In the quiet, tree-lined streets of Sierra Oaks, trust attorney Mark Drobny created the kind of home he envisioned for this chapter of his life: modern and minimalist, designed for solitude and celebration.
“It’s a refuge,” Drobny says. “I wanted a place where I could come home from work every night and completely unwind.”
The 4,500-square-foot residence, completed a little over a year ago, feels both expansive and deeply personal.
Natural light floods nearly every room through oversized windows and soaring expanses of glass. A dramatic glass-paneled front door offers an uninterrupted sightline through the living space to the sparkling pool beyond, establishing the home’s clean architectural lines and indoor-outdoor connection.
“It’s the natural light and the openness that I love most,” Drobny says. “Every room just feels bright and yet calm.”
The property carries a bit of Sacramento history. Developer-contractor Ken Dyer purchased the original home from the estate of the family that owned Swansons Cleaners. Dyer demolished the house and began construction on a new residence.
When Drobny purchased the property three years ago, only the framing, roof, walls and windows were built.
“I basically had a blank slate,” he says. “I was able to choose every surface, every light fixture, every cabinet, every handle, every floor.”
Working with interior designer Irit Winston of JIL Design, Drobny crafted interiors that feel sophisticated without being too formal. Warm light textures soften the contemporary architecture. The furnishings and finishes support a restrained elegance.
“With such large rooms and tall ceilings, I helped Mark create more intimate personal spaces using furnishings, rugs and the contrast of dark and light,” Winston says.
The layout reflects Drobny’s lifestyle. Though capable of holding four bedrooms, the configuration prioritizes spaciousness and function over room count. Two luxurious bedroom suites anchor the home, alongside a private office, media room, small gym and chef’s kitchen complete with a second back kitchen for entertaining.
There are four and a half bathrooms and multiple televisions throughout the house. But technology is most evident in what visitors hear rather than see. “Every room is wired for sound,” Drobny says. “The front yard, backyard, garage, carport, everywhere.”
Art plays a central role. An avid collector, Drobny commissioned local artist Mica Crandall-Bear to create a large-scale painting inspired by the colors of a Tahitian sunset. The vibrant piece serves as a focal point and emotional centerpiece, injecting warmth and movement.
The outdoor spaces extend the balance of beauty and livability. A courtyard-style entry welcomes visitors and leads to backyard entertaining areas around the pool. Finished with shimmering Japanese three-dimensional hexagon tile, the pool is almost sculptural as sunlight reflects across its surface.
Despite the home’s size and modernity, there’s little sense of excess. Instead, the residence feels carefully edited. Drobny’s own journey helps explain some of that sensibility.
Raised in Iowa, he attended University of Iowa before moving to Sacramento for law school decades ago. “I never went back,” he says, “except to visit family and attend an Iowa Hawkeye football game every year.”
For 40 years, Drobny lived in Pocket before spending a few years in Wilhaggin. Today, Sierra Oaks offers the quiet environment he seeks.
Although Drobny lives alone with his cat Joey, family remains central to his life. His children, Dane and Danielle, along with his 7-year-old grandson Stone, live in San Diego. Drobny has a house in Encinitas and co-owns two Southern California fitness studios with his son.
But Sacramento remains home. And in Sierra Oaks, Drobny created a residence that fits not only his aesthetic sensibilities, but how he wants to live: surrounded by light, art, music and spaces designed to bring people together.
Cecily Hastings can be reached at publisher@insidepublications.com. To recommend a home or garden, contact cecily@insidepublications.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X: @insidesacramento.
