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      Spy Novelist John le Carré’s Cliffside English Cottage Can Be Yours for $3.7 Million

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      Back in the 1960s, English author John le Carré found solace along the U.K.’s Cornish coast, where his longtime home is now up for grabs.

      The late spy novelist, best known for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Constant Gardener, both of which were adapted into films nominated for multiple Oscars, wrote many of his bestseller thrillers at Tregiffian Cottage, where he lived until his death in 2020 at the age of 89. Spectacularly situated on a cliff between the villages of Lamorna and Porthcurno, the two-story stone residence comprises four bedrooms and four bathrooms. And, best of all for espionage aficionados, Carré’s writing room is still intact.

      Late novelist John le Carré’s former home in Cornwall just listed for $3.7 million

      Savills

      Listed for £3 million (or roughly $3.7 million), the residence is actually three original fisherman cottages put together. The author and his wife purchased the estate some 60 years ago and combined it with the surrounding outbuildings to form a spacious and unpretentious 5,000-square-foot family home.  

      “My earliest memories are of playing in the garden at Tregiffian and adventuring along the coastal path to St Loy or Mousehole,” says le Carré’s son, Nick Cornwell, in a press statement. “The whole place is alive with butterflies, rabbits, swallows, foxes, and occasionally badgers. In winter, you bank up a log fire, and listen to the wind around the house, and feel as if you’re in a castle or a lighthouse. The storms are dramatic and beautiful, and when they’re gone, you get that wild horizontal sun. It’s a wonderful place to rest, or work, or just be yourself.” 

      Known as Tregiffian Cottage, the waterfront property sits on three acres atop a cliff

      Savills

      Inside the main dwelling, you’ll find comfortable living and entertaining spaces, an up-to-date eat-in kitchen, and a conservatory, which faces out towards Scilly Isles. Not surprisingly, there’s an impressive library that is decked out with floor-to-ceiling bookcases and showcases a window that’s believed to be part of a World War II fighter plane.

      Among the very le Carré features is a safe room befitting any number of the author’s fictional characters. Elsewhere, the compound also has an indoor swimming pool that’s discreetly tucked away inside one of the chalet-style outbuildings.  

      “In all, a hugely inspiring home,” adds Chris Clifford, who is marketing the property for Savills. 

      Click here to see all the photos of Tregiffian Cottage. 

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      Jessica Simpson Is Putting Her Longtime SoCal Home on the Market for $22 Million

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      Back in spring 2013, a little more than a year before she married former NFL player Eric Johnson, Jessica Simpson paid Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne $11.5 million for a nearly 2.5-acre spread in the guard-gated Hidden Hills community. Now the pop star-turned-billion-dollar fashion mogul is ready to part ways with the place she’s owned for just over a decade, asking $22 million.

      The impending sale might be due to a little something she told Bustle earlier this summer. According to the online women’s magazine, Simpson says she’s considering a move to Nashville to reboot her music career.

      The 43-year-old Texas native purchased the opulent digs from the Osbournes for $11.5 million shortly before her 2014 marriage to Johnson, with the couple extensively remodeling and expanding the premises during their tenure. As for the Osbournes, the reality show stars paid nearly $12.4 million for the house in 2007, then subsequently undertook a Martyn Lawrence-Bullard-designed makeover that was featured in the pages of Architectural Digest.

      The expansive home has its share of cozy spots geared specifically toward relaxation.

      Cannon Schmidt/The Salty Shutters

      Built in 2001, the sprawling Cape Cod-inspired structure is tucked away behind a gated driveway accessible via a secluded cul-de-sac, and features eight bedrooms and 13 baths in just over 13,200 square feet of multi-level living space introduced by a double-height foyer displaying a striking spiral staircase flanked by soaring walls of glass.

      From there, a gourmet kitchen is outfitted with top-tier Wolf appliances, a center island, walk-in pantry and an accompanying breakfast nook, and oversized sliding barn doors lead to an adjacent family room resting beneath a vaulted wood-beam ceiling and sporting a fireplace crafted from reclaimed brick.

      The resort-like backyard is entertainment-ready with an al fresco entertaining area that comes complete with a built-in barbecue station.

      Cannon Schmidt/The Salty Shutters

      Elsewhere are a fireside living room, formal dining room, wood-paneled study, recording studio and gym, plus a sumptuous master retreat decked out with a stone fireplace, private balcony, sitting area, dual walk-in closets, and a luxe bath equipped with a soaking tub and steam shower.

      Outdoors the resort-like grounds overlook picturesque city lights and mountain views, and host a grassy lawn, pool with a spa and separate shallow pool, and several spots ideal for al fresco lounging and entertaining. There’s also a four-car garage and guesthouse with its own kitchenette.

