Texans Ken and Patty Urban would do one thing differently if they had it to do over again: Rather than trading their way up the ladder from RV to bigger RV to luxury motor coach, they'd start nearer to the top.

The top, in this case, refers to a luxury motor coach that resembles — but should not be confused with — a recreational vehicle, commonly known as a motor home.

Motor mansion would be more accurate. Or castle. Or — as some refer to them — land yachts.

A "setting for the drama of life" describes the sophisticated Ashland home of Ken and Susan Wilson. Amidst a world-class art collection, great stretches of valley views and elegant, understated décor, the Wilsons, their oft-visiting family and hundreds of friends and colleagues converge and converse.

There’s a lot that occurs in Mark and Rebecca DeBoer’s East Medford home: a typical day could include chasing two-year-old daughter Sidney and the family dogs around the backyard, Rebecca’s afternoon piano lessons and an evening of elegant and often civic-minded entertaining.

Knowing their house would need to multi-task as much as they do, this young couple and Medford architect Ken Ogden built a blueprint for efficiency, ambiance and cozy family spaces around every corner. The clay-hued stucco Italianate home, accented by topiaries, an arborvitae, wrought-iron gates and red awnings, was constructed in 2002 on a hillside high above the Rogue Valley.

Inside is just as enticing — 5600 square feet of old world brought up to date with modern conveniences and personal, quirky touches.