Luxe Living

At 5:12 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18 1906, one of the most devastating natural disasters in the history of the United States took place as the San Andreas fault spasm-ed and generated a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that eventually destroyed 80% of San Francisco.

But the proud city rebuilt itself.

And one of the homes that rose from the ashes of the Great San Francisco Earthquake was a grand home on Broadway Street in the exclusive Pacific Heights neighborhood, overlooking San Francisco Bay.

Now that home, on the 107th anniversary of the earthquake, has become the most expensive home ever purchased in the history of the City By the Bay, clocking in at a cool $35 million, on a block now known as billionaire’s row.

The four-story home features six bedrooms, five bathrooms and two half bathrooms, all within the massive, 11,000 square foot mansion. “Starchitect” Fredrick H. Meyer designed and built the magnificent home in 1922.

It seems fitting that this significant home would be purchased by Trevor and Alexis Traina, with Trevor having been born and raised as part of San Francisco society. Since then, his work as a technology entrepreneur undoubtedly will help with upkeep on the fabulous home.

Whether you are entertaining guests in the elegant dining room overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, selecting a fine wine in the 3,000 bottle wine cellar, soaking in the sun on one of several balconies, or hopping into the pool for a quick dip, you can’t find a more luxe experience in San Francisco, especially on a day that honors the spirit of its residents.

Hitmaker and former ‘American Idol’ judge Kara DioGuardi has just sold her stunning Studio City, CA, home for $6.3 million. DioGuardi first listed the home in September 2011 for $10 million, but the price was way too high.

The 7,600-square-foot home with 5 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms was once listed as a $45,000 rental before officially hitting the market. With no takers, the home came off the market, then was relisted, and alas, finally sold for almost $4 million under asking. But don’t cry for Kara and her hubby, because it wasn’t a total wash. The duo purchased the home in 2007 for $3.5 million, spent three years renovating and decorating. So despite not getting the much-higher original asking price, they did come out ahead.

The property has a luxurious master suite, gourmet kitchen, 20-foot-high river rock fireplace, a solarium, infinity pool, hot tub with jets, art studio, and sauna. The large yard has endless rolling hills and trees, fountains, ponds, terraces, and decks. Unlike lots of Hollywood’s most tucked-away homes, this property is within walking distance to some of LA’s finest restaurants and shops and minutes away from the freeway. When she first listed the home in 2011, DioGuardi told WSJ that she’s selling “because she wants to spend more time on the East Coast with family and has another home in the Hollywood Hills.”

She recently appeared on Broadway as Roxie Hart in the revival of “Chicago.”

Tech mogul David Sacks has just paid $20 million for 2845 Broadway Street in San Francisco, making it the one of the most expensive homes ever sold in San Francisco. Sacks and his wife Jacqueline are the proud new owners of the partially-completed home on ‘Billionaire’s Row.’ The estate was previously owned by Peter Sperling, who made his fortune and earned his right to live on the prestigious block by helping build the The University of Phoenix online education empire.

Sacks and his family will fit right into the neighborhood: earlier this year, he sold his company, Yammer, to Microsoft for $1.2 billion. Prior to Yammer, Sacks was COO at PayPal and founder of Geni.com, a family tree building and networking site. Just one month after selling Yammer, Sacks predicted “the end of Silicon Valley as we know it.” Perhaps this hunch is what convinced him to settle his young family into the historic Pacific Heights neighborhood, a part of town also enjoyed by nearby residents like the Getty family, Larry Ellison and Marc Pincus.

Originally listed unfinished for the astronomical price of $65 million, the Sacks’ new home came on and off the market with drastic price chops for the greater part of six years. According to Socketsite, 2845 Broadway was part of a two-parcel site, which also included 2940 Pacific, that was purchased by the Sperlings for $32 million in 2002. The cost of construction for the 17,500 square foot home and 6,000 square foot guest house exceeded $20 million, and the “buzz among local brokers” is that it will cost upwards of $10 million to finish the home. Sacks better dig deep into the Microsoft money to make it happen.

Update:

We had previouly heard buzz among local “in-the-know” brokers that the purchase price would be $34.5 million. This is not the case and our source was incorrect. Public records now show the full purchase price of the home was $20M.

Jonathan Ive has had a busy past couple months to say the least! In the wake of the most anticipated tech launches of the year, the senior vice president of industrial design at Apple has reportedly been juggling designing a newer and sleeker iPhone 5, all while closing on a new $17 million San Francisco estate, reports The Wall Street Journal. Given last week’s iPhone 5 release, Ive is surely proud to show off his new project, as well as his fabulous new digs.

For the past year, it has been rumored that Ive was looking to take his family and head back to his native Britain, however it looks as if this extravagant 7,274-square-foot dream home on San Francisco’s “Gold Coast” may have been reason enough to stick around.

