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      One of Pasadena’s Largest Estates Relists for a Reduced $36.5 Million

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      When you run across a place that’s billed as “the largest single-family residence in Pasadena,” and has the added cache of having been altogether fashioned by not just one but at least three noted architects, you have an inkling that it’s going to showcase some fairly creative living space paired with one-of-a-kind details. And this sprawling structure resting just steps from the ultra-posh Langham Huntington hotel is not one to disappoint.

      To boot, almost three years after the so-called “Knoll House” first hit the market with an ambitious $48 million price tag, the trophy estate best known as the longtime home of the famed pastor and televangelist Gene Scott also has popped up for sale again, this time with updated listing photos, a new top listing agent and substantially reduced $36.5 million ask.

      A soaring atrium in the entertainment center is an ideal spot to showcase art.

      Paul Barnaby

      Originally built by Peter Hall in the early 1900s for heiress, art collector and philanthropist Virginia Steele Scott in collaboration with esteemed architect Myron Hunt, the dwelling was later expanded by equally prominent architect Gordon Kaufmann. It was purchased in the mid-’80s by Scott; upon his death from prostate cancer in 2005, his third wife pastor Melissa Scott inherited the lot. After sitting vacant for some years, the whole kit and caboodle was sold in 2011 for $7.2 million to philanthropist John Vidalakis, who spent seven years renovating and restoring the premises.

      Tucked away behind walls and gates, amid a secluded cul-de-sac, the property includes a 12,300-square-foot main house and separate 21,000-square-foot entertainment center spread across nearly 2.5 acres of land—for a total of seven bedrooms and some 21 baths in a little more than 32,600 square feet, all of it boasting glitzy amenities ranging from an authentic Tiki bar and 46-seat movie theater, to an art gallery and a 2,500-bottle wine cellar.

      The home’s Tiki bar comes complete with a lounge area.

      Paul Barnaby

      Inside the primary Colonial Revival residence, a grand foyer adorned with custom black-and-white marble floors flows to multi-level living space highlighted by formal living and dining rooms, along with an English pub, and wood-paneled library sporting a fireplace and wet bar. A family room connects to a gourmet kitchen outfitted with two islands, top-tier Miele and Wolf appliances, a butler’s pantry and an accompanying breakfast room, while a luxe master retreat boasts dual walk-in closets and baths.

      Connected to the main house via commercial-grade elevators and a “secret” underground tunnel is the three-story entertainment space, which was designed by architects Ladd & Kelsey in the ’70s, and includes conference rooms, lounges, a catering kitchen, an arcade, card room, gym and guest apartment, as well as the aforementioned movie theater, Tiki bar and art gallery space holding court in a two-story atrium.

      The backyard includes a pool and spa nestled alongside a covered pavilion.

      Paul Barnaby

      Rounding it all out: resort-inspired grounds showcased by a Zen garden designed by Kohei Owatari, pool and spa, bocce court and fire-pit, along with numerous spots perfectly suited to al fresco lounging and entertaining.

      The listing is held by Josh Flagg of Douglas Elliman.

      Click here for more photos of the Knoll House.

      Paul Barnaby More

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      Kurdistan’s Barzani Family Sells Bowling Alley-Equipped Beverly Hills Mansion for $24 Million

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      Roughly a year after it first appeared on the market carrying a $30 million price tag, one of Beverly Hills‘ most visible residential tributes to Old-World decadence has sold for a still-hefty $24.6 million. The buyers are reportedly a family hailing from Mainland China.

      Located in the prime Beverly Hills Flats neighborhood and built new in 2016, the almost shockingly extravagant house last sold in September 2018 for $27 million to the Barzani family, a wealthy clan that has been the de facto ruler of Iraq’s Kurdistan region for generations. Spanning nearly 21,000 square feet of living space, he giant house sits behind gates on an unusually deep 0.72-acre lot, the property itself set mid-block on one of the most coveted streets in the Flats.

      Although the mansion was long connected to the Barzanis, It’s still not entirely clear which family member actually owned it. But by far the most obvious candidate is Mansour Barzani, the globetrotting son of Masoud Barzani, who was president of Kurdistan from 2005-2017. Mansour is also the brother of Masrour Barzani, Kurdistan’s current prime minister.