      The listing is held by Bret Harrison of Coldwell Banker Realty.

      Click here for more photos of Jessica Simpson’s Hidden Hills house.

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      ‘The Mandalorian’ Creator Jon Favreau Adds Fourth L.A. House to His Portfolio

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      Two years ago, Jon Favreau spent nearly $25 million to buy a palatial house in Laguna Beach. But that doesn’t mean the the prolific Hollywood multi-hyphenate is abandoning his longtime main residence in Los Angeles, where he owns three side-by-side houses in the seaside town of Santa Monica.

      On the contrary, Favreau is again expanding his Santa Monica footprint. Records show he acquired his three current properties from three different sellers in three separate transactions: the first in 2002, the second in 2005 and the third in 2021, for a total outlay of $6.9 million. Now he’s added a fourth residence into the mix, splashing out an additional $6.8 million to buy the property adjoining his current estate.

      The $6.8 million residence was built in 2023 and never officially listed for sale.

      While all three of his first homes are Spanish- or Mediterranean-style structures built decades ago, this fourth one is different. Bulky, boxy and ultra-contemporary, the two-story smart home was completed just this year, and built on speculation. Unfortunately, the house was never on the market, so photos and details are scant. But aerial photos reveal there’s a patio and grassy lawns out back, plus a swimming pool and a detached garage and cabana.

      This latest acquisition gives Favreau a contiguous four-house compound that spans two-thirds of one flat acre, a lot of space for the tightly-packed town of Santa Monica.

      The four-house estate, set on a leafy street in prime Santa Monica.

      Favreau, 56, is perhaps best known today as an actor who’s starred in numerous Marvel Cinematic Universe blockbusters (Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: No Way Home, the Iron Man franchise), but he also directed and produced the recent remakes of The Lion King and The Jungle Book, and is the creator of The Mandalorian series on Disney+. The New York City native got his professional start in indie films during the 1990s; notable works included 1996’s Swingers and 2001’s Made. Per various reports, his net worth exceeds $100 million.

      Besides their expanded Santa Monica compound and relatively new Laguna vacation home, Favreau and longtime wife Joya Tillem also maintain a $5 million property in L.A.’s Venice neighborhood, which is reportedly used as offices for Favreau’s Fairview Entertainment production company. More

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      Ashley Benson Sells Her Historic Los Angeles Villa for $8.5 Million

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      Barely one month after she put it up for grabs, Ashley Benson’s Los Angeles home has officially sold. The 1930s Los Feliz residence, tucked away within the famously star-studded Laughlin Park gated community, went for $8.5 million — lower than the “Pretty Little Liars” star’s $9.5 million asking price, but far more than the $4.5 million she paid for the place back in 2020.

      Records show the buyers are Scott Parra-Matthews, the longtime CFO of major food wholesaler Vesta Foodservice, and his husband Jairo Parra-Matthews.

      During her ownership, Benson gave the property a big and very thorough remodel. In addition to bathing each room in vibrantly decadent colors, she also ripped out and replaced the entire kitchen, renovated the bathrooms and generally gave the whole place a new and very contemporary lease on life. And even the outdoors didn’t escape the magic Benson touch — the Orange County native added a high wall that surrounds the entire property, installed privacy hedges and even replaced the old swimming pool with a newer and sexier pool, complete with a big raised hot tub. “No money was spared during the recent remodel,” the listing proclaimed.

      Designed nearly a century ago by prolific L.A. architect Arthur Rowland Kelly, best known for also penning the Playboy Mansion, the nearly 5,000-square-foot house was modeled after the Mediterranean-style villas that lace the French and Italian Rivieras. Despite its age, Benson is reportedly only the Laughlin Park home’s fourth-ever owner.

      While plenty of original charm remains, those Benson upgrades are very bespoke. Some of the more unusual amenities include a hair salon, a speakeasy “VIP lounge bar” and a wood-paneled master bedroom with its own kitchenette and boutique-style closet. The master bath features separate greenhouse-like stations for the shower/tub area and the toilet, respectively, and other in-house upgrades include a dropdown projector screen and a state-of-the-art Control4 smart home system.

      The cul-de-sac property is atypical in that is surrounded on three sides by a roadway, meaning that outdoor space is somewhat limited, but there is a big and new stone patio with ample space for al fresco entertaining, plus a grassy patch of lawn. One extra-special feature: per this listing, this house is perched on a knoll at the very highest point of Laughlin Park, meaning it lords over all the neighbors and sports 360-degree views that encompass the Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood Hills and Downtown L.A. skyline.

