Friday, March 14, 2014

Goop Gal Gwyneth Paltrow Buys in Da Bu

BUYERS: Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin
LOCATION: Malibu, CA
PRICE: $14,000,000
SIZE: (approx.) 3,650 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms

YOUR MAMAS NOTES: Earlier this month word slipped down the celebrity real estate gossip grapevine that Oscar-winning American actress Gwyneth Paltrow and her British rock star hubby, Coldplay's Chris Martin, plan to sell their massive, 33-room mansion in the celeb-soaked Belsize Park area of London.* So the scuttlebutt goes, the couple and their two oddly-named off-spring had all but permanently relocated to Los Angeles (CA) where, in the summer of 2012, they paid $9,950,000 for an approximately 8,000 square foot Windsor Smith designed and decorated mansion with six bedrooms and eight bathrooms in the rustically swank Mandeville Canyon area.

Like a lot of titanically rich Angelenos, Mister Martin and Miz Paltrow weren't content with just their their deluxe "city" digs so they went shopping for a beach house in Malibu. According to well-connected celebrity real estate whisperers Crystal D. Canter and Yolanda Yakketyyak, the couple shelled out $14,000,000 for a one-plus acre bluff-top spread in the celebrity-packed Point Dume area where some of their nearest neighbors include fellow A-list actress Julia Roberts, smooth jazz saxophonist Kenny G(orelick), octogenarian insult comedian Don Rickles, and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith.

Listing details and other available online resources show the Paltrow-Martin's newly acquired ocean-view beach shack was designed by world renown maverick architect John Lautner and built in the early 1970s. However, puppies, no T no shade, this isn't one of Mister Lautner's more lauded commissions as it lacks the verve and dynamic tension of some of his more celebrated creations like, say, the Sheats Goldstein residence in the Beverly Crest area of Beverly Hills or the Segal house on Malibu's Carbon Beach that Courtney Cox sold in July 2007 for $27,250,000 to real estate ballers Frank and Jamie McCourt.**

Your Mama isn't sure of the full ownership history of the so-called Garwood Residence but we do know the seller, real estate developer Donald Sher, purchased the property in 1996 for about $1.4 million. Presumably it was Mister Sher and his wife who are responsible for the semi-tropical, quasi-Bali-esque jungle-style landscaping and the no-doubt outrageously expensive but brutally bland interior renovations. (For what it's worth, Crystal D. Canter snitched to Your Mama that the Paltrow-Martins hired Windsor Smith to do over the interiors and if the self-proclaimed lifestyle architect's impressive portfolio is any indication, we'd guess she added a touch of decadent whimsy and glitzy glamour to the glassy post-and-beam built residence.

Listing details don't indicate the size of the low-slung home but the Los Angeles County Tax Man puts it at just 2,883 square feet while a 2012 article in the Wall Street Journal, when the property was first listed at $15.9 million, puts it at about 3,650 square feet. Listing details show there are four bedrooms and three bathrooms and a meandering, open-concept main living space area that includes: a large, ocean-view living room with paneled walls and angled stone fireplace; a window-wrapped ocean-view dining area; and an angular kitchen with granite counter tops and what appears to be a teardrop-shaped center work island. Other interior features of the gated estate include include heated sandstone floors and long walls of floor to ceiling glass balanced with smooth paneled walls and rugged stone accents.

Outdoor amenities include a 50-foot pebble stone swimming pool, a lighted tennis court shielded by thick shrubbery, a fitness room and yoga studio, an outdoor kitchen and dining area tucked under the house and, by way of a sinuous stairway that snakes it's way down a verdant canyon, highly coveted deeded access to all but private Little Dume Beach.

In addition to their triple-wide London mansion and growing residential real estate holdings in California, Gwynnie and Chris also maintain several homes on the East Coast of the U.S. including a huge house on 3.5 acres in Amagansett, NY, that they picked up in August 2006 for $5,400,000. (Her mother, Blythe Danner, owns an adjoining property). In Manhattan the luxe-living couple own a spacious three bedroom penthouse with two terraces in a swank TriBeCa complex that they scooped up in early 2007 for $5,146,538 as per property records as well as a second apartment on a lower floor in the same complex that the picked up in March of 2009 for $1.925 million.