      The property took nearly 19 years to plan and complete, custom-built to exacting detail for a businessman who died soon after it was finished.

      Google Earth

      In any case, the 90210 manor is indeed a veritable monument to neoclassical opulence. Beyond the elaborate moldings and Louis XV-inspired furniture, there are two family rooms, a kitchen with top-of-the-line Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, a commercial-grade elevator, gym, a wood-paneled library and multiple imported fireplaces, per the listing. All of the bedrooms feature ensuite full bathrooms, and the property is outfitted with the most advanced security, lighting and sound systems on the market.

      There’s also a two-lane bowling alley, an indoor basketball court, a beauty salon and a primary bedroom suite with its own outdoor jacuzzi on a private terrace. The movie theater flaunts a fiberoptic starry sky, akin to a new Rolls Royce, and at the far rear of the lot lies a detached guesthouse. 

      Although this deal represents a $2.4 million loss for them, even before maintenance and closing costs are considered, the Barzanis likely aren’t hurting for money. According to investigative journalist Zack Kopplin, the family is worth billions today. Some critics have claimed that much of this wealth stems from the Barzanis’ virtual monopoly on the Kurdistan region’s telecom, real estate and vast oil resources. More

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      Featured in ‘The Dropout,’ This Extravagant Los Angeles Mansion Has Sold for $34.5 Million

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      It took roughly four years and a couple of big price chops, but a Los Angeles real estate investor has finally managed to unload his lavish Neoclassical-style estate in a prime Holmby Hills neighborhood for $34.5 million. And though that’s far less than the $49.5 million Saeed Farkhondehpour originally wanted, it’s still loads more than the $4.5 million he paid for the place just over two decades ago.

      Records indicate the discount-minded buyer is local interventional cardiologist Vinod Jivrajka, who currently serves as chairman of Episource Clarity Platform, which specializes in risk-adjustment services, software and solutions for health-care providers. He previously founded AppleCare Medical Group, where he was president and CEO for more than 20 years. 

      The entry foyer opens to a soaring atrium-style living area.

      Ryan Lahiff

      Tucked away behind walls and gates—just a few doors down from the Playboy Mansion, and not too far from Spelling Manor—the mansion was custom-built by Farkhondehpour in 2020. Records show the real estate investor paid roughly $4.5 million in late 2002 for the 1.5-acre parcel, then subsequently razed an existing 1940s home originally designed by architect A. Quincy Jones to make way for the new residence.

      If this particular house looks familiar, it might be due to its starring role in The Dropout, the Hulu limited series that became a huge hit last year. On camera, the massive estate portrayed the real-life Atherton, Calif., mansion once owned by disgraced biotech entrepreneur Elizabeth Holmes (Amanda Seyfried) and Sunny Balwani (Naveen Andrews).

      A fireside office space has its own entrance.

      Ryan Lahiff

      Per Zac Mostame of Carolwood Estates, who held the listing with Lea Porter of The Beverly Hills Estates, the property features a main three-story house with six bedrooms and 10 baths, plus a separate two-story guesthouse with four bedrooms and three baths—for a whopping total of 21,000 square feet of European-inspired living space decked out with its share of modern amenities.

      As for the primary quarters, main-level highlights include a soaring entry foyer displaying a dual glass staircase that flows seamlessly to an expansive atrium-style living area boasting a linear fireplace and floor-to-ceiling walls of glass. There’s also a fireside living room, formal dining room, and gourmet kitchen outfitted with two islands, top-tier Gaggenau appliances and an accompanying breakfast nook, as well as an upstairs master retreat flaunting a balcony, showroom-style closet and luxe bath.

      A wine cellar is just one of the home’s many amenities.

      Ryan Lahiff

      Elsewhere is a bookshelf-lined office, high-tech movie theater, wet bar-equipped game room, wine cellar, gym, sauna and subterranean garage with room for at least 13 vehicles; and outdoors, the picturesque grounds are laced with gardens, and host a pond sporting fountains and a footbridge, along with a pool and spa flanked by a pergola with a barbecue and bar setup, sunken fire-pit, gazebo and tennis court.

      Jivrajka was repped in the deal by Ram Handa of Hilton & Hyland.

      Click here for more photos of The Dropout mansion.

