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      Extreme Guitarist Nuno Bettencourt Strums out of Viewtastic Hollywood Hills Retreat

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      Nuno Bettencourt needs more than words! In this particular scenario, the veteran Portuguese-American musician is seeking a fairly substantial chunk of change for his longtime residence that just popped up for sale atop the Beachwood Canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles.

      The 57-year-old lead guitarist of the iconic Boston rock band Extreme—who also regularly tours with pop superstar Rihanna—is asking just under $4 million for the contemporary architectural-style spread, or around $1.8 million more than he paid for the place a little over a decade ago, back in spring 2013.

      Built back in the early 1990s, but since updated, the home features five bedrooms and six baths filtered across a little more than 5,500 square feet of open-plan living space boasting dark hardwood floors, high vaulted ceilings, skylights and an elevator, plus stellar views of the Downtown L.A. skyline, Griffith Observatory, Hollywood Sign, Lake Hollywood and Pacific Ocean beyond.

      Some of the most spectacular scenery in Los Angeles is available from almost every vantage point.

      Cris Nolasco/Nolasco Studios

      Nestled on roughly a third of an acre of land, the multi-story gray stucco structure is fronted by a trio of glassy side-by-side garage bays, with the front door opening into a soaring living room flaunting an attractive wood-encased fireplace, seated wet bar and sliding glass doors spilling outside.

      Other main-level highlights include an office space, a cozy den and formal dining room, along with a gourmet kitchen outfitted with an eat-in island, high-end stainless appliances and an accompanying breakfast nook; and upstairs, a spacious master retreat is decked out with a sitting area, private balcony, walk-in closet and dressing area, as well as a spa-inspired bath equipped with a soaking tub, separate shower and sauna.

      The studio where Extreme recorded its latest almost Six has been converted into a guesthouse.

      Cris Nolasco/Nolasco Studios

      The outdoor setting definitely steals the proverbial rock show, complete with an upper-deck oasis hosting a pool and spa nestled alongside a sundeck and an open-air cabana. There’s also a guesthouse that was previously used as a recording studio.

      Extreme achieved its greatest success with the 1990 album Pornograffitti, which peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 and went on to earn a double-platinum certification. The album featured the hit singles Hole Hearted and More than Words, the latter of which remains one of the most popular rock songs of all time with more than a half-billion streams and upwards of 633 million YouTube views.

      The group recently released its first studio album since 2008; Six was recorded at Bettencourt’s home studio and landed at No. 10 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart, with 12,500 copies sold during the first week.

      The listing is held by Cindy Lorimer and Peter Lorimer of PLG Estates.

      Click here for more photos of Nuno Bettencourt’s Hollywood Hills house.

      Cris Nolasco/Nolasco Studios More

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      Jennifer Aniston Lived at This L.A. Compound While Filming ‘Friends.’ Now It Can Be Yours for $2.5 Million.

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      A Los Angeles compound where Jennifer Aniston lived while shooting the Emmy Award-winning sitcom Friends is on the market, and honestly, we couldn’t be any more excited. 

      Originally built in 1936, the storied Laurel Canyon estate has played host to a fair share of prominent Hollywood figures over the years. Most notably, the hilltop spread was the long-time residence of actor-producer Beach Dickerson and later, author and celebrity matchmaker—to put it politely!—Scotty Bowers. Following Bowers’s passing in 2019, husband-and-wife houseflippers Corbin Bernsen and Amanda Pays took ownership and put the place through a massive renovation. Interestingly enough, Beach willed the Kew Drive dwelling to Bernsen, who was also his godson. 

      The quirky, celeb-pedigreed compound perched atop Laurel Canyon was just listed for $2.59 million.

      Sergii Dolgyi

      Dubbed “The Crown Jewel,” the city-view compound features a total of four bedrooms and four bathrooms. Occupying less than 6,000 square feet, the lot comprises multiple structures—a main house, an A-Frame guest cottage, a pool house, and a bungalow nestled into the hillside below the pool. The latter is nicknamed “El Nido de Nestor” after its former tenant, Oscar-winning Spanish cinematographer Nestor Almendros.  

