Luxe Living

If you’ve recently caught NBC’s new Monday night series “The Playboy Club” you might have fallen in love with the lavish, sexy and mischievous ambiance that encompassed Chicago’s hottest nightclub in the 1960’s. The show, which centers on the first ever Playboy Club in the U.S., gives us a peak at the exclusive fun and furry Playboy bunnies that only those lucky “keyholders” could relish in.

However, anyone who’s anyone must know the fun definitely did not start or stop at The Playboy Club. In those days, only a few privileged socialites were invited to the real party, just a hop, skip and a jump away at Hugh Hefner’s home – the original Playboy Mansion. While Hef’s current home in the Holmby Hills area of Los Angeles is known as “The Playboy Mansion,” there was another infamous home of his that came before.

While you’ll have to use your imagination when it comes to what actually went on within the walls of this notorious building, you now have your chance to actually own and live within the memories of the once-famous abode. More than a decade after Mr. Hefner left Chicago for Los Angeles, this 72-room brick building was renovated and converted into luxury condominiums. Flash forward to 2011, a full-floor, 7,874 square foot condo is for sale for $6,700,000.

The 4-bedroom, 5-bath single-family residence comes with lavish rooms of generous proportion with 4 fireplaces throughout, an elevator opening up to the foyer, an attached terrace and exquisite gourmet kitchen. The living room was originally the mansion’s 52 x 27, 20-foot high celiling ballroom and still contains the building’s original paneling.

Now, if only walls could talk! Plush smoking jacket not included.

Last week was pretty eventful for actor, writer, producer, and famous “friend” Matthew Perry. Not only did he celebrate his 42nd birthday, he also simultaneously purchased and listed two amazing L.A. properties.

Matthew swapped his 1,672 square foot West Hollywood condo for a massive 3,101 sq ft, 3 bedroom, 4 bath Hollywood Hills mansion overlooking all of L.A. Forget dwelling over the cancellation his ABC sitcom Mr. Sunshine, Matthew will be way too busy enjoying his new ultra-sheek, ultra-contemporary blue paradise – a scene straight out of James Cameron’s “Avatar”! [Full listing images and details]

But in LA, the business of celebrity home swapping never stops so let the bidding begin. Aside from relaxing poolside in his new digs, Matthew will also be monitoring his newest addition to the L.A. real estate market. His newly listed West Hollywood luxury condo, located in the Sunset Strip’s famous Sierra Towers, is up for grabs for $2,995,000. This particular condo has Tinseltown written all over it and houses only the rich and famous –  Matthew actually purchased the home from Elton John in 2005.

The south east corner unit features 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and has views spanning from Beverly Hills to the far west Pacific Ocean. It includes sophisticated design elements, including recessed lighting throughout, a polished designer kitchen, top quality wooden floors, and a spacious balcony accessible from the living room. With high glass walls throughout, you can check out the beautiful California sunsets from essentially anywhere in the home.

L.A.’s Sierra Towers include a concierge, valet parking, weight and cardo room, spa, party room and more. It has been home to various L.A. celebs such as Joan Collins, Cher, Lindsay Lohan, Fred Durst, Brody Jenner and Jim Morris, just to name a few.