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      A Hawaii Hideaway Once Owned by ‘Firefly Lane’ Writer Kristin Hannah Just Listed for $9 Million

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      Always wanted to live like a celebrity—specifically, a successful and prolific novelist with countless bestselling books under her belt? Now’s your chance, because the striking Hawaii estate that Kristin Hannah once called home just popped up for sale on Kauai‘s north shore, asking a dash under $9 million.

      With three bedrooms and a matching number of baths spread across nearly 2,800 square feet of open-concept living space, the residence offers plenty of room for any like-minded writer to easily conjure up ideas in style while enjoying sweeping ocean views. Famously owned by Hannah for nearly 18 years, property records show the place was last sold for just over $7 million in spring 2021 to Aranzazu Casal, the widow of Apple software engineer François Jouaux.

      “For me, paradise begins on this pink, shell-strewn ribbon of Anini Beach,” Hannah said of her island home when it first hit the market back in 2018. “From the moment you pull into the crushed coral driveway and park under the giant palms, you feel it: a stillness that soothes the busiest soul.”

      A wraparound lanai overlooks the lush backyard and ocean beyond.

      Keani Andrade

      Built and designed by architect Norman Lacayo in the late 1990s—and tucked away on a lush half-acre parcel offering 150 feet of frontage on Anini Beach, not far from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s vast compound—the multi-level structure boasts a mix of travertine and bamboo floors, high ceilings and pocketing glass doors spilling out to a wraparound lanai.

      Upon entering the antique carved-wood front door, steps lead up to a spacious living room that connects via a dining area to a gourmet kitchen boasting custom Koa cabinetry, a breakfast bar and stainless appliances. Other highlights include two downstairs bedrooms that share a bath, and an upstairs master retreat featuring an oceanfront office with a built-in desk where Hannah penned many of her novels, plus a spa-like bath sporting a dressing area, sunken tub and separate walk-in shower.

      An attached two-car garage has been transformed into a multi-purpose bonus space.

      Keani Andrade

      Elsewhere is a two-car garage that’s been converted into a lounge and recreation area; and outdoors, the picturesque backyard hosts an al fresco shower, along with a grassy swath of lawn and pathway heading directly to the sand. An added bonus: The home transfers with a coveted short-term vacation rental license.

      The lawyer-turned-writer—who bought the house with her husband Benjamin for $4.4 million back in 2003—has written numerous novels, including The Nightingale, The Great Alone, The Four Winds and Firefly Lane, the latter of which became a Netflix series starring Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke.

      The listing is held by Amy Frazier of Hawaii Life.

      Click here for more photos of Kristin Hannah’s former Hawaii house.

      Keani Andrade More

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      Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer Are Selling Their Custom-Built L.A. Home for $8 Million

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      Known for their co-starring roles on HBO’s hit vampire drama True Blood, real-life couple Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer are parting ways—with their home, that is. And if you want to sink your teeth into their stately abode in Southern California, it’ll cost you a cool $8 million.  

      The property, which measures 7,102 square feet, sits on a large double lot not far from the world-famous (and always entertaining) Venice Beach Boardwalk. According to records, the Hollywood duo purchased the property back in 2009 for $2.2 million. They’ve since transformed the humble beach cottage that stood on the property into a sprawling contemporary residence. They first tried to sell in 2020, listing the beachy spread for a hefty $14 million. It did not entice a buyer, and since then, the residence has been on and off the market at lower prices.

      The third floor has an open kitchen, dining, and living area that extends to a rooftop deck.

      Anthony Barcelo

      The actors tapped architect David Hertz—who designed Hank Moody’s (David Duchovny) house on Showtime’s Californication—to re-imainge the property shortly after they bought it. The project ended up taking seven years. Today, the boxy structure is wrapped head-to-toe in Alaskan yellow cedar. Specifically, Hertz opted to recycle the original, circa-1919 benches from the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles to craft the façade. He told Architectural Digest that he wanted “the outside to look like driftwood” and that the goal was for the home to resemble a ship, complete with steel railings and teak decks.  

      When it comes to the layout, the floor plan is flipped, meaning all common areas are on the third floor to maximize access to light, breezes, and views, while the bedrooms are nestled underneath. The open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area on the top floor leads to a rooftop deck that overlooks the ocean. Other standout features include a Zen garden, a partially covered swimming pool, a sauna, a spa, and a fitness room.

