Raphael Stevens

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    This Celeb-Pedigreed Los Angeles Home Is Available for the First Time in 28 Years

    Actress Daryl Hannah and singer/songwriter Jackson Browne began dating shortly before her star-making turn as a mermaid in the 1984 rom-com fantasy film Splash. It wasn’t too long before they bought a house together, a handsome East Coast-style shingled traditional home just half a block from the beach in one of the most coveted areas of Santa Monica. They split in 1992 but didn’t sell the house until 1995 when it was purchased by late Emmy-winning TV writer-producer John Bowman and his TV writer-producer wife Shannon Gaughan.

    Bowman, a co-creator of the Martin Lawrence sitcom Martin, who also served as the head writer on In Living Color, died in 2021, and Gaughan, who was awarded an Emmy for her work on Saturday Night Live, now has their longtime family home on the market. Initially listed for $22.5 million, the price for the traditional estate now stands at $16.85 million. For those who might like to give the home a test run, it’s also available as a rental at $65,000 per month. Justin Alexander of The Alexander Group at Compass holds the listing.

    The living room has a fireplace and French doors to the backyard.

    Engel Studios

    The mid-block parcel measures more than half an acre and has three substantial structures among its mature gardens. Altogether, there are seven bedrooms and six bathrooms across 7,200 square feet. The five-bedroom main house has a center hall entry complemented by spacious formal living and dining rooms, while the eat-in kitchen is up-to-date with marble counters and the sunlight-filled fireside family room has French doors to the gardens.

    Bedrooms are sprinkled throughout the house and include a spacious second-floor primary suite with vaulted ceilings, a tile-accented fireplace, a large walk-in closet, and a tiled bathroom. Elsewhere are a home office and a hidden children’s playroom.

    High hedges ensure privacy from neighboring homes.

    Engel Studios

    The verdant, manicured grounds include a horseshoe driveway, a huge deck for dining and relaxing, a swimming pool and spa, lush lawns, a picket-fenced rose garden, and a sports court. Mature specimen trees and high hedging shield the property from neighboring homes.

    In addition to the main house, there’s a self-contained two-bedroom guesthouse with a kitchen and bath, which provides plenty of room for guests or staff, and a separate, two-story ivy-covered cottage that’s perfect for pursuing creative and/or professional endeavors.

    Click here for more photos of 226 Palisades Avenue.

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    Sylvester Stallone Sells $17 Million California Estate to John Fogerty

    He’s outta there! Less than two years after Sylvester Stallone bought a 2.2-acre ranch in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley, the property has changed hands again. Records reveal the speedy new owner is music legend John Fogerty, originally of Creedence Clearwater Revival fame.

    While still a huge sum of money, the $17.2 million Fogerty paid is well under Stallone’s $22.5 million asking price, and it’s also $1 million less than what Rocky himself paid for the keys back in spring 2022. It appears Stallone made almost no renovations to the place during his short ownership; designed for a previous owner, the Martyn Lawrence Bullard-crafted interiors remain intact and the horse-friendly grounds still features lushly scenic landscaping that’s just begging for an Architectural Digest feature.

    Tucked away at the end of a secluded cul-de-sac within the famously star-studded and guard-gated Hidden Hills community, the ex-Stallone ranch is one of the most private properties in the entire enclave. Invisible from the road behind gates and mature trees, the estate contains a large main house, a detached guesthouse, large cabana and a substantial horse barn. There’s also an arena for horse riding, plus organic vegetable gardens, more than 100 fruit-bearing trees, a greenhouse and koi pond. Altogether, the property includes four bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms in well over 10,000 square feet of living space.

    Interior highlights include a great room with a vaulted ceiling and skylights, a fireplace-equipped dining room, kitchen with high-end Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, a media room with a projector and mirror-walled gym. The upstairs master suite offers dual vanities, a sitting area, dual showroom closets and a private balcony overlooking the sprawling grounds.