Located in the sought-after Pacific Heights neighborhood, the estate was originally listed for $25 million as it sits in the city’s most exclusive “Gold Coast” blocks. Built in 1927 and designed by the famous architectural firm Willis Polk & Co. – most known for designing The Palace of Fine Arts, one of San Francisco’s most famous monumental structures– the 6-bedroom, 8.5 bathroom estate offers an elegant, Bay Area escape inside and out.

The five-level floor plan includes a slate roof and top-level deck with spa and stunning views of the entire city that would take your breath away. The main and lower levels feature large formal rooms, a gourmet kitchen, a bottom-level apartment and a fabulous moss-covered brick garden courtyard. Period-authentic architectural designs are seen throughout the entire space, with antique door fixtures, plaster moldings, windows with stone and oak flooring lining the walk ways to create an authentic ambiance.

If the views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island and Russian Hill aren’t enough, an elevator, polished-copper chandelier, library, various wood-burning fireplaces, fitness room and bottom-level apartment should give you an idea of the San Francisco luxury Mr. Ive will come home to.

It’d be no surprise if this stunning home will keep Ive continuing to innovate and design in the Bay Area – at least until the release of iPhone 10.

Images and details via Sotheby’s.

Amid swirling rumors that Justin Timberlake is set to marry his lady love Jessica Biel any day now, the pop star is reportedly making another very adult move – he’s secretly selling his NYC penthouse!

According to the Real Estalker, JT first purchased Penthouse A in the Soho Mews building at 311 West Broadway in 2010 for $6.56M and is now selling for $7.65M.

Justin Timberlake‘s penthouse features 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, a gas burning fireplace, and a large, private, set-back wrap terrace. A dramatic glass curtain wall and 10’2 high ceiling offer unparalleled light and stunning views of Soho and the Empire State Building. A grand gallery entrance opens to a  living room, perfectly designed to showcase a private art collection.

The kitchen boasts cabinetry of striated elm and smoked glass, Jet Mist granite, Sub-Zero refrigerator and wine storage, Miele ovens and dishwasher, a designer cooktop and fully-vented hood. The five-fixture master bath is appointed with Statuary marble, radiant heat floor, an oval freestanding tub, frameless glass-enclosed shower, Lefroy Brooks fixtures and a Valcucine vanity.

The second and third bedrooms also feature en-suite bathrooms with Valcucine vanities, Jet Mist granite and designer fixtures.

No word on why JT is bringing sexy back to the real estate market by selling this bachelor pad of a place, but we have a hunch it has to do with his impending nuptials.

Images via StreetEasy.

Update: NY Daily News is claiming this report is false. See their take here. Like all celebrity gossip, sometimes it’s hard to separate fact from fiction. We regret the error.

While Zynga’s stock price continues to trade lower and lower, CEO Mark Pincus is trading up his lifestyle. According to sources, Mark Pincus and his wife Alison, co-founder of the delightfully addictive home decor flash sale site One Kings Lane, have just picked up a posh new San Francisco pad. Originally priced at $16.5M, the Pincus family paid $16M for the home in the posh SF neighborhood of Pacific Heights.

Pacific Heights, or “Pac Heights,” according to locals, is the must-live-in neighborhood for the billionaire set. The Pincus’ new neighbors include Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, the Getty family, University of Phoenix owner Peter Sperling, and dozens of other monied folks.

The Pincus family has been very active on the San Francisco real estate scene as of late. In late December 2011, they sold an understated San Francisco home in the Cole Valley neighborhood for $1.97M. Also now sold is their stunning, never-lived-in Presido Heights home for $8.2M.

What could possibly top their former properties? Let’s dig into the details of the new Pincus family playground: built in 1907, and never before been on the market, this Pacific Heights view mansion is a classic piece of San Francisco architecture that has remained in the same family since it was built. Set back from Pacific Avenue for the utmost in privacy, the grand residence is perched on the south side of the 2800 block of ‘Outer Broadway,’ one of only three blocks known as the ‘Gold Coast’ of San Francisco – where the most prestigious homes in all of San Francisco sit and elicit gawks from tourists and locals alike.

The residence was originally owned by Edwin W. Newhall and the architect for the home, Albert Farr, was renowned in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Today, the historic residence stands as it was – a classic example of Dutch Colonial Revival architecture with shingled facade, period lighting, and myriad diamond divided light windows, plus picture windows that present magnificent Golden Gate Bridge and Bay views. Spanning four levels plus a spacious attic, the home reflects the design of the early 1900s, with grand formal rooms on the main level, a continuous succession of family bedrooms and sitting rooms on the second and third floor, plus original staff quarters and the main kitchen on the basement level. With over 15 main rooms and approximately 11,500 square feet, the home presents a remarkable opportunity to reimagine the interior design for a variety of 21^st century lifestyle needs – something Alison Pincus and her One Kings Lane team will likely have no problem perfecting.

Steve Gothelf of Pacific Union International represented the sellers.

