Luxe Living

First comes love, then come marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage…and “for sale” signs in the front yard. After a year that included a wedding and welcoming a new baby girl, Drew Barrymore has just listed her stunning yet understated Monetecito, CA estate for $7.5 million. Just last summer, Barrymore hosted a modest 190-person backyard wedding here to her art consultant husband Will Kopelman. In early June 2010, before she met Kopelman, and likely before she was marriage-minded, Barrymore purchased the home for $5,705,000.

The estate is a gorgeous 1937 traditional home on approximately two acres of secluded, lush grounds. The classic two-story estate features 6 bedrooms, 7.5 bathrooms, a separate guest apartment and ample parking. A walking path winds through the abundant gardens, citrus and avocado trees and expansive lawn to create a one-of-a-kind setting.

Mindy Kaling, the hilarious actress who played Kelly Kapoor on the NBC sitcom, The Office and created and currently stars in the Fox sitcom The Mindy Project, has just purchased a fixer-upper estate in the Hollywood Hills that needs some serious TLC.

Nestled into the in the highly sought after enclave “the Bird Streets,” Kaling’s new home has stunning, unobstructed head-on city and ocean views – a must-have for a high-priced Los Angeles property. Not yet ready for it’s close-up, the home isn’t much to ogle in the listing photos, but according to the listing, the property is an ‘exceptional opportunity to develop or renovate and create your dream home with significant upside potential.’ Purchased on May 10, 2013 for $1,695,000, the home as it stands has 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms and 1,599 square feet.

Nestled amongst significantly higher-valued estates and hundreds of super star neighbors, Kaling’s new home is the perfect blank canvas for the actress to put her monetary success to work and build something incredible.

Kaling won’t be living in a construction zone while she updates this home – she owns another home just down the street in the Hollywood Hills that she paid $1,575,000 for in 2007.

Images via the MLS.

You might not know his name, but if you’re a music fan you most likely have purchased something from him. Irving Azoff is one of the most influential people in the music business, with a recent article in Billboard naming him as THE #1 most powerful.

Azoff got his start managing musicians and his former clients list looks like a who’s who of the music world, with names such as:  Christina Aguilera, Journey, Jewel, the Eagles, Bush, REO Speedwagon, Seal, Van Halen, Neil Diamond, New Kids on the Block, Steely Dan and New Edition.

After managing all these luminaries, Azoff also served as CEO of Ticketmaster Entertainment and Executive Chairman of Live Nation Entertainment. So, even if you weren’t buying music from any of these artists you have likely been to a concert that required buying tickets through one of these other companies.

One can assume that Mr. Azoff has been well compensated for his work over the years and this $16m mansion proves it. The home is located in the increasingly swanky Holmby Hills area, on a massive 1.5 manicured acres. The sleek, modern styled villa is situated behind a gate and designed for privacy. It features 5 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms with high ceilings and large windows throughout.

The chef’s kitchen is stunning and includes all of the high-end appliances that you would expect. After dinner, retire to the master wing that features a large master bedroom, his and her baths and a study that overlooks the grounds.

The home is rich with amenities including formal dining and breakfast rooms, library, family room with bar, covered outdoor patio, full-sized gym, pool, spa, pool house and guest house.

Images via the MLS.

Hold the presses! This may be one of the biggest celebrity real estate purchases this year. According to the Palm Beach Daily News, Howard Stern has snapped up an expensive piece of South Florida real estate this week in a private sale. Reportedly, the infamous shock jock isn’t just making headlines for stirring up controversy on the airways, he’s also shocking America by paying an alleged $52 million for the beachfront property in Palm Beach, FL. The estate was sold to Stern by American businessman Martin Trust and his wife, Diana.

Custom built in 1992 on 3.25 waterfront acres on the North End of Palm Beach, the property boasts an impressive 39,094 square feet of living space, including a five-bedroom, 11-bathroom, 18,673-square -oot main house. The estate also features a swimming pool and spa, and well-manicured landscaping.

Stern and his wife, Beth Ostrosky Stern, currently calls New York City home, where he produces and hosts The Howard Stern Show for Sirus Radio. Now, the couple will now be neighbors with fellow radio personality, Rush Limbaugh, and conservative political commentator, Ann Coulter.

Playboy founder Hugh Hefner has just dropped almost $5 million on an incredible mansion for his 27-year-old wife Crystal Harris. The 87-year-old Hefner is setting his young bride up for life, should he go to party in the big grotto in the sky in the near future.

The home in the Hollywood Hills closed on April 18, 2013 for $4,995,000. Sleek and gorgeous, the home has 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms and is 5,917 square feet. While it’s no sprawling Playboy Mansion, Harris’ future home is a gated architectural home on an exclusive cul-de-sac. Inside, all the finest materials were used to craft a high tech smart home with an open, contemporary feel.

Outside, a white glass infinity pool and spa and stone walls create a serene escape in the middle of the Hollywood Hills.

According to TMZ, the couple is happily living at the Playboy Mansion, and they have no plans to move.  In fact, Hef and Harris are actually renters! Hugh doesn’t personally own the Playboy Mansion … it’s owned by Playboy Enterprises.