    In addition to a large riding arena, the 2.2-acre spread contains four separate structures.

    Google Earth

    Out back, multiple loggias have ample room for al fresco entertaining, and the lush grounds encircle a private swimming pool with a Baja deck for sunbathing. There’s also a fire-pit lounge area, and plenty of tree-shaded spots to watch the horses romp in their arena.

    In addition to their fancy new Hidden Hills spread, Fogerty and his longtime wife Julie still own an even larger estate out in the Hidden Valley community near Thousand Oaks. That 20-acre compound was up for grabs at $20 million earlier this year, though it’s since been removed from the market. As for Stallone, he and wife Jennifer have traded California for Florida, where they recently acquired a $35 million Palm Beach mansion. More

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    Following a Multimillion-Dollar Restoration, L.A.’s Historic Almidor Estate Has Hit the Market

    Traditionally, the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles has not been known as a haven for beautiful and historic architecture. But one particular property might singlehandedly change everyone’s mind — it’s a Spanish Colonial Revival build in Woodland Hills known as “Almidor, the John Show Ranch estate,” originally constructed in 1928 and designed by architect L.G. Knipe.

    The 1920s valley was largely farmland, and Almidor certainly harkens back to that past. The 6,000-square-foot house was originally the centerpiece of a 350-acre ranch comprised largely of citrus and walnut trees. These days, Woodland Hills and the communities surrounding it are prototypical examples of suburban sprawl, and Almidor now sits on just a little over 1-acre of land. But the house and what remains of the grounds have lost none of their charm, having been expertly restored by current owners Gwilym and Peggy McGrew.

    The McGrews acquired the property in a 2002 probate sale, paying just $485,000, and have now put the revitalized estate back up for sale at $5 million. That’s a big number for Woodland Hills, but a peek at the stunning amenities and the ask starts to seem like a bargain.

    The step-down living room features original stained glass windows.

    gavin cater

    Invisible from the street behind gates and enormous trees, the house is accessed via two steep driveways that meet at a motorcourt. From there, it’s a walk up a long flight of stairs to the home’s arched façade, which covers a porch overlooking stunning gardens and a fountain.

    Inside, guests will be awed by the double-height foyer, which displays forged iron work, original tile floors and a grand staircase. Also on tap are a living room with original stained-glass windows and a decorative fireplace, a large den equipped with its own wet bar, and a library decked out in a particularly verdant shade of green. Perhaps the one interior surprise is the kitchen, which appears distinctly more modern than the rest of the home but nonetheless still packs in many charming original details — in addition to the stone countertops and high-end Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances demanded by today’s luxury homebuyers.

    All four of the home’s bedrooms are located upstairs, and each are equipped with ample closet space or dressing rooms. Out back, there are two distinct patio areas — an upper deck with a BBQ center, fire-pit and al fresco dining area, and a lower deck for sunbathing by the pool. As an added bonus, the property was recently upgraded with a new roof, new electrical wiring and the installation of a new triple-zone HVAC system. Benjamin Kahle of Compass holds the listing.

    Click here for more photos of Almidor, the John Show estate. More

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    Jackie Kennedy’s Onetime Georgetown Home Is Slated for Auction

    Almost three decades after she died at age 64, the 18th-century residence where former First Lady Jackie Kennedy and her children Caroline and John Jr. briefly lived shortly after JFK was shot and killed while traveling through Dallas in a presidential motorcade is up for grabs.

    Tucked away in the historic Georgetown enclave of Washington, D.C.—and reportedly purchased by the widow in 1963 for $195,000—the Federal-style estate was listed earlier this year for $26.5 million. Currently priced at $19.5 million with Jonathan Taylor of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, the place is now set to go to the highest bidder Oct. 24 via a no-reserve auction held by Concierge Auctions.

