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      in Luxury

      Ellen DeGeneres Just Sold Her $32 Million Montecito Estate to a Billionaire Mining Magnate

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      Robert Friedland seems determined to single-handedly keep Santa Barbara‘s ultra-high-end real estate market afloat. Five months ago, the multibillionaire mining tycoon—he’s the chairman of Ivanhoe Mines, and was also a business mentor of the late Steve Jobs—paid about $47 million for an oceanfront estate on Carpinteria’s prestigious Padaro Lane.

      Now Friedland has done it again—records show the charismatic 73-year-old was the buyer who just paid a lofty $32 million for a spectacular Montecito compound sold by Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi. is located only about four miles northwest of Friedland’s new Carpenteria pad, but is not oceanfront.

      Today, the century-old estate is undoubtedly among the grandest compounds in Montecito, with 8-acres of manicured grounds.

      Jason Rick / Blake Bronstad

      While that $32 million sales price is still among the highest prices paid for a Santa Barbara-area home over the past year, it’s significantly less than the $46.5 million DeGeneres wanted. But it’s also nearly $10 million more than the former talk show host paid for the place less than one year ago, back in June 2023. As is her modus operandi, DeGeneres and her team of skilled contractors and designers gave the place a quick yet complete makeover, transforming it into a trendily minimalist and soothingly neutral retreat that embodies quiet luxury.

      Completed in 1919 and known as Pompeiian Court, the house and its 8-acres of manicured grounds are cloaked from public view behind an enormous iron gate and a quarter-mile-long driveway that culminates in a motorcourt surrounded by mature olive trees. Described as a “classic Roman courtyard residence” in the listing, the compound includes a rare single-story main house, plus four additional structures: two guesthouses, a poolside cabana and a petite building that currently functions as an art studio.

      Once overwrought, Pompeiian Court’s interiors are now chicly minimalist, albeit still sumptuous.

      Jason Rick / Blake Bronstad

      Other highlights include formal gardens, ancient oaks, towering eucalyptus trees and rows of Italian cypresses. Both the swimming pool and full-size tennis court are romantically hidden out of sight from the main house, and meandering pathways lace their way around the premises as they bypass fountains, secluded sitting areas and a chardonnay vineyard.

      In addition to his two new Santa Barbara-area mansions, Friedland also owns two side-by-side Beverly Hills estates, plus Zsa Zsa Gabor’s former Bel Air property, a luxury flat in Singapore and an oceanfront home in Thailand.

      As for DeGeneres and de Rossi, they’ve still got multiple other Santa Barbara-area properties, including a vast estate atop a Carpinteria blufftop and several smaller homes scattered around Montecito.

      Click here for more photos of Montecito’s Pompeiian Court. More

    • 138 Shares99 Views

      in Luxury

      Freddie Mercury’s Former London Mansion Can Be Yours for $38 Million

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      No, this isn’t just fantasy. The real-life home of late music legend Freddie Mercury has hit the market.  

      Garden Lodge, located in London’s exclusive Kensington enclave, is just listed for £30 million (US$38 million). The former Queen frontman, who died in 1991 at age 45 of bronchial pneumonia, left the Neo-Georgian-style estate and all of its contents to his friend and former fiancée, Mary Austin. In the roughly 30 years since Austin has been living at and looking after the property full-time, but is now ready to part ways with the hallowed home. 

      “This house has been the most glorious memory box, because it has such love and warmth in every room,” Austin said in a press statement. “It has been a joy to live in and I have many wonderful memories here. Now that it is empty, I’m transported back to the first time we viewed it.”

      The late Freddie Mercury helped create the garden at his home in London.

      Knight Frank

      The stately brick residence was originally built in 1907 by architect Ernest Marshall for artist couple Cecil Rea and Constance Halford and was at one time owned by Peter Wilson, a former chairman of Sotheby’s. According to Knight Frank, which is handling the sale, the Mercury bought the place on the spot in 1980 and later tapped interior architect and designer Robin Moore Ede to renovate the palatial pad.

      Internally, the residence sports the finest marble accents, rich wood floors, and tons of bright jewel tones. Most notably, the walls of the dining room are painted a citrusy yellow—the singer’s favorite hue. Other highlights include the double-height drawing room, where Mercury stored the grand piano that he famously used to compose Bohemian Rhapsody. The British singer also helped design the garden, which is dotted with large magnolia trees and sculpted plantings.

      “Ever since Freddie and I stepped through the fabled green door, it has been a place of peace, a true artist’s house, and now is the time to entrust that sense of peace to the next person.”

      Many of the walls in Garden Lodge have been painted using bold and bright hues.

