Monday, January 24, 2011

Supermodel Kate Moss Buys Literary Crib in London

BUYER: Kate Moss
LOCATION: London, U.K.
PRICE: £7,950,000 (list)
SIZE: 6,728 square feet

YOUR MAMAS NOTES: Just before the Christmas holidays (2010) Your Mama discussed the humongous house in London's Highgate 'hood that on-again/off-again/on-again lovers Jude Law and Siena Miller recently scooped up for around eight million pounds.

The Law-Miller manse, some of y'all may recall, sits on the very same celebrity-choked street as homes owned by a number of other high-profile and arty-farty Brits including Tantric sexers Sting and Trudy Styler who have been known to lease their crib out to notable names such as Pierce Brosnan and tea-house queen George Michael and his long-time American man-mate Kenny Goss who reportedly purchased their house from divalicious androgyne Annie Lennox. Not on the street but nearby neighbors include the wonderfully vee-rile Oscar-nominated actor Clive Owen (Closer, The Bourne Identity) and Oscar-nominated writer/director/actor/producer Terry Gilliam (Brazil, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and about a bazillion Monty Python movies)

Hoity-toity Highgate is soon to get another resident with an internationally known name: supermodel and single mommy Kate Moss who's set to plunk down around seven and some million pounds for a mansion with a long history as a literary haven.

Miss Moss, now in her late 30s, rocketed to fame and fortune as a teenager in the mid 1990s when she appeared on the modeling scene in the early 1990s looking like an emaciated string bean. She was, for better and/or worse, a painfully thin antidote to the hulking and curvaceous glamazon supermodels like Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer and Naomi Campbell that dominated the catwalks and fashion rags in the 1980s and early 90s.

Miss Moss's itty-bitty body has appeared on every runway and in every fashion publication that matters and earns many millions each year shilling for fancy fashion houses such as Gucci, Chanel, Dior, Versace, Louis Vuitton, Calvin Klein and on and on and on. She's appeared on more than 50 magazine covers, gave birth to a beautiful daughter, had a cocaine scandal–natch–that only increased her fame and fortune and (allegedly) had sexual relations with the potty-muthed and not particularly reliable Courtney Love, according to the potty-mouthed and not particularly reliable Courtney Love as well as a number of Miss Love's other ladee pals in London. Blah, blah, blah. Who cares if she did sleep with loony-tunes Love and a few other lesbionic ladees? The glam life of an international supermodel shouldn't resemble the bland life of a suburban hausfrau so bully for Miss Moss for dabbling in drugs and–as Bravo's Andy Cohen would say–dipping her toe in the Ladee Pond.

Anyhoodles poodles, it's no so surprising perhaps that Miss Moss would want new digs given that her current crib in London's St. John's Wood, which she acquired in 2007, seems to have some bad ju-ju that clings to it like white on rice. In May of 2010 three pieces of art were burgled right out of her house including a pricey piece by the obsessively furtive graffiti artist Banksy. Just a few days later her basement filled up with crap, literally, and destroyed household appliances, furniture, a few photographs by legendary photographer Mario Testino and at least some of Miss Moss's extensive shoe collection.

For what it's worth, in the same interview that kooky Courtney Love divulged the 411 about (allegedly) doing the dirty with Miss Moss she also said that she and the supermodel are still good friends and that, in fact, she almost bought Miss Moss's mansion in St. John's Wood. We sort of doubt that since most reports–and Miss Love herself–indicate that money is tight for Miss Love and it's not likely that without a loan from her daughter that she'd be in the position to afford Miss Moss's multi-million dollar house in St. John's Wood.

Miss Moss's new house sits on Highgate Hill, one of the highest points in London, which gives it lovely almost bucolic views out the windows of the upper floors. In the 1820s and 30s the residence was occupied by a Dr. James Gillman who took in troubled friend and patient Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Mister Coleridge, for those who don't have university degrees in English Literature, was a poet and pasha of the Romantic movement who wrote among other difficult things the impossibly long Rime of the Ancient Mariner and the magnificent but incomplete Kubla Khan. Mister Coleridge was also an opium addict who died in the house in 1834. The house was later occupied by notable English novelist (The Good Companions, Angel Pavement) and playwright (Dangerous Corner) J.B. Priestley.