      Ryan Lahiff More

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      Danny McBride’s Duplex Penthouse in the Heart of Hollywood Can Be Yours for $1.8 Million

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      The year before Danny McBride’s HBO series Eastbound and Down premiered in 2009, the showbiz multihyphenate plunked down a tad more than $1.4 million for a duplex penthouse in the heart of Hollywood that he’s now got on the market for a sliver under $1.8 million. The condo, with HOA fees of almost $2,500 a month, is available with Deedee Howard of The Agency.

      McBride, who also co-created and starred in Vice Principals and the skewering comedy series The Righteous Gemstones, has had the one-bedroom, two-bath aerie on and off the sales and rental market several times in previous years, according to online records, including in 2013 when it was available to lease at $8,500 per month as well as in 2020 when it popped up for sale for $1.85 million.

      The double-height penthouse has unobstructed views of The Hollywood Sign and the Capital Records building.

      Jason Shaltz

      Perched ten floors above the corner of Hollywood and Vine within the landmark Broadway Hollywood building, the not-quite 2,200-square-foot loft-style condo has soaring, double-height ceilings and broad ribbons of windows with panoramic views of the iconic Capital Records building as well as The Hollywood Sign.

      Dark brown hardwood floors reflect the copious sunlight that pours in while also grounding the voluminous spaces that offer vast expanses of cotton-white walls ideal for artwork. Exposed ductwork nods to the classic industrial loft style. Below the lofted bedroom, the kitchen has stainless-steel cabinetry and premium-grade appliances. And beyond the kitchen, near the entrance, there’s a cozy media lounge.

      Off the kitchen and near the front door is a cozy media lounge.

      Jason Shaltz

      At the foot of the staircase, a small area is well suited as a home office, and at the top, the bedroom hovers above the living space below and looks out over the city through the massive windows. A spacious walk-in closet and an Art Deco-inspired marble bathroom complete the suite, while a second bathroom on the main floor is also decadently dressed in marble tiles. The penthouse transfers with two parking spaces with 24-hour valet service, a nice feature in a car-centric city where people have been known to drive half a block to the corner supermarket.

      The building, with a lively Katsuya sushi restaurant as its primary ground-floor retail tenant, has long been a favorite with showbiz movers and shakers. Previous owners and past tenants include Jason Statham, Charlize Theron, and Erika Jayne of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, who once maintained her “Pretty Mess” clubhouse in the building.

      The marble bathrooms evoke the glossy glamour of Old Hollywood.

      Jason Shaltz

      The building offers residents secured access via an attended lobby dripping in Old Hollywood glamour. A recently refurbished rooftop includes a swimming pool and a spa with wraparound views, along with a fitness center. The Broadway Hollywood, built in the late 1920s as the B.H. Dyas Company Department Store and converted to condos in 2005, currently falls under the Mills Act, which reduces property taxes in exchange for maintaining the historic integrity of the building. 

      McBride and his family have lived primarily in South Carolina since 2017, when they sold their Hollywood Hills home for $3.5 million and picked up a waterfront spread near Charleston for $4 million.

      Click here for more photos of Danny McBride’s Hollywood penthouse.

      Jason Shaltz More

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       Comcast’s CEO Just Snagged a $9 Million Penthouse at One of L.A.’s Most Exclusive Buildings

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      Over the summer, Brian Roberts picked up a tidy sum of cash when he sold a John Elgin Woolf-designed home in Beverly Hills to art collectors Bill and Maria Bell—the couple who recently transferred their ocean-view Malibu mansion to Beyoncé and Jay-Z for a whopping $190 million.

      The off-market deal netted the chairman and CEO of Philadelphia-based Comcast just over $20 million. So, it’s not surprising that he’s decided to reinvest some of those profits into an upscale residence at the fairly new Olson Kundig-designed 8899 Beverly residential tower.

      Records show the 64-year-old media mogul doled out just under $9 million for the two-bedroom, four-bath condo, adding to an already hefty property portfolio that includes homes in Philadelphia, as well as on Martha’s Vineyard and in North Palm Beach, Fla. 

      The fifth-floor corner unit’s open-concept floor plan features almost 3,200 square feet of Gary Hutton-designed living space adorned throughout with imported wood floors, high ceilings and a custom lighting system. Victrocsa sliding glass walls also open to several terraces providing sweeping views of the surrounding hills and city lights.