      Laughlin Park has long been a favorite haunt of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Current residents include Brie Larson, Natalie Portman, Angelina Jolie, Kristen Stewart, Ellen Pompeo and Will.i.am, though the enclave is perhaps most famous for having been home to Cecil B. DeMille, the American cinema pioneer, for nearly 40 years. More

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      The Former London Home of Late Romance Author Dame Barbara Cartland Just Listed for $44 Million

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      The late and famously prolific English author Dame Barbara Cartland, whose 720-plus novels sold upwards of 750 million copies, was the so-called “Queen of Romance,” so don’t be surprised if you fall in love with her sumptuous former London home. Located in Mayfair, one of the most affluent areas of the British capital, the novelist’s lavish five-story mansion is newly listed for a hefty £35 million (or roughly $44.2 million).

      Originally built in 1902 for Liberal politician and stockbroker Sir Cuthbert Quilter, the Edwardian-style abode has played host to its fair share of high-profile residents. The elegant abode was purchased by Cartland in 1936 and is where she raised her daughter, Countess Raine Spencer, better known as the stepmother to Princess Diana. (Despite the connection, Cartland was not invited to Diana’s wedding to Charles in 1981.) In the century-plus since it was erected, the palatial pad also served as the birthplace of Sir Alec Douglas-Home, who briefly served as Prime Minister in the mid-1960s.

      The former London townhouse of British novelist Dame Barbara Cartland just listed for $44.2 million

      Christophe Schaillee

      “This remarkable property is widely regarded as the quintessential London mansion. It exudes elegance and sophistication, with its exceptional features and prime location just moments away from Park Lane and Grosvenor Square,” notes the listing, which is held by Michael Holt and Nicole Hay of Compass.

      Designed by acclaimed architect Detmar Blow, the 8,500-square-foot property features a stately red-brick exterior adorned with neo-classical cornices. Inside, soaring and embellished ceilings, stone fireplaces, and a sweeping wooden staircase are among the home’s original period features.

      For all the historic detailing and traditional finery, there are, however, a notable number of modernizations. For example, the basement has been turned into a full-blown spa, where you’ll find an indoor swimming pool, a sauna, a designated relaxation zone, and even a bar.

      The lower level has an indoor pool and spa that opens to a patio.

      Christophe Schaillee

      No stranger to entertaining, Cartland made good use of the grandly proportioned principal reception areas on the ground and first floors, which combined can accommodate over 100 guests. Elsewhere, the deluxe digs comprise six bedrooms, including a swanky primary suite that occupies the entire second floor. The space is decked out with a projector over the bed, an enormous walk-in closet, an ensuite bath, and its own private terrace.

      “Undoubtedly, this truly magnificent home stands as the epitome of luxury living in London,” crows the listing. We concur.

      Click here to see all the photos of 28 South Street. 

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      Enjoy the High Life at This Charles Gwathmey-Designed Pied-à-Terre Atop NYC’s Iconic Sherry-Netherland Hotel

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      Always wanted to sit back and relax in a professionally coiffed abode overlooking some of the best scenery New York City has to offer—one holding court in a rarefied prewar building with access to ritzy amenities like room service from the famed Harry Cipriani restaurant, for instance?

      Well, if you happen to have an extra $4.45 million lying around and are eager to spend it, this luxe four-room apartment on the 20th floor of one of Gotham’s first branded hotel residences just might be the ideal spot to settle down in unique style. After all, The Sherry-Netherland Hotel has been described as “more than a place to live, it is a way of living.”

      Records show the co-op premises have long been occupied by billionaire financier Gary Winnick and his wife, artist and author Karen Winnick, who happen to be the very same couple currently shopping around their legendary Casa Encantada estate in the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles for a whopping $250 million.

      An entrance hallway introduces some of architect Charles Gwathmey’s signature high modernist style.

      Sam Czvitkovits

      Tailored to suit their personal tastes in the late 1990s by revered high modernist architect Charles Gwathmey, the unit lies on the 20th floor of the exclusive 38-story Schultze & Weaver-designed structure. Developed in 1927 by Louis Sherry and Lucius Boomer, the Fifth Avenue stalwart has been resided in through the years by A-listers the likes of David Bowie, Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand, George Burns, Jack Warner and Francis Ford Coppola.

      Billed in the listing as “offering an unparalleled level of attention to detail,” the property features two bedrooms and two baths in 2,000 square feet of elegant art-deco living space accented with rich hardwood floors, high ceilings, custom millwork, exotic wood finishes, ample built-ins and designer lighting throughout.

      The spacious primary bedroom boasts a dressing room and an onyx-clad bath.

      Sam Czvitkovits

      Highlights include an entrance hallway that flows to a wet bar-equipped living room displaying a dining solarium that opens to a wraparound terrace facing Fifth Avenue and Central Park, and a galley-style kitchen outfitted with stainless Viking appliances and a curving banquette for casual meals. A spacious primary bedroom boasts a dressing room and an onyx-clad bath, and elsewhere is another en-suite bedroom with bespoke wood paneling that’s been converted into an office space.