      The home was custom-built in 2017 by architect David Hertz.

      Anthony Barcelo

      The compound comprises a five-bed, eight-bath main house. The original beach bungalow was renovated is now incorporated into the existing home. In terms of décor, the salt-air-licked house fits right in with the neighborhood’s free-spirited, bohemian vibe. There’s concrete flooring and tons of eco-friendly touches, including energy-efficient lighting. “There are also skylights that open to draw prevailing breezes in to passively cool the house with natural ventilation,” Hertz told the magazine. 

      Click here to see all the photos of Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer’s L.A. home.  

      Anthony Barcelo

      Authors

      Abby Montanez

      Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, dining, travel and topics…

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      In San Diego, a Documentary Filmmaker’s Longtime Victorian Beach House Lists at $3.6 Million

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      Just across the bay from downtown San Diego—on a charming isle best known as the site of the famed Hotel del Coronado—a historic residence long owned by Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker/psychotherapist Ira Wohl has recently come on the market for the first time in almost three decades, asking a smidge over $3.6 million.

      Built way back in 1890—and affectionately referred to by locals as the “red Victorian”—the two-story dwelling lies in the desirable Golden Triangle area and is said to be one of the oldest surviving Queen Anne Victorian-style structures on all of Coronado Island. Three bedrooms and two baths can be found in 1,200 square feet of well-preserved and updated living space, all of it boasting vividly hued rooms complemented by fir floors, wide arched doorways, high ceilings, detailed woodwork, and the original doorknobs and double-hung wood windows. There’s an unfinished attic to boot.

      Steps lead up to a gated and ornately columned wraparound porch, with the front door opening into an entrance foyer displaying a vintage fireplace, as well as a powder room resting beneath a curving staircase. From there, colorful living and dining rooms flow to a small but modernized kitchen outfitted with newer stainless appliances, and other main-level highlights include a window-lined family room.

      Constructed in 1890, the home is one of the oldest surviving Queen Anne Victorian-style structures on Coronado Island.

      John Phillips

      Elsewhere is an upstairs primary bedroom featuring a cozy window seat, plus a tiled bath equipped with a pedestal sink, clawfoot soaking tub and separate shower. Outdoors, the private grounds span less than a quarter-acre, and host an al fresco dining patio flanked by a grassy lawn, along with a lounging spot warmed by a stone fireplace.

      Probably most recognized as the 1979 recipient of a “Best Documentary Feature” Oscar for his film Best Boy, portraying his intellectually disabled cousin’s journey toward greater independence, Wohl went on to produce the sequels Best Man and Best Sister, as well as People Say I’m Crazy, which tells the story of his own struggle with schizophrenia. He’s also a licensed social worker, and has been active in the Academy of Motion Picture’s documentary division and Coronado Island International Film Festival.

      Last sold to Wohl in 1997 for $500,000, and listed by Whitney Benzian of Douglas Elliman, the property falls under the Mills Act, meaning homeowners are eligible for reduced property taxes in exchange for preserving the historic house.

      Click here for more photos of Ira Wohl’s Victorian beach house.

      John Phillips More

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      ‘Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’ Cast Member Hoists Impressive Utah Home Up for Sale

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      Immediately following a particularly volatile season of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, the hit reality TV show on which she’s starred since 2020, O.G. cast member Whitney Rose and her businessman husband Justin Rose have put their luxurious main Utah residence on the market. Asking $2.1 million, the 6,000-square-foot South Jordan house features a bevy of lavish amenities, plus lake and mountain views.

      The Roses bought the modern farmhouse-style home in 2019, the same year it was built; while it remains unclear exactly how much they paid—the Beehive State is stingy about revealing sales prices—tax records show the 0.26-acre property was last assessed at less than $1 million. Should the place sell for anywhere near Rose’s ask, she will likely walk with an impressive profit.

      Astute reality TV junkies will surely recognize Rose’s house, which frequently popped up on RHOSLC. Painted a two-tone cream over medium blue, the wood-sided residence features a covered front porch and a cherry-red front door. Inside the open-concept floorplan “exudes sophistication and glamor,” per the listing. Highlights include a large kitchen with commercial-grade appliances, a private office with head-on lake views, a living room equipped with a concrete fireplace and numerous sets of French doors that spill out to the garden.