      “What sets this property apart is its unassuming charm; it’s been dubbed the Crown Jewel of Laurel Canyon, yet it maintains the laid-back, funky vibe that draws buyers to this neighborhood,” says Compass agent Wendy Moore in a press statement. “Truly, it’s a one-of-a-kind gem.” 

      The circa-1930s home has a long ownership history and counts Friends star Jennifer Aniston as a former resident.

      Sergii Dolgyi

      Inside, the two-bed main pad has a lot going on design-wise and is almost as quirky as the Friends apartment itself. The space sports walls of glass in the living/dining room and black-and-white checkerboard flooring in the simply updated kitchen. Outside the living/dining room, brick and concrete terracing surround the swimming pool and spa.

      The city-view compound includes an A-frame guest house with a loft-style bedroom.

      Sergii Dolgyi

      From the photos, the pool house looks as if it doubles as a gym, while the one-bed “El Nido de Nestor”bungalow is currently set up as an office or a studio. Elsewhere, the rustic wood-clad A-frame guest cottage is decked out with its own kitchenette and a lofted bedroom.  

      According to property records, the abode last sold in 2020 for $2 million. Now, it’ll cost you just shy of $2.6 million to acquire The Crown Jewel. 

      Click here to see more photos of Jennifer Aniston’s former home. 

      Sergii Dolgyi More

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      in Luxury

      In a Leafy L.A. Suburb, This Revamped Midcentury Modern Is Primed for the Spotlight

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      Just a short commute north of Los Angeles lies the peaceful and quietly affluent town of La Cañada Flintridge, better known to locals as just La Cañada. Bordered by the Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains, the once semi-quaint town has become a refuge for upscale families seeking serenity, great schools and easy access to numerous hiking trails.

      Just steps from the forest, this stunningly restored midcentury modern is sure to make any number of moneyed buyers swoon. Originally built in 1958 and designed by architecture firm Burge-Roach, the single-story residence was recently overhauled by ASOM HOME, a design team led by Marieke Ochtman and Annie Segal, the latter the daughter of legendary L.A. tastemaker Fred Segal. With the project now officially wrapped, the house is on the market — asking just a smidge under $4 million.

      Ochtman and Segal focused on creating cohesive living spaces that blend original features with updated finishes. The five-bedroom, four-bath structure remains headlined by the strikingly glass-walled living room, which flaunts its original wood-beamed ceilings. Second up to bat is the essentially all-new kitchen, which services a great room anchored by an original circular fireplace.

      There’s also a formal dining room with a convenient wet bar, a primary bedroom suite with unobstructed views of the swimming pool, and numerous sliding doors opening to the tree-shaded yard, which spans just under half an acre. 

      Out back, the manicured grounds include a large, trellis-covered patio with a fire-pit and wooden decks ideal for outdoor entertaining. Near the far rear of the lot, the sparkling swimming pool is privately watched over and shaded by mature trees.

      Though it remains a low-key bedroom community seemingly a world apart from the hustle and glitzy bustle of Hollywood, celebrities have found their way to La Cañada in recent years. Current area residents include Donald Glover, Mario Lopez, actor Topher Grace and “Black-ish” star Yara Shahidi.

      Rob Kallick and Mary Regal of Compass hold the listing.

      Click here for more photos of this revamped midcentury modern in La Cañada. More

    • 138 Shares169 Views

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      Philanthropist Ann Lurie Seeks $12.8 Million for Magical Santa Barbara Estate

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      Ann Lurie has hoisted her longtime midcentury residence in Santa Barbara’s posh seaside Montecito enclave onto the market with a nearly $12.9 million price tag. Records show the prominent philanthropist—widow of the late Chicago entrepreneur Robert H. Lurie, a partner of real estate magnate Sam Zell, as well as part owner of the Chicago White Sox and Bulls sports teams—acquired the sprawling estate for $8.3 million a little more than 18 years ago, back in summer 2005.

      Originally designed and built in the late 1940s by landscape architect Lockwood de Forest Jr., and subsequently updated and expanded through the years, the property is sited on over 3 acres, amid a walled and gated cul-de-sac lot brimming with mature oak, redwood and fruit trees, and is showcased by a sprawling five-bedroom, five-bath main house adorned throughout with rustic wood accents and expansive walls of glass providing seamless indoor/outdoor environs.

