Raphael Stevens

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    A Midcentury L.A. Home Owned by a Contemporary Artist Hangs on the Market for $3.6 million

    Contemporary artist Paul Ruscolini, whose oeuvre includes text-based paintings and portraits rendered entirely with nail polish, has recently reduced the asking price of his creatively appointed midcentury modern home in L.A.’s secluded Lake Hollywood Estates neighborhood by almost 10 percent, taking it from a dollop under $4 million down to $3.6 million.

    Built in 1965 and sited on a quarter-plus-acre parcel that’s nipped down a pin-drop quiet cul-de-sac just below the Hollywood Sign, the private, low-slung home was updated and modernized in 1994 by avant-garde architect Michael Maltzan. Since then, it’s passed through several owners, including TV writer-producer Gary Janetti, whose credits include Family Guy, Will & Grace, and, most recently, The Prince, and celebrity stylist/TV personality Brad Goreski, a reality TV veteran recently seen on The Real Friends of WeHo and as a judge on Canada’s Drag Race. It was Janetti and Goreski, since married and settled into a $5.6 million home in Beverly Hills, who sold the almost 2,900-square-foot home to Ruscolini in 2012 for $1.8 million.

    One of the seller’s nail polish portrait paintings hangs amid custom built-ins in the home office.

    Todd Goodman

    A former fine art dealer, Ruscolini is also a keen collector who’s amassed a trove of works by a laundry list of blue-chip contemporary artists. And, throughout the house, sprinkled among works by Keith Haring, Ed Ruscha, Man Ray, Louise Nevelson, Damien Hirst, Robert Longo, and Andy Warhol, are bits and bobs of his own work. In the kitchen, with its long snack bar and plush blue velvet sofa for casual snacks, Ruscolini’s text-based painting, Untitled (Wink), makes a strong statement against an eggplant-colored wall, while a nail polish portrait of Kate Moss hangs in the study/home office. Other pop culture icons who have been rendered by Ruscolini in nail polish include Barack Obama, Katie Holmes, and Pink.

    Beyond the gated courtyard entry and koi pond, there is a mix of concrete and polished wood floors, an abundance of warm, natural materials, and numerous cleverly placed skylights that fill every room with natural light. The dining room has a full wall of open shelves, where Ruscolini displays a vast collection of green pottery, while the living room has a minimalist fireplace and two walls of glass sliders that connect the light-drenched room to the outdoor living and entertaining spaces.

    A massive floor-to-ceiling wall of glass slides open to connect the main bedroom to the backyard.

    Todd Goodman

    A wood-paneled hallway connects the public rooms to the home’s four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Red drapes add a touch of Hollywood glamor to the otherwise sedate, wood-paneled main bedroom, and the bathroom is a serene space with an egg-shaped tub and separate shower.

    Mature trees and lush vegetation encircle the property, providing privacy from (and for!) the neighbors. A graveled, partly tree-shaded patio is an ideal spot for relaxing, and there’s a great view of the Hollywood Sign from the slender strip of lawn at the far side of the swimming pool.

    Ready for its next art- and design-minded owner, the property is listed with Alyson Richards and Carl Gambino of Gambino Group at Compass.

    Click here for more photos of 2613 Lake Hollywood Drive.

    Todd Goodman More

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    Rolling Stones Drummer Charlie Watts’s Former Country Home in the U.K. Can Be Yours for $9.7 Million

    For £7.9 million (or roughly $9.7 million), you could be Goin’ Home to an English country estate once owned by the late, great Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts. 

    The musician resided at the Grade II-listed Foscombe House in Gloucestershire from 1976 to 1983, according to the listing that’s held by Savills. Watts, also known as “the Wembley Whammer,” bought the Victorian manse from British novelist and screenwriter Derek Marlowe. He transformed the property’s coach house into an on-site music studio where, one imagines, the Stones used to rehearse and record. However, the detached building has since been turned into a two-bed guest residence. 

    An old carriage house that Watts used as a recording studio has been converted into a guest house.

    Savills

    Thomas Fulljames, best known for his work on Gloucester Cathedral, constructed Foscombe House in 1866. Today, the 16,157-square-foot spread sits on 52 wooded acres and comprises an eight-bed main estate, the previously mentioned coach house, a converted stable block, an indoor pool complex, and its original orangery.

    The main house includes an orangery with original carved window detailing.

    Savills

    “Foscombe House occupies one of the most magical settings in Gloucestershire, with part of its beauty being that it is set in the middle of its own beautiful parkland grounds, with swathes of wildflower gardens and two sweeping driveways of around half a mile each,” says Ed Sugden, director of Savills Country Department. The dwelling is surrounded by thousands of trees that were planted by the present owner, plus a vegetable garden, a large greenhouse, and two ponds.