      Knight Frank

      “The sale of Garden Lodge presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a significant property combined with a piece of cultural history, the beloved home of an icon,” added Paddy Dring, global head of prime sales and joint head of Knight Frank’s Private Office. “Having been carefully preserved with love and respect over the last three decades, we expect that the exceptional provenance of the property will be incredibly alluring to buyers across the world.” 

      Last year, Austin sold off a treasure trove of the star’s possessions during a Sotheby’s auction. At the time, Mercury’s belongings ignited a bidding frenzy, so prospective buyers might want to move quickly.

      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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    • 138 Shares189 Views

      in Luxury

      Judd Apatow Drops $32 Million on a Sleek Beverly Hills Mansion

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      After recently selling their posh and longtime Los Angeles home for $27 million to heavyweight lawyer Brian Panish, records reveal Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann have now bought a smaller home, albeit an even more expensive one in an arguably even posher part of town. The empty nesters doled out nearly $32 million for their new place, a single-story stunner in the western reaches of Beverly Hills.

      Unfortunately for the seller—apparel mogul Maurice Marciano, cofounder of the Guess clothing brand—that sale price is roughly $3.6 million less than he paid for the house barely a year ago, when he bought it for a lofty $35.5 million.

      The single-level home features automated steel and glass walls and doors throughout.

      Mark Singer

      Originally built in the 1950s as a humble midcentury ranch-style structure, the house underwent a dramatic rebuild and expansion a few years ago. Today, invisible from the street behind locked gates and towering hedges, the glossy and decidedly bespoke showpiece is described as the “embodiment of architecture as art,” and features five bedrooms and seven bathrooms in a mansion-sized 9,300 square feet of living space. Set on nearly an acre of land near historic Greystone Manor, the trophy estate also features a dark-bottom swimming pool, grassy lawns and manicured gardens.

      Property highlights include a “floating” entryway seemingly cantilevered over moat-like water features, hand-combed limestone throughout, imported white oak floors, exotic marble slabs and a media room almost totally swaddled in cashmere. A recurring theme throughout the house is the dichotomy of its floorplan, which can be either cozy or totally open depending on the homeowner’s whims, with numerous walls of steel and glass that disappear and reappear at the touch of a button.

      The skylit kitchen offers two marble-topped island with plenty of storage space.

      Mark Singer

      All five of the property’s bedrooms feature ensuite bathrooms and their own “private gardens,” per the listing, and the primary suite additionally offers a sitting area and boutique-style dressing room. The kitchen is primed for grand-scale entertaining, with its dual marble islands and commercial-grade stainless appliances, and also on tap are a library, a gym and a formal dining room with silk ceilings and walls, plus its own temperature-controlled glass wine closet.

      In addition to garaging for up to five cars, the residence is fronted by a sizable cobblestone motorcourt. Out back, the park-like grounds encircle an outdoor fireplace flanked by its own lounge area, and there are multiple spaces dedicated to al fresco dining or sunbathing.

      Surrounded by mature trees, the park-like estate offers ample space for al fresco entertaining.

      Mark Singer

      Apatow, a super-prolific Hollywood director/producer (Bridesmaids, Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin) and Mann continue to maintain a $9 million condo in New York City’s leafy West Village neighborhood. More

    • 113 Shares189 Views

      in Vacation Homes

      Inside the Most Expensive Summer Rental on Martha’s Vineyard

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      Martha’s Vineyard has long been a popular summer getaway for high-profile vacationers, including Oprah Winfrey, the Obamas, Larry David, and Bill Gates. This year, the most expensive rental to ever hit the island will cost you an eye-watering $1 million per month. 

      Located at 18 Point Inner Way, overlooking the picturesque Menemsha Pond, the roughly five-acre waterfront compound is available to rent for four consecutive weeks between May and July and September and October. Nestled within the pastoral town of Chilmark, one of New England’s priciest ZIP codes, the sprawling contemporary compound has a whopping 11 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms split between the main house and two additional residences, including a writer’s cottage.

      Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the main house with natural light.

      Bob Gothard/ Wallace & Co. Sotheby’s International Realty

      “The lush green surroundings, invigorating coastal breezes, and overall sense of serenity make it an attractive destination for those in search of an escape,” notes the listing, which is held by Tom Wallace of Wallace & Co. Sotheby’s International Realty.

      To justify the hefty price tag, the coastal estate offers a slew of amenities. Inside the main house, which was originally built in 2012, you’ll find two top-of-the-line chef’s kitchens, a home theater with massaging recliners, a sauna and steam room, and a 30-foot indoor pool. There’s also a large water-facing deck with a built-in grill, a pizza oven, a fire pit, a wooden bar, and an outdoor dining area for up to 24 guests. Of course, sweeping views are a given.

      The five-acre compound can be rented for $1 million a month.

