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    Side-by-Side Pasadena Homes List for $9 Million

    A pair of completely different properties long owned by the family of late collector Norman R. Blank are simultaneously up for sale. Consisting of two side-by-side residences resting in the Southern California city of Pasadena, the asking price for the entire compound is $9 million. The two homes are also listed separately as a “significant architectural restoration opportunity” by George Penner of Compass for $5.5 million and $3.5 million, respectively.

    Tucked behind a lengthy gated driveway, the contrasting dwellings were acquired in two separate deals by Blank and his wife Jacqueline, both of whom have since passed away. The couple purchased a French Norman-style residence at 243 N. San Rafael Drive some five decades ago for an undetermined amount and subsequently picked up the midcentury next door at 241 N. San Rafael Drive in the early 1990s for $901,000. Together, the two-parcel spread encompasses nearly 3 acres of land.

    243 N. San Rafael Drive features a main house and a garage topped by a chauffeur’s residence, for a total of nine bedrooms and 10 baths in roughly 10,000 square feet.

    Cameron Carothers

    Containing a little more than 10,700 square feet of living space with nine bedrooms and 10 baths, the three-story structure (above) was built and designed in 1930 by noted architects Marston & Maybury and still retains most of its original period details. Walled and gated, the striking castle-like abode is highlighted by a handsome wood-paneled living room centered around an artisan fireplace, a formal dining room, and a commercial-sized kitchen with an accompanying breakfast room.

    Elsewhere is a primary suite flaunting a separate fireside seating area and a tiled bath that looks completely untouched. Other amenities include a solarium, a study, a library, a wine cellar, a workshop, and recreation and safe rooms, with the woodsy, 2-plus-acre grounds atop a promontory overlooking Annandale Golf Club hosting several terraces, an expansive great lawn for entertaining, and a swimmer’s pool. There’s also a four-story turret, a fountain-clad motorcourt, and an attached three-car garage topped by a chauffeur’s residence.

    RELATED: Once Owned by the Barron Publishing Family, This New England Estate Is Listed for $15 Million

    241 N. San Rafael Drive has five bedrooms and seven baths in just over 5,500 square feet.

    Cameron Carothers

    As for the smaller of the two houses (above), it’s perched amid a 0.68-acre parcel. Commissioned by Chandler School founders Thomas and Catherine Chandler and designed by architect Henry Eggers, the late 1960s structure features five bedrooms and six baths filtered across a little more than 5,560 square feet of two-level living space offering “Hollywood Regency cues.”

    A sky-lit foyer with a curving staircase greets and leads to living and dining areas, plus an eat-in kitchen, on the main floor, while prominent upstairs features include a wraparound balcony and a primary suite decked out with a dressing room, closets, and a bath. An octagon-shaped terrace, a workshop, a two-car garage, and an additional carport for one vehicle can also be found on the premises.

    Norman R. Blank was probably most known for his assemblage of museum-quality antique firearms crafted by the likes of Nicolas-Noël Boutet, Gastinne Renette, Durs Egg, Henry Nock, and Joseph and John Manton. He also was recognized for his extensive classic Ferrari and silver collections.

    Click here for more photos of the Norman Blank estate in Pasadena.

    Cameron Carothers More

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    A Beauty Mogul Swaps His Newport Beach Mansion for a Los Angeles Pied-à-Terre

    After seeking a Los Angeles pied-à-terre to replace their Newport Beach mansion, celebrity hair stylist-turned-haircare pioneer Jim Markham and his wife Cheryl have settled on a snazzy condo in a full-service building that comes complete with the prerequisite house car and personal driver they desired to whisk them around the city.

    The longtime Orange County couple—who are in the midst of selling their home in Orange County’s affluent guard-gated Big Canyon community—paid $6.2 million for the ritzy residence, which rests on the 14th floor of the Beverly West building, a luxe 22-story boutique condo tower nestled along the Wilshire Corridor that sports 35 units overlooking the Los Angeles Country Club and has been occupied by notable celebs like The Weeknd.

    The seller was building developer Emaar Properties (of Burj Kkalifa fame). Originally listed for a speck under $7 million earlier this year, the posh pad ultimately went to the Markhams at a discount. Both sides of the deal were handled by exclusive Beverly West listing agents Amir Ensani, Tomer Fridman, and Sally Forster Jones of Compass.