      A vintage fireplace serves as a centerpiece of the windowed media room.

      Highlights include an entry foyer topped by a wood-trimmed skylight, as well as an office sporting a built-in desk and a cozy media room warmed by an eye-catching fireplace. The kitchen is outfitted with a central island, stainless appliances and an accompanying breakfast nook, and elsewhere is a fireside master retreat boasting a bath equipped with a steel-encased soaking tub and sauna.

      Especially standing out are the grassy grounds, which host an elaborate kitchen and barbecue setup resting next to an al fresco dining area, along with a sunken fire-pit, and massive infinity-edge pool and spa flanked by a wood sundeck overlooking the breathtaking scenery. There’s also a separate one-bedroom, one-bath guesthouse with its own living area and kitchen, plus a detached three-car garage.

      A sail-shaped pool overlooks the ocean.

      Lurie inherited her husband’s substantial wealth after his 1990 death from colon cancer at age 48. As president of the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Foundation, she’s since made it her full-time mission to fund various causes, including cancer research and children’s health care. Among her largest gifts to date: a $100 million contribution in 2007 to the Children’s Memorial Hospital to help build a new pediatric research hospital; completed in 2012, it was named the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

      She previously sold a historic 18,000-square-foot home in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood to the Latin School of Chicago for $12 million in 2017—the highest-priced sale in the Chicago area at the time.

      The listing is by the Randy Solakian Estates Group, a team affiliated with the Montecito office of Coldwell Banker Realty.

      Click here for more photos of Ann Lurie’s Santa Barbara house.

      Gavin Palmer More

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      in Luxury

      The Weeknd’s Manager Splashed Out $10 Million on This Stunning L.A. Estate

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      Originally built in 1988, this Los Angeles mansion was once an ultra-dated shrine to late-80s opulence, complete with frilly window treatments, a carpeted staircase and chintz galore. In 2018, the unloved Woodland Hills manor sold for just $1.5 million, according to public records, despite its five bedrooms and six baths in nearly 8,000 square feet of living space.

      The new owners, a local couple in the food truck business, invested heavily in upgrading and expanding the property. Five years later, the house is back and has just sold for $9.8 million to Wassim “Sal” Slaiby, the music executive best known as the longtime co-manager of The Weeknd, whose recent After Hours Til Dawn tour raked in more than $350 million worldwide.

      Perhaps it’s no surprise that a perfectionist like Slaiby was attracted to the newly renovated estate. After all, the place has everything — the enlarged main house now spans some 9,500 square feet and is joined by a 450-square-foot guesthouse and a separate poolside cabana. Spanning more than three-fourths of a full acre, the property is tucked away inside an exclusive guard-gated community and flaunts state-of-the-art Control4 home automation and Lutron lighting systems.

      New enlarged windows flood the foyer with natural light.

      The Luxury Level

      Other brand-new amenities include a basketball court that is “NCAA regulation size,” per the listing, a six-hole putting green, a new sparkling pool with porcelain edges, a glass-walled spa and a soundproof movie theater with 4k surround-sound and a 10-foot screen. The cabana includes a massage room and a convenient full bathroom, and there’s also a full outdoor kitchen catering to the expansive backyard.

      Inside, the decorative fireworks begin with a 10-foot pivot front door, which opens into a foyer with a towering ceiling and abundant natural light, while the kitchen is headlined by massive dual islands, both topped by textured caesarstone quartz. The primary bedroom is ensconced in its own private wing of the house and features a gas fireplace, spa-style bathrooms, two walk-in closets and a private balcony with a fire-pit.

      The 0.79-acre property backs up to a nature preserve, while the resort-style backyard features a poolside cabana and sports court.

      The Luxury Level

      And car enthusiasts will drool over the renovated three-car garage, which is now temperature-controlled and features epoxy floors and glass doors. Per the listing, a black Ferrari 458 Italia could “also be negotiated into the final sales price.” No word on whether the Ferrari actually changed hands, but Slaiby is a big fan of expensive cars, so it seems likely he was interested.