      Bob Gothard/ Wallace & Co. Sotheby’s International Realty

      In addition to the residence, the grounds also include an entertainment building, which holds an indoor basketball court with a professional shooting machine as well as a large fitness studio with Technogym and Peloton equipment. Down below, there’s a six-car garage equipped with Porsche and Tesla charging stations.

      Outside, there are plenty of recreational activities to keep everyone busy. The tennis court can also be used for pickleball; there’s a cedar jungle gym for the kids; and seafarers will appreciate the home’s 115-foot private deep-water dock that’s nicely stocked with paddle boards and kayaks. Even better, guests can choose between three boats to cruise around on the pond, including a swanky 55-foot Novamarine BS160 that was custom-made in Italy. Also in the fleet are a Mastercraft X26 ideal for water skiing or wakeboarding and a 26-foot Zodiac Open 7.0 speed boat if you’re in the mood for something quicker to zip around in.

      Click here to see more photos of 18 Point Inner Way.

      Andrew Azoulay/ Wallace & Co. Sotheby’s International Realty

      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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    • 75 Shares159 Views

      in Vacation Homes

      18 Point Inner Way in Photos

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      Published on February 28, 2024

      Andrew Azoulay/ Wallace & Co. Sotheby’s International Realty

      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, entertainment, dining, travel to…

      Read More More

    • 213 Shares159 Views

      in Luxury

      A North Vancouver Home With a Touch of California Cool Is Up for Grabs at $2.8 Million

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      Though this particular residence wasn’t crafted by Joseph Eichler himself, the midcentury home in North Vancouver’s affluent Upper Lonsdale neighborhood has many of the late developer’s trademarks—most notably, a cool California modern design aesthetic providing a harmonious connection to the natural surroundings.

      Originally constructed by noted West Coast designer and builder Bob Lewis in 1956 for former judge Don Pool and his family, the post-and-beam dwelling has since been preserved and modernized by current owners Dean Eilertson and Jenni Gullett—a prop master and costume designer, respectively, who have worked on films and TV shows such as Tron, X-Men and The Good Doctor—and features four bedrooms and two baths in almost 3,200 square feet of living space adorned throughout with wood-paneled walls, exposed-beam ceilings and large windows overlooking the garden-laced grounds.

      “If somebody else was buying it, they were going to tear it down,” the couple said in a press statement. “We wanted to restore it. It’s a very serious discipline to take on a mid-century modern house and keep it in its zone. We’re not trying to renovate it to change the house. Of course, you’re going to change it so it’s more livable. But if you can keep it within the same feeling then you’re helping preserve the house.”

      Barbara Tili

      Nestled amid a heavily wooded parcel of land spanning a little over a quarter-acre, on a slope at the crest of a hill, the cedar-shingled structure is known as the “Parkland House” and is listed on the District of North Vancouver Community Heritage Register.

      A cathedral entry pavilion boasting reeded glass-panel sidelights fronts the two-story house, which is introduced via an entry foyer that flows to a spacious open-concept great room highlighted by a fireside living area and a door spilling out to a wood-clad balcony ideal for al fresco dining. Back inside, a dining space connects to a kitchen outfitted with an eat-in island and newer stainless appliances.

      Elsewhere on the main level is a family room, two secondary bedrooms, and a primary suite decked out with a bath sporting dual vanities, a soaking tub and separate shower; and rounding it all out is the lower level, which holds another bedroom with its own bath, a gym, mudroom, laundry room and access to an attached carport with room for two vehicles.

      The listing is held by Jason Choi and Trent Rodney of West Coast Modern.

      Click here for more photos of the “Parkland House.”

      Barbara Tili More

    • 175 Shares199 Views

      in Luxury

      ‘District 9’ Star Sharlto Copley Doles Out $4.4 Million for a Stunning Lakefront Estate

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      Though most folks might know him best as main protagonist Wikus van de Merwe from the Oscar-nominated science-fiction film District 9, South African actor Sharlto Copley is now appearing as wealthy businessman Michael Fouchay in the 12th and final season of the HBO show Curb Your Enthusiasm. He’s also making his presence known on the Los Angeles real estate scene, having splashed out $4.4 million for a stunning spread tucked away in the picturesque hills between Westlake Village and Thousand Oaks, in an unincorporated area known as Lake Sherwood.

      Resting beyond a streetside two-car garage/artist studio and gated driveway, the French Country-style mansion is nestled amid almost one-third acres of land overlooking Lake Sherwood and the Santa Monica Mountains. Built back in 2003, the three-story home has four bedrooms and six baths in a little more than 6,600 square feet of living space.

      Double front doors open into a turreted entrance foyer displaying a curving staircase that heads down to a main level holding living and family rooms, each with fireplaces boasting hand-carved mantles. A formal dining room can seat up to 10, while the gourmet kitchen is outfitted with decorative wood cabinetry, a central island, breakfast bar, top-tier stainless appliances, a dumbwaiter and an accompanying breakfast room.