    The main structure, with its castellated tower, turrets, and Gothic windows, is not short on charm. The mansion’s present owner has made considerable renovations, but many of its original characteristics, such as its exquisite moldings, carved stone fireplaces, and magnificent beamed ceilings, have been preserved. And, if you were at all concerned, rest assured, nothing’s been painted black.

    The main estate has beamed ceilings and stone fireplaces.

    Savills

    On the ground floor, you’ll find a spacious sitting room, a drawing room, and a dining room, plus a Mark Wilkinson-designed kitchen and the majority of the sleeping quarters. The second level holds three additional bedrooms, and a smoking room with its own private terrace is nestled into the tippy top of the tower.

    “The house is the epitome of glorious Victorian Gothic architecture with sun-filled rooms enhanced by the most beautiful features,” adds Sugden. “The height and proportions of the rooms create the most wonderful flow of living space for such a substantial property.”

    Click here to see all the photos of Foscombe House. 

    Savills More

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    ‘Yellowstone’ Actress Puts $1.8 Million Price on Contemporary Los Angeles Home

    Actress and Hollywood royal Jen Landon, the daughter of late actor Michael Landon and most recently seen as Teeter on the last few seasons of the smash hit TV series “Yellowstone,” has put her airy, eco-friendly two-story townhouse in a premium pocket of L.A.’s Venice Beach community on the market at $1.8 million.

    Landon, whose first acting gig was at five years old on her father’s series “Highway to Heaven,” has owned the two-bedroom and two-bath residence, according to records, since 2010, when it was acquired for $975,000. Records also show the neighboring townhouse was purchased at the same time for $925,000, for the benefit of Sean Landon, another of Michael Landon’s nine children and Jen’s half-brother.

    A double-height ceiling adds drama and volume to the 1,900-square-foot townhouse.

    Jessica Alexander

    Secreted behind a secured gate and slender courtyard lined with bamboo, the 1,900-square-foot townhouse stands two stories atop a garage that accommodates four cars, two for this unit and two for the neighboring unit. Throughout are bamboo floors; a double-height ceiling over the dining area adds drama volume; and strategically placed frosted windows provide privacy from the near-set neighbors while still transmitting tons of natural light.

    The compact kitchen, exposed to the dining area, is equipped with designer appliances, a small pantry, and PaperStone countertops, while the main-floor guest bedroom has a leafy view, and the guest bathroom features custom tile work and bespoke built-ins.

    The primary suite leads to an exterior staircase to the private rooftop terrace.

    Jessica Alexander

    A lofted area above the dining room holds the main bedroom, which is large enough to accommodate a spacious sitting area, a fitted walk-in closet, a laundry area, and an ensuite bathroom with intricate mosaic tiling.

    The townhouse is topped by a roof terrace with open, over-the-rooftop mountain views; it was designed and plumbed to accommodate planting beds for growing herbs and vegetables. At the back of the property, where the garage opens to an alleyway, the townhouse is emblazoned with a mural that depicts a wolf sitting under a Bodhi tree.

    Close to both the famously funky Venice Boardwalk and the trendy shops and eateries along Abbot Kinney Boulevard, the property is listed with Katie Crain and John Podhur of Compass.

    Click here for more photos of 540 1/2 Vernon Road.

    Jessica Alexander More

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    Miranda Priestly’s Manhattan Townhouse From ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ Goes for $26.5 Million

    The stylish Upper East Side townhouse that Meryl Streep’s character Miranda Priestly called home in the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada has just sold to an as-yet-unidentified buyer for $26.5 million.

    That’s exactly one million dollars less than hedge-fund mogul Craig Effron and his wife Caryn originally listed the place for in May. But it’s still lots more than the $8.8 million the couple doled out for the limestone and marble townhouse 20 years ago, before subsequently engaging designer Anthony Baratta to customize the premises to their personal tastes in 2005.

    Coming in at 22 feet wide, the Neo-Italian Renaissance structure was built in the early 1900s and crafted by architect Henry Allan Jacobs, and features seven bedrooms and 10 baths sprawled across 12,000 square feet of living space on five levels, all accessible via an elevator or a stunning spiral staircase. There’s also a full basement with a recreation room, plus a roof terrace sporting a hot tub.

    A formal gallery greets visitors with a marble fireplace and Murano chandelier.

