A spacious, breezy, high-end home in the heart of an old-school Santa Monica neighborhood where you can chill with friends or family (or both) after a busy day out and about.

Term is flexible: contact to ask about shorter or longer stays.

If you're looking at homes rather than hotel rooms, you've probably got at least a few people in your crew who can see the benefit of not being right in the thick of the crowds and traffic that take over the beach area in Santa Monica every spring and summer. Let's face it: nobody wants to go the beach *every* day, and even if you did, you've got to give that sunburn a day or two off every once in a while. In the Sunset Park neighborhood you get more local flavor, more space to spread out, more convenient access to everything else LA has to offer, and no crowds.

You'll know you've come to the right place as soon as you pull up to this recently-constructed custom home on a quiet tree-lined street: easy parking in front of a new and elegant house with all the amenities you would expect on the inside, along with all the culture and cuisine you’d want on the outside in this highly walkable yet quiet neighborhood. And if you do happen to be traveling with kids, this house has a few features that will get them excited about your trip instead of complaining about leaving home.

From the old-growth tree-lined street, enter through the hand-stained front gate to find the house’s unique side entry, a configuration which brings privacy and security and also creates a private outdoor space along the north side of the house, out of the sun. When you enter the welcoming yellow front door to the foyer, on your left behind a unique sliding barn-style door is a spacious living room (or 5th bedroom); ahead of you is a curving grand staircase to the second floor; and to the right, past 8-foot French doors to the shady North Patio, you’ll find an inviting hallway to a great room which unites a spacious indoor-outdoor residence with the modern flair and entertaining ability of a hand-crafted designer home, ping-pong optional (not pictured).

In the great room are all the seating and conveniences you would expect of a house of this stature. Sit together to chat around the nook table or island, disperse to the family room to take in a game, lounge in the shade of the pergola, or make s'mores over the fire pit. In the kitchen, a massive island welcomes casual seating for 5 to chitchat and sip drinks after a hot afternoon at the beach. For meals and casual snacking, the kitchen “nook” table is almost 9 feet long and seats 10 comfortably, all surrounded by bay windows and light. For more formal dining, there is an authentic vintage mid-century modern dining set, separated from the family room by a wide natural-stone buffet.

The kitchen is a chef’s dream, with a full suite of Thermador Professional appliances: massive 6-burner stove with built-in electric griddle and 2 ovens; TWO DISHWASHERS (because who wants to worry about dishes on vacation); massive side-by-side fridge and freezer; warming drawer to keep those gourmet dishes at just the right temperature; and a magical touch-activated faucet. And you’ll always have fresh veggies because every Saturday morning there’s a farmers market just a block and a half away, at the park at 22nd and Pico. Or, if you’re more of the take-out kind of person, there’s a wide variety of top-notch cuisine (recommendations below), and a high-power Thermador microwave for re-heating. For your morning and afternoon coffee, choose from a full arsenal of in-house coffee machines or go to one of the 7 non-Starbucks coffee shops within a 5-block radius. (Starbucks is 6 blocks away.)

When it’s time to turn in for the evening or relax away from the group, you’ll find four inviting suites, each with its own bathroom. Downstairs is a guest bedroom outfitted with a Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams queen-size sleeper sofa. Upstairs you’ll find three bedroom suites. To the left is the kids bedroom with a full-sized bed and the orange bathroom with step-in shower. In the middle of the upper floor, beside the massive laundry room, is another suite configured with a queen-sized bed and its own airy bathroom complete with step-in shower.

Last but definitely not least, down a window-lined hallway, is the delectable primary suite: a gas fireplace with mantle, and a 40-inch smart TV for watching your favorite shows or movies. In the ridiculously large bathroom you'll find his-and-hers vanities (different heights); massive soaker tub; large walk-in closet; separate toilet room with "full service" Toto toilet seat; and a steam shower of matte, sky-blue glass which will make you feel like you’re floating in a cloud.

Outdoor amenities will delight as well. An outdoor shower to wash away the beach sand before you come into the house. A shady north-side patio with 6-seat table and propane heater. A gym-quality adjustable basketball hoop in the driveway for practicing your dunks or a simple game of horse. And in the back you'll find a gas grill and fire pit for cooking and/or chilling.

Or, if you’re entertaining young ones, Santa Monica’s two best parks are each within a 5-minute walk.

Our favorite restaurants within a few blocks: The Counter for burgers, Prime Pizza for the best New York style pie, Crimson Cafe for Mediterranean fare, Miyako Sushi or Tokyo Sushi, Tandoor India, Local for upscale dinner just 4 blocks down Ocean Park, Vito for upscale Italian, Gilbert's for Mexican, and about 12 others we haven't tried yet. Or if you decide to drive, Santa Monica is an eater's paradise where you'll never have to eat at the same restaurant twice.