Luxe Living

Bryce Dallas Howard, the Golden Globe Award-nominated, crimson-haired actress, is selling her Hollywood Hills villa at a loss. Howard, the daughter of legendary director Ron Howard, paid $2,900,000 for the home in December of 2006, just months after she married fellow actor Seth Gabel. That’s $545K more than the property’s current market price!

An incredible, discounted deal, Howard and Gabel’s home is a ‘romantic Hollywood Hills home in desirable Outpost Estates,’ according to the listing. The 1931 Mediterranean villa, which is completely private and gated, features a formal dining room, den/media room, office, sauna, and wine cellar. The property has a walled courtyard entry on a large lot, featuring spectacular city and canyon views. A dramatic, two-story entryway welcomes guests into the home’s spacious living and dining rooms, which are adjoined to a cozy kitchen and breakfast room. The gorgeous master suite comes complete with a sitting room and luxurious bathroom, offering both a stand alone shower and a tub. French doors open to landscaped patios, courtyards, a large grassy yard, and a loggia with fireplace. 

Steve Sawaii of Coldwell Banker holds the listing.

Bob Costas — the famous voice of of NBC Sports television since the early ’80s — has just purchased a mansion on the California coast for $4.7 million! According to public records, Bob and his wife closed on the property on October 9, 2012, and paid $4,700,000. The Newport stunner has four bedrooms, five-and-a-half bathrooms, and clocks in at 4,534 square feet.

The Costas’ sprawling new residence is situated on a 28,249-square-foot private corner lot within the exclusive guard-gated community of Crystal Cove. The gorgeous interiors of the home are complimented by the breathtaking grounds, complete with salt-water pool and spa, cabana with fireplace, pool house with kitchen, bocce ball court, expansive rear lawn, built-in BBQ, and well-manicured lawns surrounding brick patios. No detail has been overlooked inside the home either, with custom lighting fixtures throughout, gorgeous hardwood floors, crown moldings, and beautiful built-ins. The gourmet kitchen features dark stone countertops, crisp white cabinetry, and stainless steel appliances — including a Thermador range, SubZero refrigerator, and a wine fridge. Additional amenities include an upstairs bonus room, office, and a separate guest casita with living room, bedroom, and bath. And the sportscaster really scored with his new real estate acquisition since this distinctive home was offered fully furnished!

Costas has made his fortune over the years as the ongoing face of sports and has been the prime-time host of a record NINE Olympic games! He and his wife also own an $11 million condo in New York City and another home in Clayton, Missouri.

Barbie, the most glamourous homeowner in the world, has just listed her incredible and iconic Malibu Dreamhouse for $25 million! The 8,500-square-foot, one-bedroom, one-bathroom, sits on a 23,456 square foot lot and includes an ultra-private entrance to 150 feet of pristine Malibu Beach. And while Malibu may be magnificent, after more than 40 years living there, Barbie’s ready for a change – so this doll’s moving!

The three-story home has ample living space, including a master bedroom complete with a balcony overlooking the ocean. The property also features clean lines, super-sparkly finishes, luxe details, and soaring ceilings that perfectly frame the famed Malibu sunsets.

The one-of-a-kind entertainer’s floor plan offers generous, 119-centimeter ceilings, pink crown molding, custom Pantone 219C hardwood floors, and a pink elevator equipped with a state-of-the-art pulley system. The elevator even has doors emblazoned with Barbie’s signature silo head — a feature that can be easily customized with any occupant’s own personal monogram!

The Barbie Dreamhouse is the only property in Malibu with truly unobstructed views of the ocean — after all, it only has three walls — creating a supremely Californian atmosphere with year-round indoor/outdoor living and exquisite views from Point Dume to the Queen’s Necklace.

The pink Poliform kitchen is fit for a culinary queen, with pink granite countertops, chef-worthy appliances, and plastic food that never spoils.

The master bedroom suite encompasses an entire floor and features enough amenities to pamper a gal from bath to bed: a steam shower, heated pink marble flooring, and of course, a never-ending custom closet that holds over 2 billion pairs of heels, thousands of designer dresses, and plenty of pink power suits.

Equipped with sensors and sounds throughout, this is the only home in Malibu with a self-flushing toilet and fire that crackles even when it’s not on. Diamond-encrusted accents, crystal chandeliers, custom mirrors, reclaimed exotic woods, natural stone, and concrete compliment the pink-infused, modern decor.

To top it off, this home’s complete with enough storage to hold an array of beach toys, from surfboards to jet skis, as well as plenty of space to park a private pink jet – all sold separately.

Josh Altman of Hilton & Hyland and Bravo’s “Million Dollar Listing: Los Angeles”  holds the ultra-exclusive listing.