    Krisztina Crane/Evan Joseph Photography

    Among the highlights: a formal gallery displaying a marble fireplace and glam Murano chandelier, an inviting den laced with Anigre wood paneling, and a living room boasting two fireplaces, a wall of custom bookshelves and three sets of arched French doors.

    A fireside dining room is spotlighted by a cerulean blue chandelier and doors spilling out to a terrace, while the gourmet kitchen comes complete with a gingham-patterned floor, Carrara marble and stainless countertops, industrial lighting from the 1930s, top-tier Viking and Sub-Zero appliances, and an accompanying breakfast room.

    A charming living room is outfitted with dual fireplaces, bespoke bookshelves and arched French doors.

    Krisztina Crane/Evan Joseph Photography

    Also standing out is a sumptuous master retreat, which flaunts a Juliette balcony, fireplace, spacious walk-in-closet, and luxe bath equipped with dual vanities, a dressing area and soaking tub resting beneath a 5-foot-tall oculus window; and elsewhere is another bedroom that’s been converted into a mirrored gym and fireside library, as well as a bespoke basketball court.

    Did we mention that it’s also right across the street from Gloria Steinem‘s home?

    Per The Wall Street Journal, which reported on the sale, Dougas Elliman’s Corey Shuster, who worked with the buyer alongside fellow agents Arthur Maglio and Ibrahim Guldiken, declined to identify his client but said the purchaser had been actively looking for a townhouse in the neighborhood for about 18 months. When this one came on the market, “it fit like a glove,” he said.

    The listing was held by Adam Modlin of Modlin Group.

    Click here for more photos of Miranda Priestly’s Manhattan Townhouse.

    Krisztina Crane/Evan Joseph Photography More

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    The Creator of ‘Friends’ Just Bought a $23 Million Malibu Home With an Oceanfront Basketball Court

    It’s good to be Marta Kauffman. The veteran television writer and producer, who’s probably still best known for co-creating the über-successful sitcom “Friends,” has paid $23.6 million in cash for an oceanfront home on Malibu’s coveted Broad Beach. Complete with a basketball court and detached guesthouse, the compound is sited on a nearly 1-acre double lot, a rare amount of space for the neighborhood.

    And it gets even better: Kauffman’s new home is right next door to a $16 million house she’s owned since 2006. When coupled together, the two properties give her nearly 1.3 acres of land and more than 7,000 square feet of living space right on one of Malibu’s most popular and pricey beaches.

    Kauffman now owns one of the largest and most impressive compounds on Broad Beach.

    Google Earth

    The latest Kauffman acquisition was sold to her by Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio, who acquired the double lot in two separate transactions more than 20 years ago, paying about $6.4 million in total. He then spent another small fortune making upgrades and additions to the premises, including remodeling the Cape Cod-style main house and installing that aforementioned basketball court, before putting the place up for grabs at nearly $25 million earlier this year.

    Previously, the walled and gated estate had been offered as a beachfront rental, asking as much as $150,000 per month.

    Several sets of sliding and French doors throughout the house provide easy access to a backyard deck.

    Open House Foto for Sotheby’s International Realty

    Interior highlights of the four-bedroom main house include a spacious chef’s kitchen with premium appliances, a light-filled dining/family room combo that spills out to an oceanfront patio, and an upstairs master retreat with ocean views and a private balcony.

    Also on tap are grassy lawns, well-tended gardens, a sandy beachfront sitting area and a huge wooden deck, complete with a jacuzzi and fire-pit, that’s primed for entertaining. But perhaps the property’s most unusual feature is the one-bedroom guesthouse, which lies directly below the detached two-car garage and includes its own bathroom and laundry room.

    The spacious backyard has ample room for large-scale entertaining.

    Open House Foto for Sotheby’s International Realty

    Kauffman, who also co-created the Netflix series “Grace and Frankie,” now lays claim to one of the most impressive estates on Broad Beach. When combined with her longtime home next door, the 67-year-old’s holdings include two oceanfront homes, two detached guesthouses and garage parking for five cars. Smack-dab in the middle of the compound is the sports court, where some of her lucky “Friends” will be able to shoot hoops while watching the sun set over the ocean waves.

    Ari Attanasio of Sotheby’s International Realty held the listing; Ellen Francisco of Coldwell Banker Realty repped the buyer.

