Luxury Home · Design-Build

Mintcello

Malibu

Project perspective

Mintcello is a Malibu estate by Apel Design, built from stone, plaster and hand-set tile across a site planned from driveway to garden.

The design story

Mintcello began as a whole-site question rather than a house question. The aerial plan set the driveway, the graded pads, the orchard, the pool and the terraces before the building took its final shape, so that arrival, privacy and the working landscape were resolved together.

The construction record shows what that produces. Foundations and formwork step down the hillside, framing opens directly to the ocean, and the finished rooms carry stone walls, arched openings, hand-painted tile risers and a mosaic inlay set into the masonry. It is one continuous piece of work, from excavation to the last stone.

Site + foundation

Foundation rebar and formwork laid out on a hillside site — Foundation rebar and formwork laid out at Mintcello

Foundation trench and rebar during site engineering work — Foundation trench and rebar at Mintcello

Foundation excavation in morning fog on a hillside site — Foundation excavation in morning fog at Mintcello

Aerial site plan for Mintcello showing driveway, pool, terraces and graded pads

Structure

Framed interior against a poured concrete wall at Mintcello

Framing with a view to the mountains at Mintcello

Framed hallway with an ocean view at Mintcello

Completed

Lawn, stone paving and pergola at Mintcello

Stone path and iron arch at Mintcello at sunset

Mature tree and stone surround in the gardens at Mintcello

Flagstone path across the lawn at Mintcello at sunset

Stone retaining wall with an integrated water feature at Mintcello

Flagstone path with a view to the hills at Mintcello

Stone patio and timber pergola at Mintcello

Stone arch and French doors onto the courtyard at Mintcello

Curved plaster stair against stone at Mintcello

Kitchen at Mintcello with stone walls and arched windows

Range and copper backsplash in the kitchen at Mintcello

Range with a custom copper hood at Mintcello

Pierced metal pendants above a stone wall at Mintcello

Bar with integrated wine storage at Mintcello

Kitchen island and counter stools at Mintcello

Dining room and chandelier against stone at Mintcello

Clawfoot tub beneath an arched window at Mintcello

Clawfoot tub with hillside views at Mintcello

Rain shower head set into a painted ceiling panel at Mintcello

Shower with patterned mosaic tile at Mintcello

Vanity and arched doorways in a bathroom at Mintcello

Twin mirrors set into a stone arch at Mintcello

Vanity with black steel framing at Mintcello

Vanity and window with planting at Mintcello

Soaking tub in a stone alcove beneath an arched window at Mintcello

Reclaimed wood vanity and vessel sink at Mintcello

Bathroom with shower and vanity at Mintcello

Bedroom with carved wood shutters and an arched recess at Mintcello

Bedroom at Mintcello with upholstered seating

Bedroom with a stone wall and arched window seat at Mintcello

Vessel sink on a live-edge wood counter at Mintcello

Bedroom with arched wood doors at Mintcello

Stone alcove and wood chair at Mintcello

Stair with hand-painted tile risers at Mintcello

Living room at Mintcello with a stone fireplace wall

Living room opening to the gardens at Mintcello

Stone wall with a mosaic inlay at Mintcello

Curved stair and stone entry at Mintcello

Powder room with copper and stone surfaces at Mintcello

Rooms

Bedroom at Mintcello, a residence by Apel Design in Malibu, view 1 of 3 — Bedroom at Mintcello, a residence by Apel Design in Malibu

Bedroom at Mintcello, a residence by Apel Design in Malibu, view 2 of 3 — Bedroom at Mintcello, a residence by Apel Design in Malibu

Bedroom at Mintcello, a residence by Apel Design in Malibu, view 3 of 3 — Bedroom at Mintcello, a residence by Apel Design in Malibu

Kitchen at Mintcello, a residence by Apel Design in Malibu, view 1 of 3 — Kitchen at Mintcello, a residence by Apel Design in Malibu

Kitchen at Mintcello, a residence by Apel Design in Malibu, view 2 of 3 — Kitchen at Mintcello, a residence by Apel Design in Malibu

Kitchen at Mintcello, a residence by Apel Design in Malibu, view 3 of 3 — Kitchen at Mintcello, a residence by Apel Design in Malibu

Bring us the ambition, the difficult site, or the project that needs to become clear.

Begin a project ↗