Holiday Home Tour features actor’s former home

Treat yourself to the Canyon Lake Woman’s Club annual Holiday Home featuring five Canyon Lake homes, including the former home of actor Keifer Sutherland.

This year’s tour, “Christmas in Paradise,” will be held on Saturday, Dec. 1. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by contacting Karen Doherty at 951-595-1941 or Jan May at 951-970-8333. Tickets also are available at the POA office and Pack, Wrap and Post in the Canyon Lake Towne Center.

The self-guided tour starts at the lodge where ticket holders can pick up tour maps, shop at vendor booths and purchase opportunity drawing tickets for a chance to win decorative trees valued at $200 each and centerpieces valued at $100 each.

The Friday Flyer is showcasing each home in the weeks leading up to the tour. This week’s featured home, “Chateau Mar Mom,” is the home of Jeff and Char Mirich at 22700 Running Rabbit Ct.

“Chateau Mar Mom” is a five bedroom, five bath, 3700 square foot French Chateau purchased by Jeff and Char Mirich more than six years ago. It had been completely remodeled by its former owner, actor Keifer Sutherland.

Large shrubs had been added on both sides of the property for privacy. The front of the home sports dramatic contrasts with its gunmetal gray stucco and stark white entry doors and sidelights.

The raised foyer has hardwood floors, white columns and plantation shutters. Step down to the living and dining room areas decorated with the traditional family tree.

Jeff was the chief information officer for the Disney Corporation and several of the Disney characters greet you in these rooms. Rattan furnishings give a casual, beachy feel to this part of the home.

The dining room invites guests for a festive Christmas meal. Step up to the dinette, with its built-in wall unit and dark rattan and wood sideboard. The kitchen is round, with gray limestone counters,  white cabinets, moldings and stainless appliances. Arched doorways and numerous windows make this a very appealing space.

The landing area at the top of the dark wood staircase has a built-in bar and a slot machine for a little gaming. The rounded music room contains drums, numerous guitars and a player piano lending music for the occasion. On the walls are four pictures of the different Disney Magic Castles at parks around the world. High ceilings, a skylight and lots of windows make this a special family place.

In the large media room is a picture from the movie Indiana Jones along with competition water skiing photos of the owners. They met at one of these events.

The Master bedroom is one of many contrasts. The beige walls, white moldings, doors and shutters are striking with the dark bedroom set. The bed is on an angled wall, creating even more interest.

The balcony on both levels offers a wonderful view. Comfortable seating, a spa, sandy beach and the lake greet visitors across the whole back of the home.

As you depart, look carefully at the concrete area near the front door. One of Keifer’s friends stamped a herd of horses into the concrete. Keifer, who has starred in such films as “The Sentinel” and “A Few Good Men,” learned the basics of horseback riding in the movie “The Cowboy Way.”

He took time off from making movies in the late 1990s and wound up winning the National Team Roping Competition twice.