Much to the chagrin of ex-wife and former star of the “Real Housewife of Beverly Hills” Camille Grammer, Kelsey Grammer and fourth wife Kayte have bought a new palatial pad nearby in the 90210. After years of East Coast living in New York City, Kelsey and Kayte are settling into a new Beverly Hills abode while they wait for the imminent arrival of their twins.

Kelsey and Kayte purchased the restored Spanish Colonial Revival on April 25 for $6,500,000, as first reported by The Real Estalker. The home has 6 bedrooms, 7.5 bathrooms and clocks in at 6,093 square feet. The home has a soaring, two-story entry that leads to a galleria with a step-down living room. The enchanting pool and gardens are the focal point of the lower and upper gallerias that boast arched windows and wood-burning fireplaces. The entry level includes a formal dining room, guest bath, play or media room, intimate den, butler’s pantry with full-size, refrigerated wine storage and a large utility room with bath (or possible maid’s room).

The residence also features a detached 3-car garage, gated motor court and separate guest house.

Camille and Kelsey Grammer famously filed for divorce in 2010, after it became known that Kelsey had met a new love while starring on Broadway in New York and wanted out of his 13-year marriage to Camille. After two years and a dragged-out battle over custody and finances (no prenup, people!), they finalized their divorce in mid-February 2011. He wed fourth (and current) wife Kayte two weeks later. The babies-on-board announcement came a few months later.

Camille currently lives in a nearly 5-acre spread in Malibu, and owns homes across the country, including one in Beaver Creek, Colorado that is currently on the market.

Sopranos’ star Michael Imperioli and wife Victoria have just sold their TriBeCa townhouse, according to the New York Post. An unknown buyer is under contract to purchase the “mixed-use” 4,720-square-foot building at 138 West Broadway. The residential and retail building’s last asking price was $5.98 million, down from its original asking price of $7.5 million in 2010.

Built in 1872, the four-story townhouse has a retail unit on the ground floor and used to house the well-known home textiles store Stella. The top three floors are built out as a private home with an expansive roof terrace that’s been featured in the March 2003 issue of Architectural Digest. The Renaissance-style, elaborately-decorated 2,700-square-foot home includes four bedrooms and three bathrooms.

Brooke Shields and husband Chris Henchy have officially sold their spacious corner unit co-op at 458 Broadway for $2,950,000, according to our pals over at Curbed NY. Originally listed for $3,200,000, the new owners are getting the Chinatown property at a slight discount. Shields and Henchy (and kids) have moved over to their recently-renovated home on West 10th Street. Their new digs started out as a four-unit apartment building when purchased in 2008, but Shields and family later revealed plans to begin lengthy renovations to turn the building into a single-family mansion. Now that the renovations are done, it’s time to move in and clear out other New York City real estate inventory that’s no longer needed.

The former Shields/Henchy co-op is an elegant and sophisticated 3-bedroom, 2 bathroom corner loft with 27-foot windows that provide stunning light throughout. The living/dining room combo has grand proportions with 11+ ceilings and a 1,500 bottle wine storage cellar. The open chef’s kitchen features custom wood cabinets, a professional 6-burner Viking stove, Subzero fridge and butcher-block island outfitted with two Subzero fridge drawers. The huge master suite has a large custom walk-in closet area and a luxurious classic-style master bath with a claw-foot tub, large glassed shower and custom double vanity. Lots of storage, beautiful original details and cabinetry throughout. The unit also comes with private basement storage, a keyed elevator and separate freight elevator.

Oscar-winning actress Helen Hunt is selling her New York City apartment for $2,750,000, according to the Wall Street Journal. Hunt has her primary residence in the 90049 area code of Los Angeles, but like most Hollywood folks, Hunt is semi-bicoastal for projects and events and has a pied-a-terre to lay her head when she’s on the East Coast. Hunt purchased this part-time home in 2006 for $2,400,000 and is looking to gain a nice little profit of $300,000 on its eventual sale.

Hunt’s 2,000 square-foot pad was originally a six-room layout that was reconfigured into a full 3 bedroom, 3 bath home with stunning eat-in-kitchen. You enter this apartment from a semi-private elevator landing into an elegant central foyer which seamlessly integrates large scale entertaining and living spaces. Renovations and upgrades include a large kitchen with professional-grade appliances, hideaway office areas, abundant built-in storage, restored herringbone floors, crown moldings, and decorative fireplaces, with antique lighting throughout. The apartment is bathed in sunlight all day from three exposure points and enjoys excellent cross-ventilation. This architecturally distinctive prewar cooperative was built in 1915 and has 35 units, a live-in superintendent, porter staff, and 24 hour doorman. It is located on the quietest end of 86th Street between West End Avenue and Riverside Drive, with very little commercial traffic, steps from beautiful Riverside Park, and in close proximity to mass transportation and Broadway’s commercial conveniences.