Listing information for the property shows the historic 4-floor residence has 7 principal bedrooms, 7 fireplaces, 2 kitchens and 4 full and 2 half poopers. Additional living space in the basement–known in Brit-speak as the lower ground–includes a sizable staff/guest suite with generous sitting room, two bedrooms, 2 poopers, laundry facilities, a breakfast/dining room and a wee kitchen. The lower ground floor also includes, according to listing information and the floor plan included with marketing materials, a utility room, storage space, wine cellar, boiler room and a large vault.

The front section of the main living level consists primarily of a large entry/reception hall with fireplace and an intimately scaled paneled dining room with fireplace, hardwood floors and a view of the walled and gated front garden. A 30-foot long paneled drawing room with a quartet of floor-t0-ceiling French doors stretches along the back of the house and opens to a slim balcony that leads out to a large patio and extra deep rear garden. The main kitchen at the front of the house stretches all the way to the rear where a the breakfast room has a view of and access to the backyard garden.

The second level–the first floor for Brits–has two bedrooms that share a single pooper, an intimately scaled bookshelf lined study and a master suite that currently consists of dressing room with fireplace, bedroom with fireplace and full wall of closets and private pooper with free-standing soaking tub/shower. Iffin we were Miss Moss, which we most certainly are not, we'd combine the existing master suite with the larger of the two adjacent bedrooms and combine the second bedroom with the study to create a flawless and private guest suite with sitting room and private facilities.

There are four more bedrooms on the uppermost floor that share two bathing and terliting room. There's also a good-sized windowed kitchen, which makes this a perfect set up for Miss Moss's little daughter Lila and whatever household staff Miss Moss employs to take care of her.
The floor plan included with the listing shows one of the rooms on the top floor labeled "Coleridge room," which indicates to Your Mama's pea-sized brain that this was the room occupied the the troubled but brilliant Sam Coleridge.

Miss Moss will likely move into the house with Jamie Hince, her current musician beau of the last few years. Your Mama quietly but firmly suggests Mister Hince keep on his relationship toes lest Miss Moss call the movers and boot his ass to the curb like she did with that heroin loving dumbass Pete Doherty character she used to go with.

Presumably Miss Moss's mansion in fashionable St. John's Wood/Primrose Hill will go on the market. The buyers will count among them celebrity neighbors who include Daniel Craig–who used to get with Miss Moss–and Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani who live primarily in a Los Angeles mansion previously owned by Jennifer Lopez.

As far as we know–and we really know so precious little–Miss Moss continues to own a 10-bedroom farmhouse property in the Oxfordshire Cotswold village of Little Faringdon that she picked up in late 2003 or early 2004 for around £2,000,000.

listing photos: Marcus Parfitt

21 comments:

Carla In California said...

Kate Moss is ugly. I don't care what anybody says, she's ugly.

I can't believe she ever made it in the modeling world....

Anonymous said...

Very nice indeed. Does all that grassy expanse behind belong to her too? I marvel at how much longer and bigger things look when photographed just right.
Re the crap that filled her basement earlier on: I always thought that was He Who Is Above administering a pointed lesson to the lady and I wonder if something similar might happen to her again or has she changed her ways?

Anonymous said...

Carla, I can't see the point of her either.
The Aussie

Anonymous said...

Anon 3.27 pm - Are you smoking a crack pipe?

Arundel said...

Oh, pipe down, h8rz. Kate Moss is no angel, but she's had quite a rollicking life as THE muse for over 15 years, and definitely has looks, allure, and a special something. I like the fact someone's living large and glam like that, she hasn't kilt anyone, you know. Sigh, I just enjoy reading about it.

And I really, really like this house. Mama, my own bejeweled abacus is at the cleaners, and exchanges fluctuate. I'm guesing this literary pile would be about 14 or 15 million US dollars nowadays? Great post.

Mike said...

Courtney Love has a cavern measureless to man.

Anonymous said...

Ghosts...lots and lots of ghosts, either drinking high tea or roaming the gardens in the moonlight.

Keep plenty of spirits on hand.

Anonymous said...

that is beyond beautiful mama. shame it will soon be defaced by her Banksy graffiti 'artwork', taxidermy sculptures and layers of nicotine
i didnt think her other place was anywhere near primrose hill, its that she is part of the 'primrose hill set' which clearly doesnt exist any more - as you show mama its now the 'highgate set'

Mike2 said...