      There’s also a fully finished basement level with a speakeasy-style wet bar hidden behind sliding walls of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. A central lounge area connects to a movie theater with a state-of-the-art sound system; also on tap downstairs is a gym with a sauna and steam room.

      Three of the home’s seven bedrooms are located on its top floor. All are equipped with ensuite full bathrooms and walk-in closets, while the swanky primary suite is decked out with rose-themed wallpaper, two boutique-style closets and a spa-style bath with stone finishes and a cozy bathtub for one person.

      Although the yard isn’t particularly huge, it is admirably well-equipped with a fire-pit seating area, a covered hot tub, an in-ground trampoline, grassy lawns and generous patio space overlooking Oquirrh Lake. The property is also a short walk from playgrounds, a skatepark and various shopping and dining destinations.

      Rose, 37, has publicly said that she plans to remain in South Jordan, a suburban city in the southern reaches of the greater Salt Lake City area, even after her house is sold. More

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      ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ Director Lands an Upgraded L.A. House

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      As the story goes, Steven Caple Jr. couldn’t afford to buy a Transformer toy when he was a kid. But that was then. As director of the 2023 blockbuster film Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, as well as The Land and Creed II under his belt, the 35-year-old producer’s finances have obviously improved. Today, he likely has more than enough cash to dole out on an Optimus Prime or Bumblebee toy—heck, as many ’bots in the franchise as his heart desires. And late last year, he also picked up new Los Angeles-area home.

      Records show the Ohio native and USC School of Cinematic Arts graduate doled out $2.7 million for a modern residence in the San Gabriel Valley neighborhood of Altadena late last year, receiving a discount off of the original $3.2 million asking price. Originally built in the 1940s, but completely remodeled by Bowden Development in recent years, the split-level abode features five bedrooms and an equal number of baths in a little more than 4,600 square feet of open-concept living space highlighted by hardwood floors, high ceilings, and large expanses of glass offering picturesque views of the surrounding valley and mountains.

      A circular driveway bolstered by a mature tree fronts the split-level structure, which has steps leading up to covered porch and front door opening into a wide-open space anchored by a formal living room sporting a striking fireplace, picture windows and glass sliders spilling outside. A dining area connects to the gourmet kitchen, which is outfitted with sleek cabinetry, a waterfall-edge island and top-tier Viking appliances; and a family room sits adjacent to a movie theater/game room secluded behind glass doors.

      Five en-suite bedrooms filtered throughout two floors include a primary retreat spotlighted by a sitting area, custom walk-in closet, and spa-like bath equipped with dual vanities, a soaking tub and frameless shower. Elsewhere is an office, a gym and glass-enclosed wine cellar; and outdoors, the grounds span nearly a third of an acre, and host an irregular-shaped pool and spa, plus several spots ideal for al fresco lounging and entertaining. There’s also a sport court and an attached two-car garage.

      The listing was held by Ash Rizk of Coldwell Banker Realty; Caple was repped by Ikem T. Chukumerije of IKEM. More

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      Golf Superstar Michelle Wie West’s Modern L.A. Farmhouse Hits the Market for $6.5 Million

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      Last year, Michelle Wie West said goodbye to the LPGA Tour at the U.S. Women’s Open in Pebble Beach and seemingly headed into retirement at the ripe young age of 34. Now the five-time winner has turned her sights toward Los Angeles, where she’s bidding farewell to a sleekly designed modern farmhouse-style mansion in Encino’s upscale Amestoy Estates neighborhood.

      Though it’s been barely two years since the veteran golf pro and her husband Jonnie West—a son of NBA legend Jerry West and director of basketball operations for the Golden State Warriors—doled out $5.7 million for the freshly built spread, they’re already looking to unload the place with a nearly $800,000 jump in price, asking a shot under $6.5 million.  

      Built on speculation by a local developer and completed in 2021, the creamy stucco and brick-accented structure is sited on a walled and double-gated parcel spanning just over a third of an acre, amid a dead-end street, and includes a five-bedroom, six-bath main home, plus a separate guesthouse with its own kitchen, family room, bedroom and bath.