Finally, because who doesn't love a little six degrees of high end real estate separation, back in 2009 the Paltrow-Martins leased a Monterey Colonial-style mansion on 5.3 acres with guest house and equestrian facilities in L.A.'s Mandeville Canyon.*** The property, located just half a mile up the road from the Paltrow-Martin's current Mandeville Canyon mansion, had been previously listed for sale with an in-hindsight wildly rose-tinted $28.5 million price tag. Last August, after five long years on and off the market, the estate finally sold for $12,900,000 to to hedge fund founder Sean Fahey and his wife Robin Luce who, according to the always in the know real estate yenta Yolanda Yakketyyak, plan to raze the existing residence and replace it with something more to their liking. As it turns out, children, back in 2010 Mister Fahey and Miz Luce paid $6.2 million for a spectacular (if kooky-crazy) Bart Prince-designed residence that's right next door to the Lautner-designed residence that Mister Martin and Miz Paltrow just acquired. Ta-duh!****

*The Paltrow-Martins picked up the main portion of their super-sized London mansion about 10 years ago from fellow Oscar winner Kate Winslet. They subsequently bought up two adjoining homes and, much to the annoyance of some of their neighbors, spent years and millions on an extensive and disruptive renovation to combine the three houses into one befitting an A-list celebrity couple. (And make no mistake, children, no matter what you think of Mister Martin's catching rock 'n' roll ditties and/or Miz Paltrow's constant nattering about how to live a deluxe life on her self-aggrandizing Goop blog, these two are A-list celebrities with the bulging real estate portfolio to prove it. 

**Frank and Jamie McCourt moved to Los Angeles from Boston after they bought the Dodgers. They have since divorced—bitterly and expensively—and sold the Dodgers. As far as we know, ex-Missus McCourt retained ownership of the Segal house as well as the small cottage next door that she and her ex-husband bought in early 2008 for $19,000,000.

***There were later reports the house was riddled with vermin but we have no first hand knowledge of such a scandalous thing.

****Some of the children who follow high end real estate doings in The Bu surely recall that Mister Fahey and Miz Luce, incurred the wrath of neighbors and architectural preservationists when it became known they wanted to demolish the house and replace it a much more traditional California Mission-stylel mansion. After a brouhaha ensued and a petition was circulated—and signed by some of the neighborhood's celebrity home owners—the couple opted to quell the fears of their neighbors and remodel the house to better suit the needs of their family.

listing photos: Coldwell Banker

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Who?

Miss Generique said...
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Miss Generique said...
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lil' gay boy said...

*snigger*

I'm told great minds think alike...

;-)

I loathe the woman. I'll admit (grudgingly) that she is a talented actress; but her insufferable self-absorption, complete absence of sense of humor about herself, and that voice, well...let's just say I find her more trying that having Michelle Bachmann as a Gay Pride Parade marshall.

I recently spoke with Ms. Danner on the street in NYC where I was enjoying a postprandial nicotine moment; she was gracious enough to stop & say hello. Even on a windy, cold day, dressed as just another ordinary New Yorker, the woman was absolutely stunning -- and that voice! Pure liquid gold. Some beauty just comes from within, and her legacy of talent is unrivaled. Too bad the apple (no, not Apple, just the metaphor) fell far from that noble tree. With any luck, in another 30 years or so Ms. Paltrow may be able to hold a (feebly flickering) candle to her mother.

As for the house, hey, it is a Lautner; even on a bad day his work is in a league of its own. Granted, such individuality cannot always be easy to live with, and it doesn't give one wide latitude in terms of decor. But I'd still give my left nut for one of his compositions.

The Bart Prince house next door is another unique structure, but unlike the body of Lautner's oeuvre, I find that his work is an acquired taste, much like single malt.

Sandpiper said...

It'll be interesting to see what transpires after the revisions come together.There are many non-structural opportunities to move Lautner's spirit into the 21-century. Perhaps we'll see the finished product in AD one of these days.

Anonymous said...

Nice place. I could do without public displays of owner loathing and snobby sounding critiques. You got nothing on her, boy...

Anonymous said...

7:21 ... because I CAN ...

45 Hilariously Ridiculous Gwyneth Paltrow Quotes That Will Make You Want To Punch Something

http://thoughtcatalog.com/nico-lang/2013/09/45-hilariously-ridiculous-gwyneth-paltrow-quotes-that-will-make-you-want-to-punch-something/

Anonymous said...

Sure you can, but that wasn't a question or the point. You're no better, anon boy... and she at least is nice about it :)

Anonymous said...

7:21 ... as I was SAYING ...

5. Criticizing people for being upset about 9/11:

“I find the English amazing how they got over 7/7. There were no multiple memorials with people sobbing as they would have been in America. There, they are constantly scaring people but at the same time, people think nothing of going to see a therapist.”

Anonymous said...

She can be thoughtlessly ignorant. You're intentionally spiteful, and clearly don't know when to stop. I'll take her, tyvm.

Anonymous said...

7:21 ... Please stop INTERRUPTING

6. On taking a retreat to Sedona, Arizona:

“I’ll never forget it. I was starting to hike up the red rocks, and honestly, it was as if I heard the rock say: ‘You have the answers. You are your teacher.’ I thought I was having an auditory hallucination.”

Anonymous said...

spiteful: vindictive, mean, nasty, hurtful, cruel, unkind

You have the answers. You are your teacher.

Petra's said...

I love her, and everything about her, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. She's been a favorite since I saw "Emma" ages ago. She can act, she's pretty, and she's never been scandalous in the way so many of these Hollywood broads are.