In-demand actor Jason Bateman and his wife, Amanda Anka, have just purchased the estate of the late, great actor Ernest Borgnine, who passed away in July 2012. According to property records, Bateman and Anka closed the deal on January 23, 2013, and paid $3,000,000 for the five-bedroom, seven-bathroom estate. Bateman is back in the news lately, annoucing the resurrection of hit TV show “Arrested Development,” in which he plays Michael Bluth. With his career continuing on the up-and-up, Bateman and his wife needed a new place to call home, and there was no better choice for the duo than the secluded estate of a Hollywood icon.

Located on a rarely-traveled cul-de-sac in the Beverly Hills Post Office, the estate sits perched on a knoll above Mulholland Drive. The private home is only accessible via a gated driveway, which ends at a large motor-courtyard. This ‘Country English’ compound was held by Borgnine for nearly 60 years, making it a rare purchase for Bateman and Anka. While the decor is dated, the home has incredible potential.

The formal entry hall, with its grand, sweeping staircase, welcomes visitors to the entertaining and public rooms. In addition to the spacious living and family rooms, which each open to the beckoning pool and patio areas, there is a paneled library, office, den, formal dining room, breakfast room, and kitchen. One wing upstairs is occupied by the master suite — comprised of dual baths and dressing rooms, a private sitting room, and a grand balcony. The other wing is home to two bedrooms, a ‘Jack and Jill’ bath, and an upstairs lounge/study area.

In total, the Batemans will enjoy 6,148 square feet of living space; the property also includes a generous, self-contained one-bedroom guesthouse with living room and kitchen. Topping it all of are the sweeping views of city lights and nearby mountains, visible from anywhere on the estate.

Images via MLS.

NBA Baller Chris Bosh is showing us the literal meaning of the term now that his Pacific Palisades home has hit the rental market for $45,000 a month, according to The Real Estalker. The NBA star who currently dribbles for the Miami Heat is away from this home so frequently that it’s time to temporarily give it up to some well-heeled renters for a while. But don’t cry for Chris, he has an incredible Miami mansion that he and his wife bought in September 2010 for $12,333,000. That home is a gated and glassy 12,368 square foot modern mansion on the water.

Chris’ for-lease place is a real palace in the Palisades. For a mere $45,000 a month, you’ll get a wonderful ocean-view gated estate on approximately an acre-and-a-half. Secluded at the top of a knoll, the home has spectacular unobstructed views of the gorgeous Pacific Ocean and mountains. The outdoor area is punctuated with a resort-style infinity pool with swim up bar and lounge areas. A huge outdoor eating area features a full outdoor kitchen with pizza oven. There’s even an outdoor shower and large flat grassy area, perfect for extravagant entertaining. Inside, you’ll find a movie theatre, bar area with billiards, basically a total sports bar within the house.

The home is perfect for the CEO-type, with it’s ultra-luxurious office/library. Last but not least, the home has a huge master suite with dual master baths with huge walk-in closets and large ocean view balcony with spa off the master.

For those who need a little extra help around the (giant) house, this lease comes with fully-equipped staff quarters.

Tennis ace Serena Williams is serving up her luxurious LA condo to a new buyer. According to property records and The Real Estalker, Williams’ Wilshire Boulevard home is in escrow for $1,850,000. By the looks of the listing photos, Williams used the condo as a West Coast pied-à-terre for a couple years when she spent time in the City of Angels. She purchased the soon-to-be-sold condo in September 2002 for $1,275,000. Four years later — after more success and lucrative endorsement deals — she spent $6,612,000 on massive, seven-bedroom mansion in Bel Air. She and sister Venus also share a champion-worthy Florida mansion.

Whomever is plunking down the dough to take Serena’s small-ish condo off her hands is buying into the luxury Los Angeles building, The Remington. The 15th floor condo is spacious, with two bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms, and a den/office that comes complete with the most amazing city views. Light and bright, the condo has an open floorplan and a direct access elevator. The gourmet kitchen features high-end appliances. And throughout, you’ll find hardwood floors, balconies, walls of windows. The master suite comes with dual marble baths, limestone floors, and walk-in closets, while The Remington — a full-service building — offers a concierge, valet, pool/spa, gym, rec room, wine storage, and additional storage rooms.

Buzz Aldrin, half of the famous American astronaut duo that first walked on the moon, has just listed his Los Angeles condominium for $3.3 million.

Listed for the first time ever, Aldrin’s highly-coveted southeast corner unit resides in the La Tour, Wilshire Corridor’s finest full-service condo building. The three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom property has a large open floor plan with floor-to-ceiling walls of glass, offering unobstructed panoramic views of Century City, Beverly Hills, and Los Angeles. Two secondary bedrooms have been reconfigured into a large den with separate office spaces where items from Aldrin’s astronaut past are on full display. The condo has custom built-ins throughout and two large balconies–perfect for entertaining. If closet ‘space’ is your thing, then take a ‘small step’ into the master bedroom’s huge walk-in closet, complete with two large exterior storage rooms.  Beyond the unit itself, Aldrin’s building, the La Tour, provides 24-hour front desk personnel, valet parking, a fitness center, pool, and recreation room.  Guess that’s why the homeowners association fees for this unit are an out-of-this-world $2,949 per month.