...down to endless seas.

Anonymous said...

Hope she employs a nice gay decorator to redo the joint. How depressing.

Anonymous said...

Leave it to some sycophantic blowhard to call the posters "h8rz" and yammer on about her own "bejeweled abacus".

LOL

Sit down, shut the **ck up and get your own shtick.

The Devoted Classicist said...

Despite any personal feelings one might have towards the new owner, it is a lovely house!

Anonymous said...

I think this house is beautiful, and way to much house for busy single mum Kate to care for. show some more real estate from the London area it's interesting.

Anonymous said...

I had no idea top models like Moss were paid enough to buy such an expensive home. It is only fair they make a substaintial income for such intellectually stimulating and physically difficult work.

lil' gay boy said...

The last time I saw Ms Moss it brought to mind Sybil Fawlty describing Basil as, "...an aging, brilliantine stick insect..."

Yep, that's the one.

Lovely home, but I too dwell amongst those who seem to be immune to her charm, although I cannot deny she's been the subject of some iconic photographs.

Jeannified said...

I've always thought Miss Moss was a strange looking thing. Her choice of men in the last 10 years is even stranger.(Daniel Craig went with her. Lucky broad!)

Anyway, the house is beautiful. I lvoe that back yard evenc more, though. I could just picture my son running all over it, with pure abandon.

Anonymous said...

Kate is unbelievably beautiful ... those who say otherwise don't know what they're talking about. It's refreshing to find an enormously famous celebrity who over the course of 20 years has never conducted an interview about her private life, appeared on chat shows & just been a general fame whore like the majority of todays stars. She apparently lives by the mantra "never complain, never explain".

As for Kate not being paid enough ... her personal fortune is somewhere around £40-£50M or in Americanese $64M - $80M & she generally pulls in just under £10M/$15M annually.

As for the house, I guessed she was the purchaser back in the comments section of the 'Jude & Sienna' post. The house is beautiful, it's on a beautiful street but I'm guessing it hasn't been updated since the 70's. I'm sure she'll do a full refurbish like she did with her St Johns Wood house.

According to Sundays Times her St Johns Wood house has sold for £10M. Definitely wasn't on the open market. As for the Courtney Love story, I think that was regarding her first St Johns Wood house that she sold a few years ago before moving to her current St Johns Wood place.

Anonymous said...

"Her choice of men in the last 10 years is even stranger.(Daniel Craig went with her. Lucky broad!)"

Her most famous relationship was Johnny Depp. Millions of women [& men!] the world over would give their right arm to date Johnny, especially back then when he was younger & even more beautiful. Her Daughters Father Jefferson Hack is a well known magazine publisher & not remotely strange, just incredibly successful. Her current B.F Jamie Hince supposedly has been really good for her & a real positive influence in her life.

The only crazy one she's dated was Pete Doherty who is actually fairly charming & harmless ... it's just sad he's not been able to clean up his act & that his family have completely turned their backs on him.

StPaulSnowman said...

It is interesting that, as anon. 2:25 says, Moss has not courted publicity. Apart from the grotesque pair in LA, British celebrities have done a great job maintaining a certain decorum......think Niven, Mills (John and Haley, not Heather), Mirren, Dench, Winslet and, of course Ricky Gervais. This is a great house for London but pales compared many properties available in the country. The only thing that could make this place truly worth that kind of money would be a welcome wagon visit from the incomparable Maggie Smith.

Carla In California said...

I do recall Kate being photographed surreptitiously as she snorted cocaine. It was all over the tabloids. Despite being fired from several high-paying jobs, other businesses chose to keep her as their representative.

She has bounced back remarkably. I guess everyone should get a second chance....

However, she is still ugly ;)

Anonymous said...

A very pleasant house. I always find it interesting that these London-residing film stars/celebrities (Miller/Law, Moss) talk so much nonsense (yes, they do) about admiring modern architecture, art and culture - and then half of them slap down millions for quaint Georgian houses.

Someone mentioned before that this was 'nothing in comparison to other properties available in the country'. That's right, there are some spectacular places.

Like this one:

http://search.knightfrank.com/cho080441

W