    The fully furnished condo has a private vestibule that opens to a great room sporting a living area, a dining room, and a kitchen.

    Arturo+Lauren

    Once they make themselves at home in their new two-bedroom, four-bath digs, the Markhams will enjoy a little more than 4,150 square feet of open-plan living space boasting a full swath of modern furnishings and private elevator access, plus floor-to-ceiling walls of glass offering up panoramic vistas stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Santa Monica Mountains to Downtown L.A.

    Other highlights include a marble-clad vestibule that opens to a glass-lined great room hosting a spacious living area with a built-in entertainment console and access to a terrace, as well as a formal dining room that connects to a gourmet kitchen outfitted with sleek cabinetry, an eat-in island, top-tier stainless appliances, and a wine fridge. An opulent primary suite has its own terrace, as well as a bespoke closet and dual baths.

    Topping it all off are plenty of building amenities—courtesy of a hefty $7,407 monthly HOA fee—including 24/7 security, valet parking, a saltwater pool and spa, a fitness center, and even a helipad.

    Dual baths boast luxe amenities like marble floors and a soaking tub set against a jaw-dropping view.

    Arturo+Lauren

    RELATED: These 7 Luxury Condos in L.A. Offer a White-Glove Urban Lifestyle in the Heart of a Suburban City

    Throughout his lengthy career, 80-year-old Markham has founded five successful haircare companies, including PureOlogy Serious Color Care and ColorProof Color Care Authority. He got his start working with hairstylist-to-the-stars Jay Sebring, who was murdered in 1969 by Manson Family members at actress Sharon Tate’s L.A. home. He went on to acquire Sebring’s business and pen the book Big Lucky: Serial Entrepreneur Jim Markham’s Secret Formula for Success.

    The couple’s newly rebuilt Newport Beach home, coming to the market soon with Rex McKown of Compass, has 5,866 square feet of living space on a secluded peninsula parcel spanning one-third acres. Back in summer 2021, the Markhams sold an ocean-view estate in Orange County’s Crystal Cove community to Niagara Bottling owner and CEO Andy Peykoff for nearly $16.5 million, or around $7.2 million more than they paid for the place in 2007.

    Click here for more photos of Jim Markham’s Beverly West condo.

    Arturo+Lauren More

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    ‘Blippi’ Creator Stevin John Lists L.A. Home for $3.6 Million

    His first YouTube appearance was an early 2014 video of Blippi, a fun yet educational children’s show he came up with to entertain his young nephew. But brand-building entrepreneur Stevin John has certainly come a long way since then. Thanks to a loyal following of children and adults alike (he has over 35 billion YouTube views to date), the program is now available on all the major streaming platforms and has related merchandise, a touring musical, and spinoff series like Blippi’s Treehouse. The creator and original host even managed to sell his brand in a lucrative $120 million licensing deal about four years ago.

    His burgeoning success also enabled him to purchase a $2.8 million home in Los Angeles that just popped up for sale, asking a speck under $3.6 million. And though that list price is around $800,000 more than John paid for the modern farmhouse-style digs back in spring 2020, the 36-year-old Washington State native has spent much of the past four years fully customizing the place from top to bottom. The listing is held by Michael Bergin of Compass.

    A Blippi Sink or Float video filmed in the backyard racked up 82 million views on YouTube.

    Stevin John

    The property is also set in prime Toluca Lake, a celeb-studded enclave occupied by the likes of Macaulay Culkin, Melissa McCarthy, and Steve Carell. Tucked away behind walls and gates and protected by a security system, the two-tone and metal-roof structure was built in 2019 and features five en-suite bedrooms and seven baths in nearly 3,800 square feet of open-plan living space boasting white oak hardwood floors, high wood-beam ceilings, shiplap details, sliding glass doors, and Control4 technology throughout.

    The two-story dwelling is fronted by a porch and offers an attached two-car garage. Once inside, highlights include a foyer that flows to a window-lined living and dining area warmed by a decorative fireplace. A wine fridge-equipped bar area can be found on the way to the gourmet kitchen, which is outfitted with two sinks, quartz countertops, an eat-in island, top-tier Thermador appliances, and a butler’s pantry. A family room off the kitchen flaunts built-in cabinetry and shelving, plus a wall of sliding glass doors spilling out to the backyard.

    Stevin John, his fiancée Alyssa Ingham, and their son Lochlan.