    Open House Foto for Sotheby’s International Realty More

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    Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s Former Beverly Hills Rental Mansion Is Up for Grabs at $85 Million

    Last summer, before they finally settled on a $61 million spread high in the mountains above Beverly Hills, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck leased another 90210 residence. And perhaps unsurprisingly, that place has just popped up for sale with a whopping $85 million price tag, as first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

    Originally built way back in the 1930s, the celeb-pedigreed pad also was home to Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman for over two decades beginning in the early 1990s. The now-separated acting couple sold the house in 2015 for $28 million to local developers Stuart and Stephanie Liner, who subsequently undertook an extensive renovation of the premises. They then flipped the place three years later for $64 million to Australian billionaire James Packer, son of the late media mogul Kerry Packer.

    A wet bar-equipped lounge/game room is warmed by a striking floor-to-ceiling fireplace.

    Adrian van Anz

    Resting on over an acre of land, the gated compound is comprised of a main home and several additional structures—for a total of 12 bedrooms and 17 baths in nearly 25,000 square feet of living space. Posh amenities include an elevator, a movie theater, wet bar-equipped lounge/game room, wood-paneled wine cellar, cigar room, gym and sauna, and not one but two garages with parking for up to eight vehicles. 

    As for the primary dwelling, it’s highlighted by a living room boasting a fireplace and an adjoining office/den, plus a formal dining room that seats 12. A family room flaunting a recently spruced-up bar area connects to an elaborate marble-clad kitchen, which sports an eat-in island, top-tier appliances and a separate breakfast nook with a built-in banquette.

    A sparkling pool is flanked by a pool house with a living area, bedroom and bath.

    Adrian van Anz

    Other standout features include a lush master retreat, which comes complete with a fireside sitting area and private balcony, as well as dual walk-in closets and baths; and outdoors, the resort-inspired grounds host a pool and spa flanked by a pool house with its own living area, bedroom and bath, along with an al fresco dining area outfitted with a full kitchen. There’s also a 2,800-square-foot accessory building.

    The listing is shared by Santiago Arana of The Agency and Jade Mills of Coldwell Banker Realty.

    Click here for more photos of 1028 Ridgedale Drive.

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    George Clooney Is Definitely Not Selling His Lake Como Villa. Or Is He?

    Is George Clooney saying arrivederci to his longtime Lake Como estate? 

    Well, not if you ask him. Rumors have been circulating that the 62-year-old actor is offloading the iconic Villa Oleandra. However, the Ocean’s Eleven star recently assured People that any speculation of a sale is false. “The first I heard of it was when Page Six published the story. Everyone picked it up. It’s not true,” Clooney told the outlet via a rep. Sorry to disappoint.  

    It all started earlier this month when a source close to the ER actor told Page Six that the famous villa in Laglio was on the market sotto voce for an eye-watering €100 million ($107 million), which is about 10 times the $10 million he paid for the place back in 2002. “It’s very quiet. No advertising. No press—just high net worth [prospective buyers],” they said. Then, just last week, real estate agent Yasemin Baysal, owner of Engel & Volkers Lago di Como, told Italy’s Oggi magazine that Clooney was definitely parting ways with his pad of over 20 years and that the spread might even have a buyer.  

    “Rumors were also circulating in past years, but this time it’s true. An agency in Milan is following the sale. I can’t reveal which one. Since we have a certain type of clientele, someone has already called us,” Baysal explained to the publication. “In particular, one customer is very interested. We have started all the necessary checks before submitting a possible offer.”

    George Clooney has denied reports that he’s selling his 18th-century villa on Italy’s Lake Como.

    GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images

    Even though the agent swears it’s true, the two-time Oscar winner has since denied her statement. Oggi also reported that the reason for the rumored sale is because his lawyer wife, Amal Clooney, prefers to spend time in Provence, where the couple owns the 425-acre wine estate Domaine du Canadel.  

    The 18th-century residence is one of the largest lakeside homes in the area and comprises a whopping 25 rooms, plus a swimming pool, a private gym, a movie theater, a basketball court, and two boat docks. Villa Oleander had previously been owned by the late billionaire condiment heir John Heinz and his wife Teresa; it was Heinz’s heirs who sold the property to Clooney. 

    According to The Wall Street Journal, homes in the prime waterfront villages along Lake Como are going for twice as much compared to the area’s landlocked properties, mainly because single-family homes on the shore of the pristine lake rarely hit the market. That means, no matter the asking price, if and when Clooney does decide to part ways with his famous villa, we can probably expect a bidding war.   More

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    Live Like Shrek In This Awesome Airbnb (PHOTOS)

    Photography by Alix McIntosh This awesome Airbnb is a replica of Shrek’s swamp and is located in the Scottish Highlands. It features 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom and a living/dining room. Booking opens on October 13 at 6 p.m. BST for one, two-night stay for up to three guests October 27-29. More