However... I do see how some people might find her pretentiousness quite annoying (though I doubt she's putting on a facade). But if we're going down that route, how about we stick to complaining about the REAL most annoying twit in Hollywood? ANNE HATHAWAY. ugh.

Oh - the house. Seems overpriced for the very meager ocean view and square footage.

lil' gay boy said...

Anon 7:21,

Gwynnie, is that you? I swear I only said hello to your mom; you name didn't even come up...

;-)

Anon 7:28,

Brilliant link; I especially liked the one commenter who pointed out:"She's an actor, so she actually CAN pretend to be somebody who makes $25,000 a year if she really wanted to."

Two thoughts; she is making a value judgment about people based upon their earnings -- the very thing she professes to despise about American culture. And as a public figure, she knows very well what she signed on for -- it should comes as no surprise when some take issue with her "pronouncements" -- particularly when she persists in making them public via Goop. Any poutrage on her part is unjustifiable.

Petra,

Good point; I would venture to say that somewhere north of 50% of the sale price was because it is a Lautner & his work is enjoying something of a renaissance at the moment; as for like Gwyneth? Well, the best analogy I can think of as I rush out the door is it's somewhat like a dog whistle -- I don't get it but my dog Petey surely does.

And I love my Petey.

Petra's said...

Awww, LGB, your posts never fail to bring a smile to my face. Even when comparing me to your dog. ILY. :-*

lil' gay boy said...

Petey's no bitch (he's depressingly straight) -- perhaps a visit to my Aussie Mama down under might help?

Maybe not; I'd rather not brush off my dusty Meryl Streep impression: "...a dingo ate my baby!"

;-(

Rosco Mare said...

Eventhough friends who have met and worked with her say Gwyneth is polite and friendly, and she looks like a fellow WASP, I don't find her or her work to be that interesting. However, I do like her beautiful new Malibu estate. Thanks for the photos, Mama Dearest

Anonymous said...

Nice house. Nice Acerage. Nice Setting.

If they're ever looking for kitchen re-do idea, love this Lautner, Elrod House Kitchen (with a dash of Chihuly).
http://spfaust.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/elrod-house-by-lautner-1-26.jpg?w=490&h=367

A Defending Therapist said...

PS As for people getting on her case, yes, may she's insulated in a Daisy Buchanan bubble, but please give her a chance. It's not for us to to rationalize her outward persona, incapable of self-editing and over opining in the moment. There must be something behind it, such as inner high highs and low lows, mixed with a pattern of humorous self-depreciation to a cover it up. I'm a therapist so please understand I'd like everyone to appreciate that it is unfair to joke about.

Anonymous said...

Gwyneth is a nut. Just look at her friends to see why. Her BFF, Jen Aniston, is a wrinkly old bag who's so desperate to regain her lost love that she has her publicist plant fake pregnancy stories in the tabloids every week, as if anyone cares. She even spends burt loads of money on crappy modern houses, trying to win back Brad's love. So pathetic- she even probably pays that boytoy to be seen with her because she can't keep a man or have kids.

Anonymous said...

I can't defend Paltrow because she comes off as self-absorbed and wildly insensitive whether she is or not But if you think Jen Aniston is a wrinkly old bag who still pines for Brad Pitt all these years after they split up you're out of your mind. lol.

Beach Babe said...

I get a kick out of the perception that Little Dume Beach is private, because it's not.

Little Dume Beach is public. (xoxo)

It's true there is a private keyed path to the beach above Little Dume, that is exclusive to some Point Dume homeowners. Don't even go there.

But, Little Dume is just a short and beautiful 20 minute walk from public easement number 6. Or, pay $20 (ouch) to park at Paradise Cove and you're practically there..

If you see signs that say "Private Beach" or signs at mapped public access points (see link) that discourage with postings like "Private", "Closed" (or even padlocked), that's illegal. Why? Because the California Coastal Commission says so. If you experience any of these false deterrents, the CCC welcome your calls to let them know.

Those signs and other discouraging antics are zany ploys by beach residents to make the public think they're trespassing. Shame on them.

Bring lunch and have fun. Play nice and don't litter (including cigarette butts). But that's true everywhere on earth :)

http://laurbanrangers.org/site/sites/default/files/tools/Malibu%20Public%20Beaches%20Guide_ENG%20012810_web.pdf

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

Go to goop for the greatest deals ever. I just ordered a pair of $495 sneakers and a $49 doodle pad. I wanted the $4,000-something Alexander McQueen dress but it's on back order.

Anonymous said...

... and yet it's listed as his by the John Lautner organization. Try again, twat.

Anonymous said...

That's odd because the Garwood house shows up on the website of the John Lautner Foundation, a foundation headed up by the architect's oldest daughter, as an "extant" residence built in 1970. I guess they're a bunch of dummies, too.

http://www.johnlautner.org/

Anonymous said...

All of you just look at the photos and SHUT UP!
Just enjoy the pics without the snarky comments! Geez!!