    Built in the early 1790s by Thomas Beall, Georgetown’s second mayor, the stately red brick and black-shuttered structure also has been occupied during its history by Secretary of War Newton D. Baker and former Miss America Yolande Betbeze Fox. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the “Newtown Baker House” in 1976, and also designated as a National Historic Landmark.

    According to The Wall Street Journal, which previously reported on the sale, the late construction entrepreneur David W. Hudgens began assembling the compound in 1997, when he doled out $1.2 million for a traditional brick home next door to the former Kennedy House. He subsequently added a circa-1880s house on the block for $1.6 million, and then paid the Fox estate $5.2 million for the former Kennedy house in 2017.

    Hudgens went on to enlist architect Dale Overmyer to remodel and combine the trio of buildings, which have a total of 13 bedrooms and 18 baths sprawled across 16,300 square feet of living space. There also are “secret” passageways connecting the homes, plus a three-car garage.

    As for the central house where Kennedy resided, it’s fronted by a portico-topped door opening into a entry foyer displaying a traditional staircase and portrait of the late First Lady. From there, a living room where Kennedy gave her Warren Commission testimony about the murder of her husband is warmed by a fireplace, and an eggshell blue living room boasting a gold-leaf ceiling and elegant moldings leads to a gourmet kitchen outfitted with an eat-in island and top-tier stainless appliances.

    The entire second floor holds a master retreat, which comes complete with parquet floors, a private balcony overlooking the rear gardens, walk-in closet, and marble-clad bath spotlighted by dual vanities, a soaking tub and two separate showers; and elsewhere is an office, a gym, wood-paneled library and family room with bi-folding doors spilling out to an expansive terrace. Topping it all off: an observation deck providing picturesque views of the Washington Monument.

    Click here for more photos of Jackie Kennedy’s former Georgetown house.

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    This Tuscany-Inspired Texas Villa Has Ties to Hollywood

    A Tuscan-inspired villa on the prosperous suburban outskirts of Austin, once owned by late, Texas-based screenwriter Warren Skaaren, has popped up for sale with an asking price just shy of $6.5 million. 

    Skaaren was the executive director of the Texas Film Commission before he began writing scripts. In 1986, he was hired to rewrite “Top Gun” (he’s credited as an associate producer) and is best known for his work on the late 1980s Tim Burton films “Beetlejuice” and “Batman.”

    Inspired by his travels to Tuscany, Skaaren custom built the home in 1984, according to listings held by Katherine Beckworth at Compass, and used it as his “personal writer’s retreat.” Skaaren died of bone cancer in 1990; he was just 44 years old. The property has subsequently had half a dozen owners, including the seller, who purchased the property in late 2021 for an unknown amount. (Texas is a non-disclosure state and, as such, does not make home sale prices public record.)

    A bubbly light fixture provides the dining room with a dash of modernity.

    Brian Cole Photography

    Known as Il Monastero, the 5,900-square-foot residence certainly feels secluded and monastic. Perched above a shallow, wooded ravine in a sunny clearing, the expertly crafted home offers rustic, patinated Old World sophistication along with all the creature comforts of a modern lifestyle. Inside and out are hand-laid patterned brick work, a combination of stone and wood floors, wrought-iron details, and chunky wooden beams across the ceilings. Contemporary light fixtures add panache.

    Just beyond the front door is a hand-carved Cordova stone staircase that gently curves up to the second floor. The step-down living room is dominated by a massive brick fireplace, and a modest study with a built-in desk features French doors that open to a walled patio. Huge picture windows in the living and dining rooms overlook the oak-covered hills that surround the property. The up-to-date kitchen, all white with stainless-steel appliances and lightly veined white marble (or marble-like) counters, is open over a snack bar to a casual lounge for TV watching.

    Interior details highlight the Il Monastero’s custom Cordova stone banisters and bespoke wrought-iron accents.

    Brian Cole Photography

    Among the five bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms are a large guest suite with a private sitting area and a spacious primary suite with a bathroom rendered in black and shades of grey. 