TV star Eriq La Salle is selling his stunning Beverly Hills hilltop estate for $7,950,000, according to property records and some sleuthing by The Real Estalker.

La Salle’s main claim to Hollywood fame comes via his long-running role as Dr. Peter Benton on the hospital drama ER. He played that role from 1994 to 2002—an eternity in television years. Since ER ended, we’ve seen less of La Salle, but he has popped up here and there in supporting roles on 24, How to Make It in America, A Gifted Man, and Blackout.

His long TV career has banked him some serious bucks, but interestingly enough, property records show La Salle purchased this here property on October 21, 1988 for $1,700,000–long before those big ER checks started rolling in. Listing information shows that the estate was extensively remodeled in 2006, right around the time La Salle was a true, bona fide TV star. Now that his career is slightly less spry than it was a decade ago, he’s likely looking to make a nice profit on this home and downsize.

The for-sale “Tuscan Villa” has panoramic skyline views that stretch from the ocean to Downtown L.A. The exquisite four-bedroom, five-and-a-half bathroom property features incredible 180-degree views, a pool, spa, and full guest house.  Oversized entry doors open to voluminous open living spaces, highlighted by dramatic wood beamed ceilings, a copper fireplace, formal dining room, gourmet chef’s eat-in kitchen, temperature controlled wine cellar, weight room, impressive wood paneled office, and floor-to-ceiling retractable walls of glass that create a seamless indoor/outdoor entertainer’s paradise. A Moroccan-inspired master suite takes up the entire top floor and includes a spa-like bathroom and adjacent lounging area. A 400-square-foot, private rooftop deck–with outdoor shower and hot tub–completes this remarkable property.

The rumor mill is running on all cylinders over the news that the with-child duo of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have just dropped about $11 million on a new Mediterranean mansion in Bel Air. TMZ first broke the news, saying “Kim and Kanye made the deal a few weeks ago … and they’ve already gutted it and are designing a 14,000-square-foot dream home in its place. The new home will be an Italian-style villa  … with a gym, movie theater, full hair and makeup salon, bowling alley, basketball court, indoor and outdoor pool … oh and probably a baby nursery.”

If this is indeed K & K’s new krib, there’s no doubt that they’ll make some changes to the interior. According to The Real Estalker, Kanye’s current and former residences are more sleek and contemporary than this home. Kim has always had a flair for the flamboyant, so this house looks more her style than his. It’s likely that we’ll eventually find out what the unwed pair do to the home when the reality TV cameras inevitably invade the home.

For now, we’ll chew on this rumor a little more, wait for the property records to officially come through, and review some of the details on their rumored abode.

According to the listing, the three-quarter-acre estate is situated on a view-commanding ridgeline. Designed by architect Ron Firestone, custom craftsmanship and old world details are combined with every modern amenity. Hand forged wrought iron and glass front doors open up to the two story formal entry with black walnut parquet floors. A two-story living room, flanked by Cantera stone columns, overlooks the rear grounds and mountains beyond. The great room includes wide-planked floors, beamed ceilings, a stone fireplace, bar, and stone wine cellar. The library serves as a warm respite, detailed in rich woods and a burgundy marble fireplace. The master suite has spectacular views from every window, a fireplace, sitting room, large walk-in closet, and changing area. The master bathroom has large steam shower, spa tub, and even a massage room. The massive backyard is a dream with sweeping lawns, an infinity edged pool, and a loggia that serves as an outdoor living room and kitchen. Mercy!

Funnyman Chris Hardwick, famous in the 1990′s for his stint as the host of MTV’s “Singled Out” and decades as a comedian, has just paid $2,050,000 for a Hollywood Hills estate. According to public records and reporting by the Los Angeles Times, Hardwick closed on the property on November 8, 2012. The hilltop Los Angeles home has four-bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms spread out over 4,205 square feet.

The home is a private, gated 1923 Tudor home. Hardwick bought the home directly from the designer, who, according to listing information, spent 3 years renovating the home. The changes were inspired by the Florentine villa “Torre di Bellosguardo.” Sitting on a 11,500 square-foot lot, the home has landscaped grounds, stone walls and stairs leading to a terraced garden. As expected from a house in the Hollywood Hills, Hardwick’s new place has spectacular canyon and head-on panoramic Downtown-to-Long-Beach views. Inside the home, details abound, including Venetian plaster walls and hand forged wrought iron balconies throughout. The master bath has an original reglazed clawfoot tub, steam shower, dual vanities and Grohe fixtures. In the kitchen, you’ll find vaulted ceilings, marble countertops, Viking stainless appliances, 100 year old reclaimed wood cabinetry and mosaic Italian tiles. An original log cabin on ground floor now serves as a studio. The property has room for a pool too!

Images via the MLS.