Saturday, December 14, 2013

End of Week Pick Up Sticks: Joel Horowitz

Once upon a time, way back in late 2006, Tommy Hilfiger co-founder Joel Horowitz wanted $100 million for Tranquility, a liberally bedazzled, heavily bespangled, and—well—garishly opulent compound on 210 drop dead heavenly and heavily forested acres near Lake Tahoe in tax-friendly Zephyr Cove, NV.

After a seven year long real estate slog poor Mister Horowitz finally settled, we first heard from the kids at Curbed, for less than half his original asking price: $48 million. The buyer has yet to be identified other than being a generically-named limited liability company.

In addition to its 9 bedrooms and 14 full and five half bathrooms, a short list of the rustic-luxe estate's many high-cost and higher high-maintenance creature comforts include: a double-height foyer with an exact replica of the main staircase on the RMS Titanic; a super-sized cigar lounge fashioned after the St. Regis Hotel in New York City, a glass-ceilinged and glass mosaic tile-lined indoor swimming pool; a full-court indoor basketball court; a groin vaulted wine cellar; and a state-of-art movie theater wrapped downright Rococo-esque day-core. The extensive grounds, no doubt secured with Fort Knox quality security system, include a private lake with boat pavilion, a barn-sized art studio, two three-hole golf holes, extensive equestrian facilities, a separate guest house, and additional staff quarters.

It's really—uh—quite a place.

listing photos: Sierra Sotheby's International Realty

21 comments:

lil' gay boy said...

Holy shit.

Such a monumental effort to craft this is so tragically Sisyphean.

Anonymous said...

Bring back the guillotine.

doug-g said...

You know, in it's own way, this is a sad as a dilapidated double-wide trailer. Both need to be returned to the earth. Dibs on the copper.

Anonymous said...

Mama! Your comments are so classic!

I could not say it better! "dilapidated double-wide trailer)!

Exactly!

What people with no taste...do with lots of money! And how do they find people who will DO THIS? (never mind....I know the answer!)

So sad. So UGLY. and such a waste.

Anonymous said...

Lovely place!!!

david said...

I feel like my eyeballs were just raped by the photos of the house. The surroundings, however, are spectacular.

West Bourne said...

How very William Randolph Hearst-like. It seems to have been built for entertaining and I wonder if the new owner will do so in the manner of "La Cuesta Encantada" with a steady stream of guests or if they will let it sit empty for most of the time.

Anonymous said...

The former Horowitz home truly defines ongepotchket. And yet where is the chinoiserie breakfast room for sixteen, with its sufficiently large chandelier?

Rabbi Hedda LaCasa

Petra's said...

I like the view. And the setting. The rest... enough said.

Anonymous said...

That is so fug, I just can't.

Anonymous said...

I can admire someone for creating, what must have been at the time, a labor of love. The only concern, is not knowing that seldom does the fantasy transition well into reality.
I imagine Mr. Horowitz still walked away, netting a few million coins from the sale. I fear for people, that would electively stay in such a place, for anything more than a week long vacation rental.

Anonymous said...

If the Corleone family were real and living in 2013, this would be their pad. Vulgar.

Anonymous said...

When it takes you 7 years to sell a property, that should tell you something. And what is even more amazing, some sucker out there bought it!

Anonymous said...

It also reminds me of something that Thomas Kincaid would paint.

Sandpiper said...

NOTE: ORIGINALLY POSTED 12/15, PM. FELL OFF STRING / TECHNICAL GLITCH. PRECEDES 2 COMMENTS IMMEDIATELY ABOVE.

This estate is -- Obscene. Opulent. Self-Indulgent. Absurd. Yada, yada, yada.

Hi David, I'm convulsing over the pictures too.

I'm more intrigued by that heavy-on-atmosphere Thomas Kinkade-ish marketing material manipulations.

The pics feel like talent commissioned to a Disney image editor on acid. In truth, the eery image treatments were probably generated by architect Jeff Lundahl.

Either way, had to cost Horowitz a bundle, or in his case a half day's pay.

Complete lunacy!

Unknown said...
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khoz property said...
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khoz property said...
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Rosco Mare said...

Holy shit is right!

I can image the influence of this place: wandering lost late at night in a sumptious robe, barefoot, a little drunk, ice cubes clinking in the Baccarat tumbler, looking for my bedroom. And finally choosing a room, any room, to crash in. Then suddenly wondering in a panic if I left my shoes in the (non-existant) chinoiserie breakfast room referenced by our dear rabbi in residence, Hedda.

Anonymous said...

Wouldn't surprise me if Vincent and Teresa Viola are the buyers -- see Mama's article on their Manhattan townhouse....

Anonymous said...

Holy crap, this is an assault on your senses.