The backyard is where the house becomes more than another hillside contemporary. The saltwater Baja pool creates a place where you can actually settle in rather than simply swim laps, while the firepit and outdoor kitchen mean the same area keeps working as afternoon turns into dinner and dinner stretches later than planned. Canyon and treetop views reinforce the feeling that you’ve gotten away from the city without actually leaving it. Inside, we like the combination of polished architecture and furnishings with a little more personality. The theater and wine cellar give evenings two very different directions, and the chef’s kitchen opens naturally into the main gathering spaces and terraces. The primary suite has its own outdoor connection along with a substantial bath featuring an oversized steam shower and soaking tub. There’s also an elevator serving the multi-level house, which matters here because Willow Glen really does live vertically.