At the heart of the remarkable Orange County residence known as Santiago Oakes lies something unexpected: a garage. But not just any garage — this “man cave,” built before the rest of the new home even existed, was so loved by the homeowners that it became the design touchstone for everything that followed.
As principal architect Amat Tajudin of EBTA Architects explains, “The site already had a particular style started a few years ago: a barn that houses bedrooms, an automotive display, a bar and a large living area. That shape influenced our roof forms, and we created a connection with the new home and the older structure.”
That connection between old and new, traditional and contemporary, architecture and nature, became the foundation for this luxury home in Orange County. From the warm materials used throughout to the thoughtful blending of styles, it’s where seemingly disparate elements come together in complete harmony.
Builder Matt Dugally of Dugally Oberfeld recalls his first reaction to the design of the Santiago Oakes residence: “You look at the program and think, ‘Is this going to work?’ Traditional brick with a contemporary staircase, barn rooflines with metal and wood windows side by side… It’s a collision of materials. But in this house, it really works.”
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The homeowners had lived on this property for 25 years and had resided across the canyon for two decades prior. They raised four children here, and when the time came to build a new dwelling, they had a simple yet meaningful goal: a forever home that felt close to nature, was warm and gracious, and could host big family gatherings.
Principal designer Stacy Chiavaro of Chiavaro Design brought the Santiago Oakes residence’s interiors to life with a sophisticated yet welcoming approach. “The furnishings are a charming mix of modern and traditional styles set amongst reclaimed oak flooring and contemporary oak wall paneling,” she explains. “It’s a contemporary ranch home nestled in the rolling hills, and we wanted it to feel like it had always belonged here.”
The landscape deeply influenced that sense of belonging. “The mature oak trees were critical,” Tajudin says. “We designed the new home using a Y-shaped footprint to match the original house and to preserve those trees. We keyed off the long driveway and made the oaks focal points, creating new views that enhanced the serenity of the site.”
Clerestory windows abound, bouncing light around nearly every room. Large steel and glass pivot doors open to a great room and loggia beyond, immediately blurring the line between inside and out. “We created large, covered patios where Stacy was able to transition the interiors to the exteriors in a seamless way,” Tajudin says. The connection to nature is felt throughout this luxurious Orange County home, from the primary suite’s accordion doors that open to a private courtyard crowned by a unique water feature to the outdoor shower nestled between his-and-her bathrooms.
“The house lives like a single-story home,” Tajudin adds, “with all the essential functions—kitchen, dining, family room, guest suite and the primary bedroom—on the ground floor. Upstairs is designed for guests, with two suites and a lounge with a kitchenette so overnight visitors feel truly at home.”
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The Santiago Oakes residence reveals a series of thoughtful surprises as you wind through it. “There’s a powder room that’s incredibly dramatic and a small office off the primary that feels like a hidden gem,” Dugally says. The textures are rich and tactile: plaster walls with a satin finish, multi-color limestone floors, leathered quartzite countertops and a marble-clad shower in “her” bath. “You’re enveloped in warm materials, family history and nature,” Chiavaro adds.
A consistent theme of Santiago Oakes’s creation is the strength of collaboration. “The team was incredible,” Tajudin remarks. “I’ve worked with Dugally Oberfeld for almost 40 years, and Stacy was the perfect recommendation for this project. Everyone stayed in their lane and trusted each other—it was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of synergy.”
Dugally echoes that sentiment: “Every project that turns out well has a lot to do with the clients, and here, they were amazing — open-minded, patient, gracious. They let the process unfold to get exactly what they wanted.” Even complex technical challenges, like satisfying modern fire codes and integrating dual window systems in wood and metal, were resolved with thoughtful intention and painstaking execution.
“This home is a reflection of who they are,” Chiavaro states. “It’s not just a place to live. It’s where they welcome their family, host charity events and give back to the community. We were honored to help create a home base for their next chapter.”
And that original garage—the beloved “man cave”—still stands, now joined by a luxury home in Orange County that rises to meet it both in spirit and in style.
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