      Other highlights include a handsome bookshelf-lined office, plus a lower level flaunting a wet bar-equipped great room/movie theater, as well as a bespoke wine cellar that can accommodate up to 3,800 bottles. Upstairs, a sumptuous master retreat comes complete with a sitting area, fireplace, dual walk-in closets, and a spa-like bath offering dual vanities, a soaking tub and glass-encased shower.

      Four additional en-suite bedrooms and a secondary bedroom also can be found on the upper floor. But the undeniable star of the show are the eye-catching grounds, which host a stacked-stone fireplace, full kitchen bedecked with a built-in barbecue, sport court, and an infinity-edge pool and raised spa overlooking the lake. Also on the premises: a couple of vineyards, per the listing, along with an extra three-car garage.

      In addition to his newly acquired Lake Sherwood house, the 50-year-old actor—who also has appeared in The A-Team, Elysium and Chappie—maintains a smaller house in the Hollywood Dell area of L.A. that he acquired for $860,000 back in early 2013.

      The listing was held by Mark Tyoran of Keller Williams Westlake Village. More

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      in Luxury

      A Tech Entrepreneur Spent $13 Million on Late Architect Harry Gesner’s Unique Malibu Home

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      Famed Malibu architect Harry Gesner died in summer 2022, just weeks after his 97th birthday. To say Gesner led a colorful life would be putting it mildly; the word “epic” is probably be more apt. Born in Southern California to an engineer father and an artist mother, he was flying planes by age 14. At 19, he stormed the beach at Normandy; after the war, he first worked as a waterski instructor in Lake Arrowhead before turning down an invitation from Frank Lloyd Wright to study at Wright’s Taliesin architecture school in favor of being a tomb raider in Ecuador. Along the way, he famously dated numerous models and actresses, fraternized with Errol Flynn and Marlon Brando, collected fancy sports cars and surfed every day into his late eighties.

      Gesner designed many homes all over California, but his best-known works are found on the shores of his beloved and adopted hometown of Malibu. Among them are the iconic Wave House, designed for one of the architect’s surfing buddies with a copper-scale-topped roofline that resembles a series of cresting waves.

      Next door to Wave House is Gesner’s own longtime family abode, which he called Sandcastle. Completed in 1974, it is a testament to Gesner’s commitment to sustainable building practices. Among the salvaged materials used for its construction are old telephone poles, wall panels made from aqueduct pipes, birdseye maple from a high school gym, marble from public baths that were about to be demolished, old-growth redwood harvested in the 1800s, and windows and doors saved from one of Hollywood’s silent film theaters.

      First listed last year at $27.5 million, the oceanfront house has just sold for a heavily slashed $13.5 million. The discount-minded buyer is tech entrepreneur Jason Fried—co-founder and CEO of Basecamp, a multibillion-dollar project management firm, and a noted architecture enthusiast. Last year, Fried dropped $26 million on an especially glorious old estate in the California’s Carmel Highlands neighborhood.

      At the Sandcastle home’s entry is a library/lounge with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and ocean views. From here, one proceeds to the heart of the house, a commodious, window-wrapped living/dining room featuring massive spoke-like beams, wood-plank ceilings, and a vast brick fireplace at its hub. Modeled after the Hollywood Bowl, the fireplace and its large polished concrete hearth served as a stage for Gesner’s wife, actress Nan Martin.

      Echoing the cylindrical shape of the house itself, the kitchen wraps around a circular island and has tile countertops, stained glass lunettes fitted into the beams overhead, a fireplace, updated appliances, a breakfast bar, and a walk-in pantry. Adjacent to the dining area is a solarium with stained glass panels, beyond which lies the wraparound deck.

      The home’s main level also contains two en-suite bedrooms, one with built-ins making it suitable for use as an office. Upstairs is the primary suite tower, featuring lofty ceilings, a brick fireplace, eyebrow windows, a sitting area with ocean view, and a spiral staircase with handmade driftwood treads corkscrewing up to a studio/loft/meditation space.

      Additional structures on the .73-acre property include a “tree house” apartment with kitchenette, living room/dining area, bedroom, bath, and wraparound deck; a “boat house” with a full kitchen, ocean-view living/dining room with a built-in table and porthole windows; and another one-bedroom apartment “nest” with ocean view and stained glass above an indoor/outdoor cabana. There’s also a three-car garage with additional parking pad.

      Along with 122 feet of beachfront, exterior amenities include a covered deck, a brick patio, a lawn, an outdoor shower, surfboard and other storage areas, a staircase to the beach, and multiple vantage points from which to enjoy glorious sunset views. More