      Though he’s still best known for his association with The Weeknd, Slaiby also manages Doja Cat, Nicki Minaj, French Montana and Bebe Rexha through his SALXCO management firm. And in addition to the new Woodland Hills masterpiece, Slaiby and his former Miss USA wife Rima Fakih also maintain two multimillion-dollar homes in the nearby Encino neighborhood. More

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      in Luxury

      NHL Star Anze Kopitar Seeks Record $37 Million for SoCal Compound Fit for a King

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      Always wanted to live like royalty—specifically, a Slovenia-born hockey player with countless accolades under his puck? Now’s your chance, because the striking Manhattan Beach spread that L.A. Kings veteran Anze Kopitar has called home for the past several years has just popped up for sale, as was first reported by the Daily Breeze.

      The asking price is an eye-watering $37 million—or $27 million more than the two-time Stanley cup champ and his wife Ines doled out for a duo of neighboring homes nine years ago, back in November 2014, before they completely rebuilt every inch of the premises in 2018. Should the place go for anywhere near the hefty list price, it would set a record for the coastal city.

      An ocean-view living room is warmed by a fireplace.

      Kim Pritchard for Vista Sotheby’s International Realty

      Resting on a double lot nestled alongside a pedestrian-only street that leads directly to the beach, the property features a multi-level main house and separate guesthouse—for a total of seven bedrooms and 10 baths sprawled across a little more than 7,600 square feet of living space. Notable amenities include an elevator, office, a screening room, gym and climate-controlled wine display.

      Especially standing out in the five-bedroom, seven-bath main home is a living room displaying a fireplace, ample built-ins, and doors flowing out to a fireside balcony sporting a pair of swinging sofas. Right around the corner is a gourmet kitchen outfitted with an eat-in island, a La Cornue range, wine cooler, two refrigerators and an adjacent dining area that opens to a partially enclosed balcony with a barbecue station.

      The pool and spa can easily be covered to create a courtyard area for entertaining guests.

      Kim Pritchard for Vista Sotheby’s International Realty

      Elsewhere is a posh master retreat boasting a walk-in closet and an ocean-view balcony, along with a luxe bath adorned with dual vanities, a soaking tub and shower; and outdoors, the grounds host a fully equipped Lynx outdoor kitchen with a pizza oven and two barbecues, along with a swimming pool and spa that can be converted into an al fresco entertaining courtyard with the touch of a button.

      Topping it all off is the two-bedroom, two-bath guesthouse, which has its own living area, kitchen and roof deck. There’s also solar panels and Tesla Powerwall-equipped parking space for up to five vehicles.

      The listing is held by June Emerson of Vista Sotheby’s International Realty.

      Click here for more photos of Anze Kopitar’s Manhattan Beach house.

      Kim Pritchard for Vista Sotheby’s International Realty More

    • 138 Shares99 Views

      in Luxury

      Rihanna’s Lavish London Mansion Just Sold for a Record $33.4 Million

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      A London mansion rented by Barbadian superstar Rihanna has just been sold for £27.5 million, or roughly $33.4 million. 

      According to Savills and Aston Chase, who were the appointed agents, the Diamonds singer’s 6,332 square-foot former rental on swanky St. John’s Wood Park was snapped up by a family from overseas for a record-breaking £3,500 (or about $4,250) per square foot. The Fenty Beauty founder lived at the palatial pad for about two and a half years when she was based in the U.K. between 2018 and 2020, reported The London Evening Standard. At the time, the multihyphenate billionaire mogul was leasing the place for a whopping £18,000 (or $21,870) per week.  

      “This sale is indicative of the surge in demand from Chinese buyers for super-prime homes in London,” explains Mark Pollack, co-founding director of Aston Chase, in a press statement. “As a result of an inability to travel during the pandemic many wealthy Chinese and Hong Kong residents are prioritizing a ‘Plan B’ in the eventuality of another unforeseen event leading to the Chinese government restricting movement.” 

      A London home once rented by Rihanna just sold for $33.4 million.

      Aston Chase/Tony Murray Photography

      The white stucco mansion, designed by renowned architect John Shaw Junior and built in 1844 by local builder William Holme Twentyman, first belonged to De Beers diamond tycoon Daniel Francis. The fully refurbished five-story home contains eight bedrooms, multiple reception rooms, a library, and an open-plan kitchen. An impressive 21-foot terrace that overlooks a sprawling rear garden. 

