Mediterranean Magnificence
Artistic, exquisite and luxurious, this Bel Air estate leaves nothing to be desired.
by Rick Dandes
Perched on a promontory with sensational city (downtown Los Angeles) and Pacific Ocean views, this prestigious Nimes Road address is a vision of grandeur, and one of Bel Air's most elegant estate homes-a triumph of architecture, interior design, and landscaping working together, each complementing the other.
Location: Bel Air, California
Price: $53 million
Square Footage: 18,417 square feet
Acreage: 3.5 acres
Special Features: Five separate guest accommodations include two outdoor guest areas; a two-bedroom guest house with an office, living room and kitchen and a one-bedroom guest house with a living room. Additionally, six bedrooms sit below the tennis court; nine bedrooms are attached to six garages that hold a total of 10 cars; and a two-bedroom guest house is below the pool house.
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"Southern California is known for its grand mansions, but this estate is something special-located near the Bel Air East Gate, it's always been one of the choice properties in the area," says Joyce Rey, executive director of the Estates Division for Coldwell Banker Previews International in Beverly Hills.
Bel Air is a star-studded area-Elizabeth Taylor, for example, lives on Nimes Road-but the 3.4-acre property also lies smack in the center of one of the hottest real estate markets in the country, Los Angeles' West Side, where home prices have appreciated at stunning rates for the past few years. "So, it's a great investment, even at an asking price of $53 million," Rey says.
The Nimes Road estate is the quintessential expression of architect Bob Ray Offenhauser's acclaimed artistry, creating residences so elegant that they seem reborn from another time.
The house was originally built by a wealthy international businessman in 1985, and then expanded and modernized by the current owners in the 1990s. In 2006, here's what you get for that $53 million: a magnificent mansion with 34 bedrooms, 41 baths, two separate kitchens (one a large commercial kitchen), five extensive separate guest accommodations, and five main master suites, each with a bidet and a spa tub. The bathrooms are replete with unique marble; many of the walls in the house are upholstered, hand-painted and gilded.
If you're in the mood to relax and play, there is a large swimming pool (with pool house and a media room with wall TVs) and sunken tennis courts on the grounds. Plus, the estate offers privacy and security. There are extensive guest accommodations, but ultimately it's the main house that garners the most attention. Elegant in detail with high ceilings, exquisite molding and onyx marble inlaid floors, the entire living space is extraordinarily opulent. With a beautiful entry hall (complete with fountains), there is an expanse that literally goes from one end of the mansion to the other, opening to an outdoor entertainment area, which includes a large pool made of mosaic tiles, plus a spa.
The main house has five main master suites, two guest suites, and two staff apartments. The master suites are comprised of very large bedrooms with their own marble baths, large dressing areas and sitting rooms. There are also three living rooms and five fireplaces.
"Bottom line, this is a great place to live," Rey says. "You can't beat the lifestyle...this is luxury living reminiscent of an earlier, more gracious era."
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