Wednesday, September 5, 2007

The $165,000,000 Mega-Estate of Leonard Ross (Part 3)

Your Mama apologizes for the delay in bringing the children more photos of the $165,000,000 mega estate of Leonard Ross. As anyone who is anyone already knows, the 6.5 acre property is located on bizzy N. Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills. More discussion on the house can be found here and here. Today we're going to look over a few photos of the eating and drinking rooms in the mansion.

At the top left we see what we imagine is the formal dining room. If Your Mama is being honest, and we always are, we must say that we are a little disappointed with this room. No doubt the vaguely Chippendale table opens up with several leaves, but we expected something perhaps a little larger and longer with a table that comfortably seats 24 rather than the eight chairs we see in the photograph.

The walls have been entirely mirrored, a peculiar and puzzling choice. Your Mama is quite certain that was an expensive folly, but we can not imagine a more grotesque wall finish for a dining room. Who wants to be sitting down to a lovely supper of stuffed pheasant with a pomegranate glaze while being forced to watch all the Ernestines and Harolds that have been invited to dinner chewing their damn food reflected around the room like some sort of carnival fun house?

At the top right we see a smaller dining room that is adjacent to the larger, but not large enough, formal dining room. This room, more than likely used for family and casual dining occasions, is perhaps called the morning room, a term that is most often used by people rich enough that they do not prepare or serve their own meals. We confess to appreciating this room quite a bit. Certainly, it's stuffy enough that the Queen of England might be comfortable munching a scone and drinking a stiff cup of coffee, but the room maintains an casual and traditional elegance that is balanced by the quirky lighting sconces and the elaborate and funky tile pattern on the wall.

Just below, we see the wine cellar, a room that gives super rich folks an excuse to get drunk under the guise of high minded viticulture. Please. Your Mama knows these filthy rich people like to tie one one just like ev-er-ee-bod-ee else, only they do it with a few bottles of 1966 Lafite Rothschild instead of a case of Coors.

The room at the lower left appears to be a casual sitting room for family and intimate guests as opposed to the hordes that flock to the property for charity events. The ceiling appears to upholstered for good acoustics and the floors appear to be a salmon colored terrazzo which is perfect for that corporate CEO private sitting room look. The damask covered wing chairs only enhance that look. Your Mama's eyes fail us at the most inopportune moments, but do the children agree that there appear to be several televisions flanking the fireplace...more than likely for keeping track of the stocks and bonds.

Tomorrow we will continue our tour with a few of the rooms designed for entertaining.

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

hmmmmmmm

something if fishy here...

:)

Anonymous said...

Almost as ugly as Fleur De Lys on the interior. Talk about needing a good gay decorator. Gawd.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Yeah Smiley... it's that "Formal" dining room. Hmmm...I have played cards in Blind Pigs at 4am on better pieces of furniture. Mirrors on the walls of the "Formal" dining room, in a home of this caliber?? Hold on folks for the art gallery, it's probably housed in the double wides parked in the corner of the court yard...

alex the sea turtle said...

Wow this house is incredibly bad. Atleast Fleur De Lys has a chance with people who like the French gilted stuff of the baroque time period. I mean is their a market for the 1980's sitcom look?

Anyone wanting this house at that price would have to assume that a major remodel will be necessary adding untold millions to the real cost of this house.

Anonymous said...

Wow....always more money than taste!!

Anonymous said...

I always figured that this house would be better than it is. What a dissappointment

WAH-WAH!

so_chic_darling said...

I'm serious about blowing this place up for a scene in a Charlie's Angels movie.It would be so much fun,and they have the budget.

so_chic_darling said...

Mama you didn't comment on that foul wallpaper border situation!

so_chic_darling said...

There are many,many houses in LA for 5 million or less that I would so much rather live in than this mess!

Anonymous said...

One thing for sure. This property has NOT been staged. The redecorating bill will probably be as big as the house bill.

But, as my mother said, if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. That being said, the house looks "lived in."

Anonymous said...

Looooooooooooooooooves it!

Anonymous said...

Sigh. Yet another display of conspicuous overconsumption and ostentatiousness. Isn't there some South American bird who likes to embed his nest with shiny objects to attract a mate?
On the plus side, places like this really help me appreciate the beautifully done homes.

Anonymous said...

caveman said...evidently money can't solve everything

Anonymous said...

Dr Qui & I are of the opinion that most,if not all,of the furnishings are reproductions.We are waiting for still more shocking photos to further investigate the fine and decorative arts contained in this American palace of many wonders.

Anonymous said...

Yes an explosion of some kind would seem like a prudent idea.

Anonymous said...

terlit gurl's been let go.

Anonymous said...

Grand piano number 2. I wonder what the final count will be?

Dr. Correcto said...

Anyone have any idea as to Leonard Ross' age? Is is possible he is an older gentleman at this point and he just didn't update anything since he put together the compound of houses in the 70s?

Anonymous said...

As old as the hills honey!

Anonymous said...

I'm having a nervous breakdown.

Anonymous said...

it's decorator,sorry I'm just too upset about this place.

Anonymous said...

Mirrored dining room reminds me of VERSAILLES.Not the French palace...but the hideous Cuban restaurant in Little Havana...Miami.GREAT FOOD.Clearly interior was designed by do-nothing daughter..
I do like the wine vault.I don't drink...but some truly legendary PORN could be shot in there.There are waaay nicer homes @ 1/10 the price.

Anonymous said...

Again, when will those with taste get money and those with money get taste? It's clear that just having money won't give you taste nor, apparently, sorry to say, the innate ability to go get yourself a good, (yes, nice), gay decorator!

Anonymous said...

Jesus. It's a less-impressive version of Fleur de Lys.

What an example of American excess -ick

(I'm American, not starting another fight here...)

so_chic_darling said...

In the world of antique style there is nothing uglier than a Queen Anne chair!

Anonymous said...

As Dorothy Parker once said:

You can tell what God thinks of money.
Just look who he gave it to.

so_chic_darling said...

Yes I'm going to use that Coco Chanel quote again,sorry darlings but it means more than ever after viewing this pile!
"Some people think that luxury is the opposite of poverty.It is not,it is the opposite of vulgarity."

Anonymous said...

I've taken a few pills & I'm not puking anymore,but every now & again I just burt into tears!

Anonymous said...

I'm blind!