By Lisa I. Kranz

Star Special Sections writer

Sinks and countertops at homes are typically no big deal — purposely practical, not notably beautiful. So when they command a closer look and collect compliments like fine art, you can bet that the residence in question is rich with the crème de la crème.

That's certainly the case at this Conejo Valley estate, which in fact boasts honed finish limestone quarried and fabricated in France for much of its flooring — including the entry, large loggia (outdoor room), balcony terrace, even the laundry room and stairs.

But perhaps because its exterior is that of a stately Italian villa, many interior materials have Italian names: the entry's inlaid Rosa Verona mosaic tile; the game room's wet bar made of black Michelangelo marble; and in the powder room, an antique Tuscan bronze vessel-style sink with a wall-mounted faucet.

Yes, stylish European touches sure abound at this spacious home with a $4-million-plus price tag.

Go figure, because the drive there is more like a glimpse of the Old West.

A mere mile away are the rolling hills of a Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area — a rare, diverse landscape of grasslands, canyons and oak woodlands that inspires preservation and creativity. Also nearby is Two Winds Ranch, Newbury Park's rustic equestrian facility housing about 60 horses. It offers boarding, rides and lessons.

The popular area is surrounded by Thousand Oaks, which is surrounded by open space. Hiking and biking trails traverse numerous neighborhoods, including here at Dos Vientos Ranch where newer custom homes provide both privacy and prestige.

Completed in 2006, this gated home at a cul-de-sac end features five bedrooms plus five and one-half baths within nearly 7,000 square feet upon nearly 10 fenced acres.

More than four acres are fully irrigated.

"Mostly usable land. There's so much room here," says Aviara Real Estate agent Kim Plisky.

The front has RV and/or boat space as well as ample regular parking on the colored concrete motor court and driveway apron that match custom walkways.

Suggestions for the backyard include a tennis court or even a soccer field. A large grassy area near the pool is already plumbed and prepared for a casita or pool house.

Resembling what you'd find at high-end Las Vegas or Hawaii hotels, the fenced-in resort-style pool/spa is framed by a few palm trees and has a rock waterfall, cave and an umbrella-ready beach-front entry. "Even adults love going down that water slide," confesses the wife of the home's builder.

She says her husband will miss "the incredible master bath showerheads" — two Perrin & Rowe exposed thermostatic shower valves with rain heads. Another spalike treat is the bath's two-person, jetted spa tub with separate hand shower and in-line heater.

For her part, the home seller will miss the kitchen. "I like to cook. You can do catering, too. There's two convection ovens (Thermador with stainless steel finish), two dishwashers (Bosch with wood-panel fronts), two disposers, two warming drawers "

Not to mention the Viking Designer-series refrigerator, formal butler's pantry, custom Zinc hood with remote 1,400 CFM fan, 60-inch Viking 6-burner range with both grill and griddle, and the huge worktop/storage island with handy vegetable sink.

Kitchen sinks feature impressive European faucetry (Dornbracht), from the above-stove spigot, to fill pots, to the extra large Stone Farm sink with deep dual basins.

Sinks elsewhere are no less fancy. One upstairs bath has a chrome vessel sink with JADO (European) one-touch faucet; another pairs a porcelain console sink with chrome legs with a retro cast-iron tub.

Meanwhile, the downstairs laundry room has a deep cast-iron sink with convenient pull-out sprayer faucet.

The owner/expert builder put in so many such things, the home's Realtors like to say it has "every indulgence imaginable," "unbelievable details" and "more than the mind could imagine."

Indeed, every room is pre-wired for chandeliers — you can even hang one over the master bath's spa tub.

Without doubt, the list of special specifics is long. Who would guess the living room is pre-wired for piano lighting, the master suite has a wired plasma-TV niche, the four-car garage offers a "collectors bay" (for bikes, toys, lawn mower, etc.); the circle of roses in front is actually a space plumbed for a fountain; and that those imported olive trees in front are more than a century old?

Selections of stones used throughout are hardy, too, like a secondary bedroom's Crema Marfil polished marble floor as well as the kitchen's rare Verde Dorado granite countertops with mosaic tile backsplash.

Colors sound costly or creative, like the powder room's Marquina Negro Spanish marble countertop; the master bath's honey onyx double-stall shower; and another bath's green onyx rhomboid mosaic shower tile with spa tub. That's sure tough to say or memorize.

There's no trouble remembering which bedroom is whose, though; they differ in soft shades of pink, blue, green and yellow. Also, the kids' closet racks are positioned at their individual heights.

All bedrooms have walk-in closets, but only the master suite has a fireplace and only the maid's/guest room is downstairs (with a separate entry, too).

If you don't look down and around, you won't see the custom antiqued register grilles. And unless you have X-ray vision, you won't see that every wall — even interior walls and between floors — has insulation.

Future residents may well get used to the "soft-close drawers," walk-in wardrobes with California Closets organizer systems in all bedrooms, hot water recirculation on a timer, electronic heat/air thermostats in each room and sound-system wiring as well as speakers in all public areas plus the master bedroom/bath.

The next owners might even take advantage of cable pre-wiring enabling telephone, cable or data from any jack.

However, most people may take for granted finer details like 7- to 8-foot solid mahogany interior doors; insulated glazing for all exterior doors and windows; and two five-ton air/heat condensers ("enough for the Oaks Shopping Center!" Plisky exclaims).

Artists and architects among us can appreciate the home's arched passageways, gallery hallway, large picture windows, and foyer with elliptical dome ceiling featuring "high-relief acanthus/egg and dart cornice molding."

Yes, even the ceilings are elegant.

Here's more proof: the breakfast room has a vaulted terra cotta brick ceiling; the family room, a stain-grade beamed ceiling with distressed finish; and the living room, a painted wood-beam multi-coffered ceiling.

Different woods suit varied settings.

There's dark walnut cabinetry in the kitchen and master bath; elm burlwood/mahogany for powder room cabinets; alder cabinets for another bath and the laundry room; cherry wood for the game room's window seat.

There's no doubt the estate is set up for entertaining, from the foyer's wine cellar to the game room's wet bar with refrigerated beverage center, to the media/teen room with French doors to the 26-by-13-foot balcony terrace overlooking the pool.

Another popular gathering place is the sizable outdoor loggia with its large stone fireplace, speakers and keypad. Like elsewhere, these control switch choices are CD/juke/FM/iPOD/mute/volume.

The residence certainly holds appeal for a range of potential buyers.

It's in a city known for its strong school district and for being among the nation's safest for its size.

For more information about the valuable Italian villa, call Aviara Realtors Mike and Kim Plisky at 370-3230.

View this property online at http://www.mikeandkim.com. Asking price: $4,397,000.