    All around the house are walled courtyards and shaded patios, one of which includes a built-in grill. A raised loggia at the back of the house overlooks the swimming pool and the rolling hills. A spa spills into one end of the rectangular pool and, at the other, a pergola-topped stone wall shields a sunken sports court nestled into the treed slope below the house.

    As long as no one repeats the word Beetlejuice three times in a row (wink), Il Monastero is indeed a peaceful spot to reflect (and to entertain!) that’s just a short drive from the hustle-bustle of downtown.

    Click here for more photos of 3 Wren Valley Cove.

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    Kiefer Sutherland Is Selling His Cozy L.A. Bungalow for $1.8 Million

    Last year, around the same time he purchased a historic 73-acre retreat in New York’s Hudson Valley for $5 million, Kiefer Sutherland quietly sold his longtime estate in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Toluca Lake to engaged Hollywood couple Macauley Culkin and Brenda Song in an off-market deal for a hefty $8 million—or more than double what the 24 star paid for the place a little more than a decade ago.

    Now it seems the 55-year-old thespian and musician has decided to divest of his California real estate holdings altogether, having chosen to let go of a more modest residence tucked away in the trendy Atwater Village neighborhood of L.A. The eldest son of legendary actor Donald Sutherland is asking a smidge over $1.8 million for the English Tudor-style home that he paid around $1.2 million for back in winter 2018.

    A fireside living room flows through a wide arched doorway to a dining area that has been converted into a family room.

    Jeffrey Ong

    Built in the late 1920s and since fully modernized, the single-level bungalow offers two bedrooms and an equal number of baths in just over 1,100 square feet of living space that still retains many of its period details per the listing, which is held by Kelly Sutherland of Coldwell Banker Realty.

    Nestled amid a lot spanning a little less than a quarter-acre, the whitewashed stucco structure’s exterior is decked out with black-trimmed casement windows and a steeply pitched roofline. A grassy lawn is separated from the street out front by a sidewalk, with a gated cobblestone driveway off to the side leading to a detached two-car garage holding court in the backyard.

    Clad in stylish hexagon tile, the kitchen features SMEG appliances and a windowed breakfast nook.

    Jeffrey Ong

    A private porch sits next to the bright yellow entry door, which opens into a light-filled living room adorned with a barrel ceiling, picture window and gas fireplace. A wide arched doorway drifts into a family room that was previously used as a dining area, and the adjacent kitchen has been nicely upgraded with hexagon tile floors, quartz countertops, a subway tile backsplash, SMEG appliances and an accompanying breakfast nook.

    A central hallway boasting the original built-in shelves and additional storage provides access to the primary bedroom, which sports plenty of closet space and a bath equipped with a large glass-encased shower; and outdoors, the hedged grounds are spotlighted by a brick-clad patio that’s ideal for al fresco entertaining.

    With an al fresco dining patio and a grassy lawn, the backyard is the perfect spot for hosting guests.

    Jeffrey Ong

    Born in London and raised in Canada, Sutherland made his film debut in Max Dugan Returns in the early ’80s, and then went on to snag his first leading role in The Bay Boy, which earned him a Genie Award nomination. He went on to appear in numerous movies and TV shows such as the popular Fox series 24, for which he garnered Emmy, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Satellite awards.

    Click here for more photos of Kiefer Sutherland’s Atwater Village House.

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    Radio and TV Personality Bobby Bones Spins His Sprawling Nashville Home Onto the Market

    About seven miles south of downtown Nashville, in the affluent Oak Hill neighborhood, a five-acre compound owned by veteran radio personality and reality TV regular Bobby Bones has hit the market. Initially priced at $9.25 million, the price was lickety-split dropped to $8.75 million. 