      Other highlights include a light-filled great room holding a combination living and dining area, plus a gourmet kitchen outfitted with white oak-lined maple cabinetry, Calacatta Gold marble countertops, and top-tier Gaggenau, Miele and Sub-Zero appliances. There’s also a dedicated media room, and a grand master retreat boasting leather-upholstered walls, antique silver-leafed wallpaper, a built-in office space, dual walk-in closets and a luxe travertine-clad bath.

      As for the HOA dues, Roberts will pay a hefty $5,336 per month for the privilege of living at his new building, where amenities include a 24-hour concierge, fitness center and yoga studio, private auto stable for two vehicles, and an expansive outdoor space hosting a pool and spa, fireplaces and a covered dining area. The onsite Italian restaurant Stella West Hollywood also is scheduled to open this winter.

      The listing was held by Ginger Glass of Compass. More

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      Lil Uzi Vert Spins Glassy California Mansion Back on the Market for $6 Million

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      Flash back two-and-a-half years ago, and Symere Woods had just purchased this contemporary mansion in the 1,700-acre gated Bell Canyon community due north of Calabasas in Ventura County for $4.4 million. Now the 28-year-old Philly rapper, singer and songwriter—best known to their cult-like fan base as Lil Uzi Vert—has decided to return the glass-wrapped residence to the market with a nearly $6 million ask, as first announced by The Hollywood Reporter.

      Nestled on almost 1.4 acres of land resting atop a promontory, and tucked securely up a meandering gated driveway, the all-white stucco structure is sited within a celeb-studded enclave that’s also been home through the years to the likes of Chrissy Metz, Joe Rogan, Niecy Nash, Trey Songz, Alyssa Milano, Jhené Aiko, Holly Marie Combs and Shaquille O’Neal.

      The gourmet kitchen boasts gleaming white countertops and brass accents.

      Ryan Lahiff

      Built in 2017, and naturally customized to the rapper’s personal tastes during their tenure, the place features five bedrooms and six baths sprawled across a little more than 7,000 square feet of stylish living space rife with hardwood floors soaring ceilings and designer lighting. Expansive walls of glass overlook picturesque canyon and hillside vistas.

      A spacious motorcourt flanked by a three-car garage fronts the two-story house, which opens into a main level highlighted by a massive great room holding a fireside living room with glass doors spilling out to a terrace. There’s also a dining area, as well as a gourmet kitchen outfitted with high-end stainless appliances, and an eat-in island incorporating a marble table and banquette seating.

      An especially large primary bedroom comes complete with a stone fireplace and access to a balcony.

      Ryan Lahiff

      Also standing out is a sumptuous upstairs master retreat, which is decked out with a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, sitting area, private balcony and walk-in closet, plus a luxe bath sporting herringbone-pattern tile floors, dual vanities, a soaking tub and an oversized shower.

      Additional amenities can be found outdoors, where the grounds hold a partially covered pool and spa, kitchen and bar setup, and plenty of spots ideally suited to al fresco lounging and entertaining.

      A turf-clad lounge area is the perfect spot to take in the surrounding views.

      Ryan Lahiff

      Lastly, a $285-per-month HOA fee also provides the new owner with access to Bell Canyon amenities, including more than 70 miles of hiking trails, tennis courts, a private 5-acre park and Cliff May-designed equestrian center.

      The listing is held by Carl Gambino of Compass.

      Click here for more photos of Lil Uzi Vert’s house.

      Ryan Lahiff More

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      ‘Euphoria’ Star Hunter Schafer Bought a Modernist Gem by Architect A. Quincy Jones

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      It’s no secret that the luxury real estate market is currently sluggish, particularly in Los Angeles, but the right vintage house can still win over the hearts of buyers. Witness this 1950 structure in the affluent Brentwood neighborhood, which sports less than 2,100 square feet of living space but still generated a multimillion-dollar bidding war.

      The winning bidder was “Euphoria” actress and prolific model Hunter Schafer, born nearly 50 years after the modernist structure came to life. Schafer paid almost $3.9 million for the 2,100-square-foot house, nearly $200,000 over the property’s last asking price and a hefty $1,847 per square foot.

