A storied estate once owned by the executive who built Williams-Sonoma into a household name is up for sale in Glen Ellen, California, asking $9.25 million.
The 9-acre property served for decades as the personal retreat of the late W. Howard Lester, the Oklahoma entrepreneur who transformed a single-store French cookware shop into a national, and luxe, retail powerhouse.
Lester acquired Williams-Sonoma in the 1970s for just $100,000, later adding Pottery Barn to his portfolio in 1986, according to a press release.
Business Wire
He led the company until his death in 2010, during which time it became synonymous with upscale kitchen and home goods.
Following Lester’s passing, his family sold the estate in 2017 for $6 million in an all-cash deal, according to public records.
Daniel Casabonne of Sotheby’s International Realty, who holds the current listing along with colleague Gina Clyde, told Mansion Global, that buyer was “a young Bay Area tech executive” who subsequently took out a $4 million loan.
The new owner undertook a sweeping renovation, nearly doubling the size of the existing structure.
It’s “a statement in casual & refined wine country living,” reads the listing, which showcases the reimagined residence now outfitted with a modern pool, expanded interiors and upgraded amenities.
The main home, a sprawling modern farmhouse, features a dramatic great room with beamed ceilings and paneled wood walls, a dining area with a concealed wine cellar and a sunlit yellow kitchen anchored by a skylit island.
The three-bedroom layout includes a primary suite with a central soaking tub flanked by dual walk-in closets, and a children’s wing fitted with custom bunk beds and rustic sliding doors.
Beyond the interiors, the grounds offer rolling lawns, a pond, walking trails and a separate guest cabin tucked beside a creek.
The property sits minutes from Jack London State Park and a short drive from the original Williams-Sonoma store in downtown Sonoma, a detail Casabonne noted as a fitting full-circle connection to the brand’s roots.