Trulia Luxe Living

In Hollywood, the ever-changing personal lives of celebs is one of the biggest drivers in the real estate market. Marriages, babies and divorces keep the for-sale signs popping up around town. The latest change comes in the form of a divorce between Emmy-winning actress Patricia Arquette and her ex-husband, Thomas Jane.

First reported by The Real Estalker, Arquette and Jane sold their Hancock Park home for $2,775,000 on January 4, 2012. Coming in at 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms and 6,082 square feet, the dramatic Renaissance Revival estate was originally listed for $3,399,000. While they didn’t get full asking, they came out ahead. While still in the midst of marital bliss, the former couple purchased the home on January 10, 2003 for $2,250,000.

Called “Villa Catalunya,” the home features a dramatic entryway adorned with tiles, hand-painted ceilings, an enormous cooks kitchen with inlaid limestone floors and updated features throughout. The gated estate also has a pool and a motor court.

Happy Fat Tuesday, luxury real estate watchers! For those not in-the-know, Fat Tuesday is traditionally the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of Lent, which begins tomorrow on Ash Wednesday. In honor of the day you’re supposed to be living large before Lent, we wanted to celebrate Mardi Gras by bringing you the grandest home in all of New Orleans.

Just blocks away from the infamous Mardi Gras parties and the debauchery of Bourbon Street, this estate has been dubbed “the finest home in New Orleans.” With a listing price of $12,500,000, this one-of-a-kind mansion is also the MOST expensive home for sale in all of New Orleans. Located at 1413 3rd Street in New Orleans’ Garden District, the estate showcases a spectacular display of italianate neoclassical architecture.

Historically known as the Robinson House, the home was built between 1859-1865 was specifically intended to be the finest in the city, a claim that still holds true today. The grand facade, with its double galleries and elaborate ironwork is matched by an exquisite interior with unsurpassed scale and detail.

This fine home boasts 9 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, 12,072 square feet, an elevator, guest house and magnificent grounds.

It’s a new love nest for one of Hollywood’s longest-standing couples, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick! In the very last week of 2011, Kevin and Kyra quietly closed on a stunning new home in Los Angeles’ Los Feliz neighborhood, paying $2,500,000 for the 2-bedroom, 3-bathroom, 2,760 square-foot architecturally inspired home.

Kevin and Kyra’s new home is warm blend of wood and steel, with imaginative landscaping. The home’s highlights include a chef’s kitchen, soaring ceilings and sun-filled living rooms. The master suite comes complete with his and hers closets and bathrooms. The lower level features a guest suite and separate office or gym. The backyard features a stunning pool/spa and fountains, creating an inviting vibe inside and out – a must-have for Los Angeles living.

Still lingering on the market, Christina Aguilera has just released new photos of her for-sale Beverly Hills mansion – but she doesn’t budge on the price. The updated photos show a glammed-out Hollywood hideaway with distinct Hollywood touches – a beauty salon, lush movie theater, recording studio in the guesthouse, a waterslide with grotto spa, and more.

Since purchasing the pricey pad from none other than the Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne and wife Sharon, Christina Aguilera has been caught in the grips of the real estate downturn. After more than a year on the market, there is still no qualified buyer willing to pony up $13,5000,000 for the estate. Back in late 2010, Christina and her soon-to-be-ex husband Jordan Bratman put the home up for sale right as they were heading into their divorce proceedings. At the time, Christina had met a new man friend, and reports around town say that for a time, it was a full house. According to sources, Christina’s brand new boy toy moved in with the chanteuse and her son Max…and her ex-husband. We’d have to assume Bratman took up residence in the guesthouse to avoid the awkwardness. But, with 10,000 square feet, the home is spacious enough to make the strange living arrangements slightly less…strange.

If you’re interested in investing $13,500,000 into a home with such an incredible Hollywood backstory, what would you get? For starters, the home is gated and extremely private. A grand foyer and sweeping staircase lead up to a beautiful master suite with a fireplace, lounge, and his and her baths and walk-in closets. A fanciful children’s room inspires joy and likely brought much of it to Aguilera’s tyke, Max.

There is extraordinary volume throughout, with gorgeous moldings and high ceilings. Exquisite lighting adds ambiance and distinction. This magnificent home also includes a gym, game room, gift-wrapping area and a gorgeous and lush movie room.  The fantastic pool comes complete with water slide and grotto spa. A BBQ area and incredible custom pagoda make the backyard ideal for fun and entertaining.

We’ll be watching to see if Aguilera’s attempt at stepping up her game to sell the home can reel in a buyer. Stay tuned, celeb real estate watchers…

Less than a month after former ‘Real Housewives of New York‘ cast member Kelly Bensimon listed her East Hampton mansion for $12 million, she’s already price-chopped the property by a third. The new asking price for the two-story, 5,800 square-foot, five-bedroom home is $8 million.

Bensimon’s up-for-grabs Hamptons spread is an amazing property, located south-of-the-highway on prestigious Further Lane, most known for its celebrity residents and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, Maidstone Country Club and East Hampton Village. According to the listing, the traditional-style home is “the perfect blend of chic city design mixed with Hamptons comfort and charm.”

The custom interior boasts 5,800 square feet of entertaining space, featuring a sun-filled formal living room with fireplace and French doors, a luxurious master suite with fireplace and private terrace leading to a bonus office or guest space, and a sleek stainless steel kitchen, which opens up to a spacious family room with fireplace and dining area. Additional amenities include vaulted ceilings showcasing rustic wood beams, powder room, den, extensive decking, and an oversized versatile bonus room with potential for additional guest space. Outdoors, the picturesque 1.2 acre grounds offers magazine worthy landscaping, a heated gunite pool and a charming pond.