      But it’s not hard to see the attraction. Constructed as part of Brentwood’s novel housing co-op known as the Mutual Housing Association, the home was co-designed by acclaimed modernist architect A. Quincy Jones and his occasional collaborator Whitney R. Smith. Situated on a narrow and semi-remote road high in the Brentwood hills, the property is hidden well out of sight from passersby, down a long and curving driveway far below street level.

      Classic midcentury hallmarks about, including exposed concrete blocks and terrazzo-like tile floors.

      Cameron Carothers

      Over the past few decades, neglect and a series of bad remodels left the Jones-Smith design a pale shell of its former self. Enter HabHouse, a real estate development firm committed to restoring architectural gems; the firm purchased the property last year, paying $2.3 million, and subsequently transformed it into magazine-worthy showstopper complete with midcentury hallmarks such as Douglas fir built-in cabinetry, redwood tongue-and-groove siding and exposed concrete blocks.

      The sloped-roof structure is fronted by an attached carport and an adjacent parking space that can accommodate two vehicles. Inside, an entry foyer steps down into a den that features a massive wood-burning brick fireplace as its focal point, and an adjacent living and dining area connects to a galley kitchen outfitted with an eat-in island and vintage-style appliances. Expansive walls of glass open to patios from almost every room, while framing treetop and mountain views.

      The open floorplan marries the Douglas fir-clad kitchen with the living and dining rooms.

      Cameron Carothers

      Sequestered in a wing by itself is a primary suite holding a closet and shower-equipped bath, plus two additional bedrooms that share a bath. Elsewhere in the house is another bath and a laundry room; and outdoors, the fenced backyard hosts a grassy lawn flanked by a sprawling patio ideal for al fresco lounging and dining, with a hot tub notched right into the middle. Per the listing, there’s also plenty of room to add a swimming pool. More

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      Allison Holker Snaps Up an All-New Modern Farmhouse in L.A. for $5 Million

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      Not long after Allison Holker’s longtime husband and fellow dancer Stephen “tWitch” Boss died tragically by suicide at age 40 this past December, she honored the beloved DJ of The Ellen DeGeneres Show by launching the Move with Kindness foundation to support mental health initiatives.

      She also began sharing dance videos with her many social media followers once again—something the couple often did together during their 10-year marriage. “Truly felt so good to dance again,” the dancer and choreographer said in an Instagram post. “I was overwhelmed with so many emotions. I was both scared and excited. But dance has always been there for me … even now and I am so grateful for that.” 

      Now Holker—probably most known for appearing alongside tWitch in Season seven of So You Think You Can Dance back in 2010—has taken strides toward a fresh residential start, having listed the couple’s Encino marital home and doled out nearly $5 million for a modern farmhouse-style spread in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Studio City.

      Newly built in 2023, the two-story home boasts six bedrooms and seven baths a little more than 5,800 square feet of living space adorned throughout with hardwood floors, high ceilings, designer lighting and glass doors offering seamless indoor-outdoor environs. Amenities include a movie theater, fitness room and an office, as well as a separate guest house sporting a kitchenette and full bath.

      Holker’s recently acquired property sits on a walled and gated parcel spanning almost a half-acre of land, with a circular driveway and an attached two-car garage fronting the two-tone and wood-accented structure. Once inside, an entry foyer flows to a fireside living room flanked by a formal dining room nestled alongside a wine display.

      Additional main-level highlights include a spacious family room spotlighted by a fireplace and access to a covered patio that’s ideal for al fresco dining. An adjoining gourmet kitchen is outfitted with custom cabinetry, quartzite countertops, dual islands and sinks, a service bar with double-sided seating, wine fridge, Thermador appliances and an accompanying breakfast nook.

      A curving metal-clad staircase heads upstairs, where the plush master retreat comes complete with a fireplace, private balcony, showroom-style closet, and spa-inspired bath decked out with dual vanities, a dressing area, soaking tub and large glass-encased shower; and outdoors, the grounds host a pool with a Baja shelf and waterfall-fed spa, along with a fire-pit, built-in barbecue and seated bar.

      The listing was held by Zeev Perez of Equity Union; Anthony Paradise of Sotheby’s International Realty repped Holker. More