When a last-minute cancellation left me – and sixteen of my closest friends – scrambling for accommodations for a wedding in Malibu, I sent Pamela a desperate message, hoping for a miracle. To my everlasting gratitude, Pam swept in to save the day, alongside her lovely welcoming family and their exquisite Mediterranean-inspired mansion in the picturesque hills of southern California. After booking our reservation, renting cars, and winding our way through the neighborhood’s charming corridors, we arrived to find a gorgeous mansion which looked just as lovely in the summer sun as it did in the pictures.

Pam and her family gave us a comprehensive tour of the mansion, which to our great surprise was lovingly built by the owners themselves, who left no detail forgotten in constructing this relaxing oasis on the hillside. The house features everything a large (or small!) group of people could want. It was spacious and clean, with high ceilings, large rooms, and a stunning spiral staircase in the foyer. The bathrooms – which seem to be everywhere you look – are clean and contemporary, with beautiful glass showers and excellent water pressure, which is always a plus. The master bedroom is breathtaking, with its own private balcony overlooking a scenic hillside forest and two private baths, each with its own panoramic view of the unforgettable Malibu countryside.

During the evenings, when the sun went down we all sat down to relax around the clean and easy-to-operate fire pit – that is, when we weren't using the brand-new grill to cook dinner, which we then got to enjoy in either the enormous dining room (which, naturally, had its own balcony as well!) or around the truly massive kitchen island, which was the perfect place around which to socialize and catch up.

The little things were there, too: the driveway easily accommodated our cars which are necessary for getting around Malibu, though certainly not necessary for a casual stroll down the road to Paradise Cove, a great restaurant and beach right on the water. For my money, though, I most enjoyed watching and listening to all the gorgeous finches, hummingbirds, and hawks which seem to enjoy the area just as much as we did.

Pam and her family showed us how to use all of the house’s appliances, furnished the bathrooms with towels, and generally made us feel like their home was ours. The only less-than-wonderful part of the stay was having to pack our bags, walk back down the spiral staircase, and say goodbye at the end! This is truly an unforgettable home, and the views of the wide-open skies and rolling hills are simply indescribable. Malibu is part of the country that must be seen to be believed, and when the time comes for you to see it, I can’t imagine a better place to stay than in the stylish and private embrace of this Villa in the hills. We’re counting down the days until we have another excuse to visit!