    Stevin John

    Elsewhere is a dual-desk office nook and a laundry room, as well as a spacious primary suite that rests beneath a vaulted pitched ceiling and comes complete with a fireplace, an expansive balcony, a walk-in closet, and a luxe bath spotlighted by a roomy oval soaking tub and a glass-encased shower. Outdoors, the private grounds span less than a quarter-acre and host a pool and spa flanked by an open-air cabana equipped with a handy exterior shower, a barbecue and bar setup, and a partially covered patio ideal for al fresco lounging.

    In August 2021, John became engaged to his longtime girlfriend Alyssa Ingham. The couple, who share a son, reportedly maintain a primary residence in the Pacific Northwest.

    Click here for more photos of Stevin John’s Toluca Lake house.

    Adrian Van Anz More

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    Justin Timberlake Gets $8 Million for 126-Acre Property in Tennessee

    What goes around comes around for Justin Timberlake. After first hitting the open market almost a year ago with a $10 million price tag, the Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and actor has officially offloaded a sprawling parcel of land in Tennessee for $8 million—or double what he paid for the vacant property in the affluent Franklin neighborhood pocket nine years ago.

    The 43-year-old Memphis native purchased the nearly 127 acres of land near the historic village of Leiper’s Fork for $4 million in spring 2015 from Aubrey Preston, a local philanthropist and preservationist, who sold him a 126-acre chunk of his 224-acre property. There’s no word on what Timberlake had planned to do with the land, which is protected against development through The Land Trust for Tennessee.

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    “Both of us share that love of Tennessee and enjoyed how we grew up, on land,” Preston told The Tennessean at the time of the sale. “We want to do our part to save that for future generations, and our kids,” he said. “That’s how we got to know each other.”

    Nestled alongside the Natchez Trace Parkway in Williamson County, about 20 miles from Nashville, the picturesque ridgetop site consists of 50 acres of open pasture, wildlife food plots, a spring-fed fishing pond, and woodsy trails, all offering up sweeping views of the surrounding valley. Per the listing, which was held by Tom Sullivan of Covey Rise Properties, dual entrances include one that passes through a covered bridge spanning Dobyns Branch Creek and another for construction crews or horse trailers.

    RELATED: Luxury Home Buyers Are Moving to Nashville in Droves. Here’s Why.

    In addition to his latest sale, Timberlake and his actress and producer wife Jessica Biel lay claim to a Hollywood Hills mansion he bought from actress Helen Hunt over two decades ago, subsequently remodeled, and recently tried to sell for $35 million before it was removed from the market. They also maintain a spacious home in the affluent Yellowstone Club near Big Sky, Montana.

    Timberlake, who was recently arrested for DWI in the Hamptons, co-owns a bar and restaurant in Nashville and also purchased hundreds of acres of land northwest of the city, where he plans to open an 18-hole golf course in collaboration with a luxury golfing company. More

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    Part of John Denver’s Former Rocky Mountain Estate Just Hit the Market for $8.5 Million

    Nearly three decades after his death at age 53, a chunk of John Denver’s longtime Denver estate is newly available. The legendary singer/songwriter had the mountain getaway in Aspen‘s exclusive gated Starwood community custom-built at the height of his career in the early 1970s, and though the main residence is off the market, a couple of buildings on an adjacent parcel are now up for grabs, asking a dash under $8.5 million.

    Originally designed as a guesthouse and recording studio, the property was last sold this past April for nearly $4.8 million. Since converted into a full-fledged home courtesy of extensive renovations, the two wood-sided and metal-roof structures feature a total of five bedrooms and an equal number of baths in a little more than 2,900 square feet of rustic living space that still retains a stained-glass installation from Denver’s tenure.

    A stained-glass installation left behind by Denver’s estate is featured prominently in the fireside living room.

    Michael Brands

    RELATED: An Aspen Estate Sells for $108 Million, Becoming Colorado’s Most Expensive Residential Sale

    Tucked away on five acres of land overlooking picturesque valley and mountain vistas, about 15 minutes outside of downtown Aspen, the single-story residence is highlighted by a spacious great room boasting wood-beam ceilings and a wall of sliding glass doors opening to an expansive deck. Within that space, a cozy living area is warmed by a striking stone and copper wood-burning fireplace flanked by built-in shelving, and a sleekly designed kitchen is outfitted with a central island, stainless appliances, and an accompanying dining area.

