"Sun Dappled Light" - Text by Madeline Zuckerman, Photography by Tim Street-Porter

"Murdock yellow" is designer Tracy Murdock's signature color. This vibrant hue is the first thing you notice when arriving at her exquisite English country-style estate in the exclusive equestrian community of Hidden Hills. Perched atop a private hilltop with spectacular views spanning almost two acres of land, the six-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bath home features a bird aviary and a fully detached private guest suite. Although the house had last been decorated in the 1970s, it had a well-designed floor plan, beautiful original woodwork throughout waiting to be revealed from underneath layers of paint, and lovely windows that filled the rooms with sunlight.

As the former wife of financier David Murdock, whom she refers to as her design mentor, Murdock had the opportunity to be exposed to different styles, cultures, and influences through their travels together all over the world. As she states, "David was extremely generous to me with his knowledge, and my tutelage under him was quite accelerated and very intense. He always would say, 'Start with the best quality and this will automatically weed out the mediocre.'

Murdock describes her home in Hidden Hills as English Country with other periods and styles thrown in to keep it interesting. In designing this home, she wanted to create a functional, livable house.

For the living and dining room she painted the walls in her signature "Murdock Yellow," her favorite wall color because of the way it brightens a room and sets off almost any wood. She chose to paint the dining room a deep rust to complement the living room accents and to set an elegant mood.

For the family room, she wanted a real English feel. A classic chintz set the tone perfectly and married well with the adjoining kitchen's soft yellow walls and blue and white tiles and pottery.

The largest challenge on this project was the master bath. Murdock fell in love with the blue and white tile that was used in the bathroom originally and wanted to retain it in her redesign. She brought in an expert to find out what the tile was, then had to locate a resource for it. A manufacturer in Germany was able to accommodate her and the new bathtub was installed. Her favorite room in the home is the master bedroom. It's a beautiful yet comfortable and practical space, featuring bed side lights, versatile tables, and a telephone. Her signature sunny yellow covers the walls and a sumptuous layer of silk envelops the bed in luxurious canopy.

"I believe a good designer should create a home ­ a shelter and a refuge where the inhabitants feel extremely comfortable and have no desire to leave that environment," says Murdock. The home needs to be functional with objects not being too perfect. This imperfection is what invites you to come in and put your feet up. A residence with personal belongings is what makes it a true home." It's hard to find any imperfections in this exquisite home.