      The new owner also will have access to a wealth of building amenities courtesy of a substantial $21,616 monthly HOA charge, including a 24-hour doorman and concierge, along with room and housekeeping services, a fitness center and valet parking.

      In addition to their NYC apartment, the Winnicks also maintain the aforementioned Casa Encantada estate, formerly owned by the late hotelier Conrad Hilton and billionaire retired Dole Food Products chairman David Murdock. The couple purchased the 1930s property for $94 million back in 2000.

      The listing is held by Shawn Elliott and John Carbone of Nest Seekers International.

      Click here for more photos of Gary Winnick’s New York City pied-à-terre.

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      ‘Hacks’ Star Megan Stalter Just Snagged Herself Some Midcentury L.A. Digs

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      During the past few years, Megan Stalter has transitioned from the Chicago comedy scene to a breakout role as “party fashionista slash silly rich girl” assistant Kayla in the Emmy-nominated HBO Max series Hacks. Most recently, she also landed her first leading film role in Hannah Pearl Utt’s indie comedy-drama Cora Bora.

      Now the 32-year-old comedian and actress is putting down roots in the hip Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, having doled out just under $2 million for some midcentury-modern digs with both an architectural and a celebrity pedigree.

      Records show Stalter paid slightly over asking price for her recently acquired property, which was originally built and designed by noted University of Southern California-trained architect Ray Otero in the mid-1960s for a member of trumpeter Herb Alpert’s Tijuana Brass band. Last sold back in 2001 for $515,000, and tastefully updated in the years since, the boxy white structure is notched into a sloped hillside parcel spanning less than a quarter-acre of land, and fronted by a gated driveway that opens to a covered parking area with room for two vehicles.

      The living room boasts a wood-burning fireplace and sliding glass doors that open to a balcony providing eye-catching vistas.

      Jilbert Daniel

      Reached via a steep staircase, the lofty home offers three bedrooms and two baths in almost 1,400 square feet two-level living space adorned throughout with high ceilings, the original wood paneling and even central air-conditioning. Walls of glass offer up picturesque hillside and city lights views, with the open-concept floor plan highlighted by a taupe-hued living room displaying a wood-burning fireplace with a stove-pipe chimney, and sliding glass doors spilling out to a balcony on one side and an enclosed al fresco dining patio on the other.

      An adjacent window-lined dining area connects to the galley-style kitchen, which is outfitted with quartz countertops, a light-gray subway tile backsplash and newer stainless appliances, including a Bosch dishwasher. There’s also an inviting primary bedroom sporting a stylish bath equipped with dual vanities and a glassy shower, plus another bedroom that doubles as an office space.

      Only helmed as of now by three owners during its nearly 60-year history, the property was listed by Tracy Do and Victor Montecinos of Coldwell Banker Realty. Kerry Kimble of The Agency repped Stalter.

      Click here for more photos of Megan Stalter’s new Silver Lake house.

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      Meghan Trainor’s L.A. Farmhouse Hits the Market for $2.4 Million

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      Meghan Trainor is cleaning house yet again. A little over two years after she sold a Toluca Lake estate to Modern Family star Julie Bowen for $6 million, the Grammy-winning singer has decided to offload another one of her Los Angeles property holdings. This time it’s a charming single-story farmhouse in the Valley Village neighborhood, listed for a smidge under $2.4 million.

      Purchased by Trainor for just $1.7 million in December 2016—shortly after it was newly built, and before she married Spy Kids actor Daryl Sabara—the single-story home rests on less than a quarter-acre parcel of land protected by security cameras. Inside, four bedrooms and four baths are spread across a little more than 3,400 square feet of open-concept living space boasting high ceilings, European wide-plan oak floors, Lutron lighting and surround sound throughout.

      Fronted by a grassy lawn and an attached two-car garage, the white wood-shingled structure is highlighted by a gourmet kitchen accented with custom cabinetry, an eat-in island, stainless appliances and an adjoining dining area, plus a family room displaying a gas fireplace flanked by custom built-in shelving and accordion-style glass doors spilling out to a covered patio.

      Elsewhere is a formal living room and luxe primary bedroom sporting a walk-in closet, as well as a spa-inspired bath equipped with dual vanities, a soaking tub and large rainfall shower. Per the listing held by Justin Paul Huchel of Carolwood Estates, the fenced backyard also has a large grassy area with more than enough room for a pool.

      Though she’s owned this house for nearly seven years, Trainor reportedly never made it her main residence. She currently lives in the upscale L.A. neighborhood of Encino, where back in 2020 she and Sabara splashed out $6.6 million for a glitzy mansion. More