    Elsewhere is a fireside primary suite displaying an inviting bath equipped with dual vanities and a large shower; and outdoors, the separately deeded lot with its own driveway hosts a relaxing hot tub and a step-down gathering area that’s ideal for al fresco lounging and entertaining. There’s also a one-car garage.

    A kitchen and dining area offers up sweeping mountain views.

    Michael Brands

    RELATED: Aspen Is Getting Its First ‘Watch Week’ This Summer

    Per the listing, which is held by PJ Bory of Christie’s International Real Estate Aspen Snowmass, a $750 annual HOA fee also provides the new owner access to Starwood’s exclusive amenities, which include 24-hour security, postal and fire stations, a conference room, tennis courts, cross-country ski trails, horse pastures, and 70-plus acres of meadows and hiking trails.

    One of the most popular and bestselling acoustic performers of the ’70s, Denver’s numerous hits included Take Me Home, Country Roads, Sunshine on My Shoulders, and Rocky Mountain High. In addition to an induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and a Grammy win for “Best Musical Album for Children,” he founded the environmental foundation Windstar. The New Mexico native died in October 1997 when an experimental plane he was piloting crashed into California’s Monterey Bay, with his cremated ashes scattered across the Rocky Mountains. 

    Click here for more photos of John Denver’s Aspen house.

    Michael Brands More

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    Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas List Their New York Estate for $12 Million

    If you’ve always wanted to live the life of a Hollywood power couple, this star-studded residence in New York‘s Hudson Valley could be just the ticket! As first reported by The Wall Street Journal, the picturesque 12-acre spread owned by married actors Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas has just popped up for sale in the coastal village of Irvington, asking $12 million. The listing is held by David Turner of Compass.

    Records show Zeta-Jones herself paid $4.5 million back in 2019 for the pre-war estate, which is showcased by a four-story Georgian-style house boasting eight en-suite bedrooms and 12 baths in a little more than 11,600 square feet of four-level living space accented throughout with stylishly modern interiors warmed by numerous fireplaces.

    This colorfully hued room is one of many seating areas filtered across the four-level home.

    Daniel Milstein

    Originally built in 1929—and previously occupied through the years by Tiffany & Co. founder Charles Lewis Tiffany and the Matthiessen family, wealthy sugar merchants—the stately brick and stone structure was extensively renovated during the couple’s tenure and features a handsome oak-paneled library that connects to a two-story library and a salon with its own bar. A lower level is outfitted with a recreation area, a gym, a kitchenette, and a 21-foot heated indoor pool resting alongside a trio of large arched windows.

    Other highlights include formal living and dining rooms, a brick-lined kitchen sporting an eat-in island and high-end stainless appliances, and an adjoining family room. A posh primary suite flaunts a separate seating area, a showroom-style closet, and a luxe bath spotlighted by a marble-clad soaking tub; and outdoors, the park-like grounds host a 100-foot terrace with steps leading down to a grass and stone lounging spot and 130 feet of waterfront footage on the Hudson River. There’s also an attached four-car garage.

    A spacious waterfront terrace spanning the rear of the house overlooks the Hudson River.

    Daniel Milstein

    Per WSJ, Zeta-Jones is selling because the couple’s son and daughter have both left the nest and work commitments are taking her overseas. “When I purchased our Irvington home I knew our family would share many happy times here, and we have,” she says, adding that they plan to spend more time in Bermuda and Europe.

    The longtime showbiz pair—her probably best known for her Oscar-winning performance in Chicago, and he for his starring roles in the films Fatal Attraction and Wall Street, the latter of which earned him a best-actor Oscar—previously resided at a 20,000-square-foot mansion in the New York town of Bedford that Zeta-Jones sold for $20.5 million a few years ago. Douglas, who maintains his own real estate portfolio, listed their Central Park West apartment in Manhattan for $21.5 million a few years ago, but it’s since been removed from the market.

    Click here for more photos of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas’s New York house.

    Daniel Milstein More

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    Billionaire Oakley Founder Sells Malibu Estate For $210 Million

    Share this home! James Jannard, the billionaire founder of Oakley, has just sold his oceanfront estate in Malibu, California for a record $210 million. This beats the $200 million that Beyonce & Jay-Z paid for modern mega mansion in the same city. Jannard purchased the property back in 2021 for $75 million from billionaire investor […] More