      Especially standing out on the main level is a gourmet kitchen decked out with an eat-in island and top-tier Miele appliances, as well as an adjoining family room displaying a leathered-marble fireplace stretching to the ceiling and large expanses of glass spilling outside. Elsewhere are formal living and dining rooms, a glass-encased wine display, wet bar, movie theater, an office and en-suite guest bedroom.

      An aerial view of the West’s Encino property.

      Google Earth

      A floating staircase heads upstairs, where four more en-suite bedrooms include a posh master retreat outfitted with a fireplace, built-in cabinetry, a refrigerator, private balcony, walk-in closet, and spa-inspired bath holding dual vanities, a soaking tub and an oversized rain shower. An al fresco patio also is accessible via the upper level, while the rest of the grounds are laced with olive and citrus trees, and host a large pool with a spa and Baja shelf, fire-pit area, built-in barbecue and pizza oven. There’s also a spacious motorcourt and an attached three-car garage out front.

      A child prodigy and graduate of Stanford University, Wie West rose to international prominence at age 10, when she became the youngest player at the time to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship. She went on to turn pro before her 16th birthday, qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open at 13 and capture the tourney in 2014.

      During a lengthy career, the Hawaii-born golfer has faced more than her fair share of ups and downs, including lengthy spells of being sidelined by lingering wrist injuries compounded by arthritis. But despite all that, she’s managed to earn $6.8 million in prize money alone, plus millions more through lucrative contracts with Sony and Nike.

      The listing is held by Nicole Plaxen and Shauna Walters of The Beverly Hills Estates. More

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      A Wellness Guru Goes the Extra Mile to Sell Her Zen L.A. House

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      When Rainbeau Mars’s Venice home first popped up for sale back in September, she decided to up her sales game. Beyond the typical staging and landscaping, the Los Angeles-based actress, author and wellness expert furnished the place with crystals designed to enhance prosperity, gave it a blessing and cleansing at the hands of an Incan priestess, hosted parties for countless social influencers and even showcased the abode in a hip-hop-inspired marketing video.

      Most recently, with no takers after more than 100 days on the market, she’s enlisted local skateboarder-turned-real estate agent Solo Scott of Compass to relist the modern architectural-style property at a newly reduced price of $3.8 million; and though that’s $400,000 less than the original ask, it’s still around $1 million over what Mars, who was formerly married to prominent Hollywood business manager Michael Karlin, paid for the house back in late 2018.

      An open-concept great room with sliding glass doors flowing outside contains a fireside living room, dining area and kitchen.

      Ryan Lahiff

      Built in 2017, the boxy white and gray structure rests on a gated parcel spanning less than a quarter-acre of land, just steps from Abbot Kinney Boulevard, and has five bedrooms and an equal number of baths in a little more than 3,200 square feet of two-level living space boasting wide-plank hardwood floors and high ceilings throughout, plus a Sonos sound system.

      On the main level, a spacious great room is highlighted by floor-to-ceiling glass doors spilling out to a newly refinished wood deck sporting a barbecue setup and fire-pit. Back inside, the living room has a linear fireplace, and an adjoining dining area connects to a galley-style kitchen outfitted with custom cabinetry, quartz countertops, an eat-in island, a dehydrator and Sub-Zero refrigerator. Elsewhere is a bedroom with its own walk-in closet and full bath.

      One of the bedrooms has been transformed into a professional recording studio.

      Ryan Lahiff

      Four more en-suite bedrooms upstairs include a fireside master retreat that comes complete with a private balcony, walk-in closet, and spa-like bath displaying dual vanities, a freestanding soaking tub and glass-encased shower; and per the listing, another one has been converted into a professional soundproof recording studio that’s been used by top musicians, producers and podcasters.

      Especially standing out are the leafy grounds, which host a peaceful sitting area, custom-built compost station, an edible garden, and honeybee and butterfly sanctuaries. There’s also an attached two-car garage on the premises that could easily serve as a gym or an office space.

      In addition to the aforementioned endeavors Mars already has undertaken to try and make her oasis known as “Lighthouse Studios” more attractive to prospective buyers, she’s also considering adding a lap pool and is entertaining rental offers at $25,555 per month.

      “In Eastern medicine, your home is your health,” she says. “Every point coordinates to a point in your body and every room affects you. Painstaking efforts were taken to enhance the vibration.” 

      Click here for more photos of Rainbeau Mars’s Venice house.

      Ryan Lahiff More