdoor covered patio with its own outdoor kitchen and dining area, but we’re going to keep poking around the house for a bit.

Still on the first floor, we pass through the family room with coffered ceilings, a formal dining room with seating for 10, and finally we get to the “executive office” outfitted with dark wood floor-to-ceiling paneling and built-in bookshelves emitting a mid-century noir sensibility. A spiral staircase leads to the upper level library with even more deep brown shelves and paneling. Sadly, the owner of all of these bookcases does not appear to own many books, as it’s mostly sports artifacts and picture frames on display throughout.

The owner’s suite occupies nearly 700 square feet of living area just for the bedroom, while the bath is a “stunning spa sanctuary with walk-in shower, soaking tub, dual vanities, and his/her water closets.” A private gym is also adjacent, fitted with multiple fans and another bathroom for when the trek back to the main owners’ bath is just too far.

A “learning center” adjoins two of the home’s other seven bedrooms, providing “plenty of room for the kids to play/gather” and “built-in desks for homework/projects.”

The standout feature upstairs is a 3000-square-foot game room, which is effectively a private pub. There’s a poker table in one corner, a horseshoe-shaped bar, and a handful of other seating areas. There’s also a billiards room adjacent, and a private 12-seat theater back downstairs to round out the indoor entertainment options.

Luxury technology includes automated lighting, a 17-zone Sonos sound system, an elevator for those wishing to avoid the home’s multiple staircases, a massive solar array, and a private well to water the estate’s six-and-a-third acre grounds.

Finally, let’s get back to the patio. After we pass the covered outdoor kitchen and lounge area, we come to the “resort style saltwater pool” and spa that wraps around a detached cabana. This completes the compound — aside from a sunken sports court off to one side.

That should be enough to help us, as the listing says, “enjoy the ultimate Southern California lifestyle year round!”

The Bryce Point estate last sold for a reported $1.4 million, back when it was nothing but a bare homesite. Public records list the current owner as Mary Kathawa, president of an Escondido-based plaster company.

For the first time since construction was completed, the mansion was listed for sale in late May with the seller soliciting offers between $7,990,000 and $9,390,000.

14170 Bryce Point | Poway, 92064

Beds: 8 | Baths: 13 | Current Owner: Mary Kathawa | List Price: $9,390,000