      A notable perk is the dwelling’s private gym, which features a weight room and exercise studio. While it’s not clear whether the new owner intends to expand the abode’s current wellness offerings, the property includes approved plans for an additional health spa with a swimming pool, a sauna, a steam room, and massage facilities. 

      The St. John’s Wood Park property features a fully equipped gym and approved plans for an extensive wellness complex.

      Aston Chase/Tony Murray Photography

      “Savills is delighted to have introduced the buyer and successfully sold this famous house on St John’s Wood Park in one of the biggest deals in St John’s Wood in 2023,” added Stephen Lindsay with Savills. “This is an extremely special house, the only one of royal architect John Shaw’s original villas on St John’s Wood Park to have survived into the 21st century. The substantial price achieved firmly underlines the value and quality of this unique trophy home and the enduring appeal of St John’s Wood with buyers from both the UK and from around the world.”

      Click here to see all the photos of Rihanna’s former London rental.

      Aston Chase/Tony Murray Photography More

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      Jennifer Lopez’s Lavish Bel Air Retreat Sells to the Neighbors for $34 Million

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      A little more than eight months after it first popped up for sale with an impressive $42.5 million ask, a sprawling Bel Air estate owned by multi-hyphenate entertainer Jennifer Lopez has officially traded hands for the heavily slashed yet still pricey sum of $34 million. But that’s still $6 million more than she paid actress Sela Ward for the place back in spring 2016.

      Property records reveal the buyers are Taiwanese businessman Walter Wang, president and CEO of JM Eagle, the world’s largest manufacturer of plastic and PVC pipe, and his wife Shirley, founder and CEO of Plastpro, a top fiberglass door manufacturer. The couple, who regularly fund various philanthropic projects through their family foundation and Los Angeles-based companies, happen to have long owned two Bel Air homes just a few doors away from their big new spread.

      When combined with their additional $2.1 million and $3.9 million estates on the same street, this purchase gives the Wangs over 9 acres of land just minutes from the Bel Air Hotel, plus three homes—for a total of 18 bedrooms, 23 baths and more than 23,000 square feet of living space between them.

      Originally designed by architect Samuel Marx, and built in 1940, the Wang’s recently acquired residence was transformed during Lopez’s tenure into what the listing describes as a “one-of-a-kind multi-structure French Country refuge.”

      A double-height living room is decked out with a fireplace and curving wrought-iron staircase.

      Jeremy Spann

      Tucked away behind a gated driveway, on a nearly 8-acre parcel, the creamy stucco and wood-accented dwelling features nine bedrooms and 13 baths in a little more than 12,800 square feet of living space that opens throughout to expansive terraces. There also are plenty of snazzy amenities—a guest cottage, gym, 100-seat amphitheater, pagoda with fire-pit, putting green, an infinity-edge pool and spa, and a private lake with its own sandy beach, just for starters.

      Other standout features include a soaring wet bar-equipped living room boasting a fireplace and curving wrought-iron staircase, along with a formal dining room, wood-paneled library, and gourmet kitchen outfitted with a stone fireplace and cozy breakfast nook. A spacious family/game room has yet another wet bar, while the lower-level holds a plush movie theater, and an upstairs master bedroom wing comes complete with a fireplace, library/sitting room, and dual dressing rooms and baths.

      The amenity-packed grounds are spotlighted by a striking infinity-edge pool and spa.

      Jeremy Spann

      Lopez and her actor husband Ben Affleck—who sold his Palisades bachelor pad in October 2022 for $28.5 million—had planned to renovate and live in her Bel Air mansion after they were married a little over a year ago, per TMZ. But they went on to reside in a rental, before ultimately doling out $61 million in cash this past May for a massive compound in the Benedict Canyon neighborhood of Beverly Hills.

      Between them, the pair also owns an 87-acre Georgia estate that’s currently on the market for $8.9 million, as well as a New York City penthouse, mansion in the Hamptons and petite cottage in L.A.’s Encino neighborhood.

      The listing was held by Brett Lawyer of Carolwood Estates; Lea Porter of The Beverly Hills Estates repped the buyers.

      Click here for more photos of Jennifer Lopez’s Bel Air house.

      Jeremy Spann More