Now, the duo have an escape from the constant madness that is the day-to-day at the Playboy Mansion and Harris has a place to call home forever.

Images via the MLS.

Jennifer Love Hewitt is looking to spend her summer partying in her modern new abode in Pacific Palisades. First revealed by the incomparable Real Estalker and property records show that Miss Hewitt paid $3,250,000 on April 25, 2013. Prior to buying this stunning architectural gem in April, J Love sold a home in Toluca Lake that was the primary residence of her recently deceased mother. Jennifer lived just down the street and likely needed a change of scenery after her mom passed away.

She’s finding it in her hip and sexy retreat in Pacific Palisades, which was redone in 2007 and designed by well-regarded  architect Melinda Gray.

Outside, the home has a private, sparkling spa-style pool surrounded by bamboo, as well as a fire pit, fireplace, flat screen, lounging area and more.

Inside, Hewitt’s new home has hardwood floors and an open floor plan that gives it that soothing organic and urban feel. The house has 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms spread out over 2,872 square feet.

Images via the MLS.

She may be “Maid in Manhattan,” but Jennifer Lopez loves the Hamptons enough to spend $10 million on a chic 3-acre spread in Water Mill, NY.

First reported by the New York Post, Lopez, along with her young boyfriend Caspar Smart and her twins Max and Emme, were seen multiple times touring the property before Lopez officially dropped $10 million for the 8-bedroom, 7.5 bathroom, 8,500 square foot custom home.

Lopez’s new purchase is the perfect summer retreat with every amenity she and her family need including a sparkling pool, pool house, theater, sauna, steam room and covered porches. The light, bright Hamptons beach house is perfectly private and situated on a secluded cul-de-sac. The property features the gorgeous main home, as well as room for J-Lo to build a guest house and tennis court, if she’s so inclined.

This news comes on the heels of yesterday’s scoop that ex-husband Marc Anthony just spent $2.5 million on a new home in Encino, CA. Coast-to-coast, the former duo is buying up some high-priced real estate!

Kate Walsh, the gorgeous, fiery redheaded actress best known for playing Dr. Addison Montgomery on Grey’s Anatomy and the spinoff Private Practice, has relisted her glamorous and very “Private” Los Feliz mansion for $4,750,000. She originally tried to sell the home for $3,995,000 in October 2011, but never found a buyer to take the home off her hands for almost a million less than the $4,750,000 she paid for it in June 2007. Lucky her, since she now has it back on market for exactly what she paid for the estate, which means she’s much less likely to take a massive loss on the stunning Spanish-style Los Feliz property.

Walsh’s residence features a large kitchen and family room that opens through French doors to beautiful garden with a spa, swimming pool and outdoor entertaining spaces. The main house is almost 6,000 square feet and has 4 bedrooms upstairs, each with en suite baths. In true Hollywood fashion, one bedroom is now a to-die-for walk-in closet. The gracious master suite has a fireplace, as does the den and the grand scale living room. The estate offers complete privacy and a circular drive way. A large 3-room guesthouse consists of 2 offices, a Pilates studio/gym and an updated bath.

Marc Anthony is singing the sweet song of homeownership, once again. The actor, award-winning singer/songwriter, and famous ex -husband of Jennifer Lopez has just plunked down about $2.5 million dollars for a new home in Encino, CA. He formerly shared a massive Hidden Hills, CA home with his ex wife J-Lo and their twins, Max and Emme. When the marriage to Lopez went belly up, Anthony decamped to a $23k-a-month rental in West Hollywood.

Now, he’s making the move to the decidedly more family-friendly city of Encino.

His new home is a gated Italian Villa in Amestoy Estates with a courtyard entry featuring a dramatic fountain. A 2-story foyer has limestone floors a curved staircase. The home has a formal living room with fireplace and an adjacent family rooms has hardwood floors, coffered ceilings, stone fireplace, entertainment unit, surround sound, wet bar. A gourmet kitchen boasts center island and every top-of-the-line appliance.

Anthony’s new master suite has a marble fireplace, French doors and a balcony. A glamorous master bathrooms features an oversized marble steam shower and a fully-customized walk-in closet. There’s a bonus room/gym on separate 3rd level. Outside, the grounds include meandering pathways, beautiful landscaping, vine covered arbors, pool & spa, towering palm trees, 2 BBQs, a loggia, fountain, and pool house with a full kitchen and 2 bathrooms.

Since the divorce, Lopez has been dating younger man, dancer Casper Smart. Anthony is taking a cue from his ex-wife in the dating department – he’s now dating Topshop heiress Chloe Green, who is 23 years his junior.

36 days after listing his palatial Encino mansion for $5,495,000, ‘King of Queens’ actor Kevin James has sold the spread for $55,000 more than the asking price. He must of priced it just right, because the home flew off the market at record speed. The incredible 11,291 square-foot home on Bertella Drive in Encino, CA has 5 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms. Property records show that James purchased the home on August 14, 2003 for $3,200,000. Looks like he made a tidy $2 million+ profit on the sale!