Britney Buys on Lake Sherwood
We love when one celeb snags the living space of another. At the end of 2012, ’90s pop darling Britney Spears purchased the home of former professional hockey player Russ Courtnall and his actress of a wife, Paris Vaughan.
The new home—built in 2010—sits on just under 1.5 acres in the Lake Sherwood area, a sweet spot in Ventura County, and overlooks the brilliant Lake Sherwood reservoir. Spears’ new Mediterranean style home features gorgeous limestone and oak floors, beamed ceilings, a temperature-controlled wine cellar and a home theater.
Five bedrooms and seven bathrooms make this an ideal space for Spears and her brood. Sons Sean Preston and Jayden James will love stomping around 8,456 square feet of living space, splashing about in the infinity pool and grilling out at the outdoor fireplace and barbecue center.
The Mississippi-born music icon reached major stardom in 1998, at only 16, with the cult hit “Baby One More Time.” She recently served as a judge on the competition-style reality TV show, “The X Factor.”
Leo Lists Triple-Home Compound in Malibu
The end of 2012 was a busy time for actor Leonardo DiCaprio. Not only did his blockbuster “Django Unchained” hit theaters on Christmas, he also listed one of his investment properties for a whopping $23 million.
Why so pricey? The ocean-front Malibu pad is actually a compound consisting of three homes sitting on a half-acre. All three homes have recently been remodeled, and tally up to seven bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms between them.
A beachfront deck, cozy outdoor seating areas and a fire pit make the property perfect for one of the wild 20s-style soirees featured in DiCaprio’s next film, a remake of the “The Great Gatsby,” which will be out in the summer of 2013.
During the summer of 2012, the compound was leased for the price of $150,000 a month. Hopefully 2013 will bring the award-winning actor a buyer.
Merv Griffin Estate: Sold!
Actor Albert Brooks has parted with his upper Bel-Air estate, formerly owned by the late Merv Griffin, for $6.275 million.
Down from its original $6.995 million asking price, the property sits on more than two acres and is a 5,100-square-foot single-story home. Somewhat modest by LA standards, Brooks’ pad was chock-full of luxurious goodies like a tennis court (Griffin was an avid player), infinity pool with a spa, and mature landscaping.
Inside the home, wood-paneled ceilings make up the terrain for its four bedrooms and five-and-a-half bathrooms, bolstered by hefty lodge post poles that give way to 20-foot ceilings. Walls made of glass provide the home with plenty of natural light.
Brooks had a successful romp in 2011’s “Drive” and was recently a part of the latest Judd Apatow film “This is 40.” He originally purchased the estate directly from Griffin in 1993.
‘Kimye’ Lands in Bel-Air
The world of celebrity gossip has been abuzz with the recent purchase of a Los Angeles home by the famous-for-being-famous Kim Kardashian and her boyfriend, artist and fashion designer Kanye West.
The couple, who have a baby on the way, dropped $11 million on a stunner in the posh Bel-Air neighborhood. The 9,000-square-foot home is located inside a gated community for much needed paparazzi-proofing.
With five bedrooms and seven bathrooms, “Kimye” will have plenty of room for the new babe, and the rest of the Kardashian clan, who will undoubtedly be visiting. The Mediterranean home sits on a three-quarter-acre lot with a rolling grass lawn and views of the surrounding Hollywood hills.
A three car garage will house the couple’s car collection, and an elevator to the second floor will provide stroller access. Construction is currently underway, but rumor has it that the home will also include a fitness center, movie theater, basketball court and an indoor and outdoor swimming pool.
‘Soak up the Sun’ in Sheryl Crowe’s Hollywood Hills Compound
On the market for a cool $15.95 million, Sheryl Crowe’s 1914 Spanish Revival home is definitely a sight. The estate sits on 11 acres, complete with a two-story foyer, wrought-iron railings, original Spanish tiles, beam ceilings, a library, a wine cellar, a music room…what else would a new owner need?
Connected to the main house are a Craftsman built in 1909 and a cottage circa 1885. Not to mention an infinity swimming pool, bridge, trails, playground, and a pergola with a fireplace.
There are four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths in the main building alone, with an additional five bedrooms and bathrooms collectively in the Craftsman and cottage, perfect for out-of-town guests or straggling party-goers.
Crowe also owns in Nashville, Tenn., where she is currently residing.
Jodie Foster Ditches Beverly Hills Home
Actress-producer-director Jodie Foster unloaded her gated Beverly Hills home for $8.3 million last year, according to public record. Its original listing described the home as “Cape Cod” and “Connecticut,” with red brick and climbing rose vines exuding an East Coast vibe not commonly found in the LA area.
The home sits on nearly an acre of land and contains the main house, built in 1949 as a ranch, seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, lush landscape, a two-bedroom guesthouse, tennis court and pool…sans panic room, sadly.
It was originally listed for $10.5 million.
Foster was last seen in 2011’s “Carnage” and can be seen later this year in Neill Blomkamp’s upcoming “Elysium.”