    The syndicated radio host, who has a popular iHeart radio broadcast, has over the years also appeared in a variety of roles on several reality TV programs. There was the short-lived docuseries “Breaking Bobby Bones” (2021), in which he traveled the country taking on unusual jobs; he was a full-time mentor on “American Idol” for a couple of seasons; he won the crown on the 27th season of “Dancing with the Stars”; and last year he served as the host of the reality competition series “Snake in the Grass.”

    The double-height living room, traversed by a catwalk, spills out to a terrace with a stone fireplace.

    Paul Nicol

    Records show the property last sold a bit more than three years ago for $3.75 million. Since then, among other updates and enhancements, the shingled and wood-planked exterior of the residence has been stained charcoal, a comprehensive surveillance system has been installed, and an old barn has been converted into an airy guesthouse. The pastoral estate’s three residences together span nearly 15,000 square feet, with a total of six bedrooms and eight bathrooms, plus four powder rooms. 

    The main house is a sprawling collection of shapes and volumes, some of which take their cues from vernacular rural buildings, capped by a combination of flat, arched, and peaked rooflines. There are four ensuite bedrooms, a home gym, a state-of-the-art home theater, and a heated garage that will accommodate six cars. In addition to a cavernous double-height living room traversed by a catwalk, there’s a 49-foot-long dining room with a built-in bar area and an octagonal kitchen with a triangular light fixture suspended above a u-shaped island.

    The swimming pool is set agains a backdrop of old-growth specimen trees.

    Paul Nicol

    A soaring breezeway separates the main house from the guest house, which doubles as a poolside entertainment pavilion. On its playlist of features are a fireside lounge, a huge great room with a large kitchen, a basement, a sauna, and an indoor-outdoor bar that opens to the pool deck. And, privately positioned in a wooded area away from the main and guest houses, a second guesthouse—the old barn—has two more bedrooms and baths, plus soaring ceilings, honed concrete flooring, a fireplace in the living area, and an open-plan kitchen.

    The grounds, a park-like mix of lush lawns shaded by mature specimen trees, include a sports court for tennis and basketball and a resort-style swimming pool alongside a vast terrace. The boulder-bordered pool has two poolside ramadas, one that shelters a spa and another a sitting area.

    The home is listed with Carrie Prickett at Compass.

    Click here for more photos of Bobby Bone’s house.

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    Bill Gates Just Dropped $60 Million on a Castle in Northern Italy

    Bill Gates is now the king of his very own castle.

    The Microsoft co-founder purchased the famous Castello di San Giorgio in Italy’s Liguria region for approximately $60 million, Il Secolo XIX first reported. According to the local newspaper, Gates bought the historic property through his Four Seasons real estate company, meaning there’s a chance that the tech billionaire turned hotelier could turn the building into a luxury resort.

    The fortress-like structure was used for military defense during the Roman Times because of its elevated position; however, it was later abandoned, The Daily Mail reported. After a British diplomat scooped the place up some decades later, it was converted into the luxury villa seen today. Also known as Portofino Castle, the ancient European spread measures 12,917 square feet, and it even sports an elevator that will bring you directly down to the beach.

    Bill Gates reportedly bought a castle in Northern Italy for $60 million

    Kevin Britland/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    Portofino, which is perched on Italy’s northwest coast, has long been a popular hideaway for jet setters, entrepreneurs, and celebs. Fashion designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana famously have villas there, while Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeff Bezos, and Jennifer Lopez have all visited the colorful fishing village, not to mention it’s where Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker got married at Villa Olivetta.

    This isn’t the first time that Gates has added an Italian property to his impressive $170 million real estate portfolio. In 2021, Gates’s private equity firm, Cascade Investment, bought a majority stake in the Four Seasons Hotel chain from Saudi Prince al-Waleed bin Talal in a $2.2 billion deal. Four Seasons was subsequently awarded a contract for a new resort in Rome, located within a 17th-century palazzo right by St. Peter’s Basilica and the Spanish Steps, which will become the city’s first six-star hotel. More