A number of high-profile stars either listed or bought properties this week: Ellen Degeneres bought a home in Montecito, Katy Perry bought three parcels to create a compound in Hollywood Hills and Drew Barrymore listed her home in Montecito.
Ellen and Portia drop $26.5 million in Montecito
Comedian and daytime television host Ellen Degeneres goes through properties the way others go through designer shoes — listing or buying a new property nearly every year.
So it’s no surprise to hear a report that DeGeneres, along with wife Portia de Rossi, picked up a new property in Montecito, CA for $26.5 million — a gorgeous, bluff-front estate called the Saladino Villa. Although DeGeneres likes to pick up “projects,” – admitting to Elle Decor recently that she’s always ready to move – this home looks pretty move-in ready.
“Indeed, there’s nothing the television star and comedian loves more than designing a house,” the article stated, and quoted Los Angeles designer Cliff Fong, who quipped: “Ellen has moved more times than any person I know.”
Although the home boasts everything “streamlined and modern for easy living,” expect an overhaul of the 1928 home from DeGeneres.
Designed by architect Wallace Frost, the home was redone by designer John Saladino around 2009. Offering 6 bedrooms, 9 fireplaces and 7 baths, the home sits on 13 acres with ocean views. The two-parcel property is, of course, incredibly private, with luscious landscaping and gracious indoor and outdoor living areas.
Now that DeGeneres and de Rossi have a new “project” on their hands, will they dump their enormous horse ranch? While it seems DeGeneres wouldn’t mind listing, it’s de Rossi, an avid horseback rider, who likely wants to keep the property. But with a feature in Elle Decor, the home may end up on the market regardless. Besides, this new home in Montecito does have room for stables and barns.
Katy Perry buys three parcels of land in Hollywood Hills
Want to keep your home private? Buy a house off the market. It’s a tactic popular with stars, most recently Katy Perry.
The pop princess bought three adjoining parcels of land for a total of $11.2 million, reports The Real Estalker. One of the parcels holds a mid-century modern previously owned by Max and Rebecca Weinberg.
Best known for her catchy, chart-topping songs, it’s been rumored that Perry has been home-searching for a while. Buying three parcels was a wise move; the singer is one of the most recognized stars in Hollywood, and with often pastel-colored hair, she is easy for paparazzi and fans to spot.
According to property records, Perry purchased the Weinberg home for $3 million and the records show that home is controlled by a trust held by Katy Perry’s manager. The same trust held the singer’s other real estate purchases, including Perry and Russell Brant’s home in Los Feliz.
The Weinberg home is a mid-century modern, complete with an angular roof, open floor plan, and floor-to-ceiling windows that open to seamlessly connect with outdoor living spaces. Built in 1953, the home has been updated to include high-end appliances in the kitchen and brand-new bath features. Measuring 2,916 square feet, the home has 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.
Drew Barrymore lists Santa Barbara home that once hosted her wedding
Although she walked down the aisle in the backyard, Drew Barrymore’s Santa Barbara home doesn’t seem to have too much of a hold on her. The actress has listed the Montecito-area home for $7.5 million just a year after getting married, according to property records and The Real Estalker blog.
Barrymore reportedly bought the home in June 2010 for $5.705 million. The estate is out of the way from the buzz of Hollywood on a secluded 2 acres — ideal for a quiet, paparazzi-free wedding and starting her family with new husband Will Kopelman.
With a spacious 6,000-square-foot floor plan and 6 bedrooms, an upgrade in size isn’t needed. However with Kopelman from New York, the couple could be considering a move to the East Coast. Barrymore also owns another SoCal-area home she bought in 2002.
The “Never Been Kissed” actress’s two-story classic was built in 1937 with a long gravel driveway and a separate guest house. Inside, the home is markedly traditional, although Barrymore’s quirky nature is apparent in the kitchen, where a sunny yellow table serves as the island and the two fridges are vintage — one in a bright aqua shade. The grounds feature a long stretch of lawn and a grove of citrus and avocado trees.
The home is listed by Suzanne Perkins of Sotheby’s International Realty.
Erika Riggs is a real estate writer for Zillow Blog.
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