Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Brendan Fraser's Former House of Love

SELLER: Brendan Fraser
LOCATION: Readcrest Drive, Beverly Hills (Post Office), CA
PRICE: $2,995,029 (sale)
SIZE: 3,948 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
DESCRIPTION: Outstanding example of Mid-Century design, Rex Lotery, Architect, circa 1959, expanded and reinterpreted for the Millennium. Gated, private, and fully secured, the property features soaring ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glass, white walls, glass tile and stainless steel details, all within the warmth and sophistication of blonde hardwood floors, clerestory windows and other museum-quality finishes and features.

YOUR MAMAS NOTES: Given that big and beefy ack-tur Brendan Fraser (George of the Jungle, Gods and Monsters, The Mummy franchise) is back in the tabloids and gossip columns due to his pending dee-vorce, Your Mama thought we'd dig into our archives and discuss the Bev Hills Post Office house he, his soon to be ex-wifey Afton and their three small children sold in April of 2007 before it all went splitsville. Dee-vorce is never funny kids, or at least not for couples who slogged it out nine years in the fickle trenches of Hollywood-style relationships where rich and famous folks marry and dee-vorce frequently and as casually as if they are rotating their tires.

Having purchased this 3,948 square foot house back in June of 1996 for just $675,000, property records reveal that Mister Fraser once again proves to be a bit of a real estate anomaly in the world of Hollywood where many celebs move simply because they've tired of the color of the tile in the guest bathroom. Property records show the mid-century modern-ish house was built in 1966 and includes three bedrooms and four bathrooms. However, listing information indicates the house was built in 1959 and features 4 bathrooms and 3 bedrooms, plus a fourth that big chested Mister Fraser used as a home gym.

The photos reveal a provocative pavilion like living room with sky high walls of glass on three sides looking towards the petite swimming pool and also over the canyons to the city lights below. Clearly the whole place has been staged by Staging Gurl in a Pink Toyota because who else would fail to put any color into the dining room, leave that open book looking sad and ridiculous on the coffee table in the media room, or rent all that beige velour furniture for the master bedroom? No offense gurl, but this is not some of your best work.

As for the house itself, Your Mama rather likes this sort clinging to the hillside kind of residential drama. And we like it even better that the architects and engineers managed to squeeze a pool on to the steeply sloped property. We swoon over all the tall white walls (all you paint freaks could change that easily and cheaply if you lived here), we appreciate the vertical soffits in the master bedroom designed to conceal the curtains, and while Your Mama loathes soaking in a bathtub full of our own filth, we can imagine the view from tub in the master bathroom might just be enticing enough to give it a whirl...after scrubbing down in the shower of course.

We're certain all you kitchen snobs are going to gripe until our ears bleed about the galley kitchen set up. However, what's not easily visible from the photos above is that behind the long counter, where the fruit sits coyly and seductively in a basket, the wall has been opened up to the dining room which helps to make the somewhat narrow space seem less hemmed in. Your Mama loves that big ol' Viking range and the blessedly simple cabinetry, but we could do without the stainless steel counter top. We're also fond of a cute little breakfast booth like we see here, but unless that leather is butter soft we are not okay it's ka-kee color.

Mister Big Time wrote about this house way back in July of 2007 (no link at this time), but at the time he was unable to suss out the sale price. Property records now reveal that Mister Fraser sold the house in April of 2007 for $2,995,029 (last listed as far as we can tell t $3,499,000).

Interestingly, Your Mama dug up a report on a British website that says that Mister Fraser and family lived in a two story house on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Hmm. Makes a certain mount of sense given that they have three small kids and this isn't the most family friendly house. We're investigating.

As of today Your Mama does not know where Mister Fraser has taken his chesty self or where the soon to be ex-wifey and kids are shacked up. Wherever they may be, we wish them all some peace as they sit across the big table with their attorneys dividing up the assets.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a stunner. I don't know why so many celebs insist on the Faux-Mediterranean vill-blah when LA is so full of cool Craftsman in the flats and these funky pads in the hills.

I love the dramatic, soaring windows in the back. I would, however, have to do something about that kitchen. I don't like to sidle up and down the kitchen when I cook. If you want to cook on a boat, then go cook on your boat.

Anonymous said...

Staging Lady did another stunning beige job; probably because she didn't have far to carry anything - this house is just toodamnclose to the street.

But the architecture is stunning and a lot can be done with a little color and a new kitchen - not fond of the galley layout or the diner-style booth, but at least there's no damn pot rack.

I love the clerestory windows . . .

Anonymous said...

I think it's a beautiful house, although I don't know how they functioned in that narrow kitchen with 3 young children napping at their heels.

And I will NEVER understand how you California people can live so perilously perched on the sides of hills like that! I'd have to pop a bottle of Xanax a day and wash it down with a bourbon to calm my nerves and quell the fear of dying in a landslide. Gives me the willies just looking at it!

Anonymous said...

If he bought it in '96, and they weren't married until '97 (according to Mama's uk link), I'm wondering if it became a rental after she started popping out kids?

I love the house but the countertops would have to go.

Anonymous said...

The massing of the street facade is pleasing, and based on shots of the public rooms I'm inclined to think I'd like the rest of the architecture. Not as keen on (what real estate agents seem to be calling) the "soft contemporary" details...I'd un-reinterpret them.

Anonymous said...

Mama I thought you were going like my light touch on this one.I feel a little hurt now.

Anonymous said...

Oh honestly Virginny, Xanax and Bourbon is so 1992. I like a dirty martini with a Cialis chaser myself. So, about Brandy (as I called him before Caveman and I got together) and this lovely home. Virginny, its far from clinging to the hill, so put down the Xanex and have an after-dinner-mint. PLEASE. I should say hello to SLT and congratulate you on using such a wonderful variety of beige mixed in with slate and coco for this staging gig. Very daring indeed!

Anonymous said...

I'm with Virginny girl. Woodford Reserve was MADE to wash down nerve pills with.

Staging Lady, I myself believe that beige is the way to go. You want to sell the house, not the furniture. The more it blends and the less intrusive it is, perspective buyers see the house for what they will make it, not as it is. Real Estate 101. Also, Toyota's are good, reliable cars. Rock on, sister.

Anonymous said...

put the pills away, its been a successful kling-on for 50 years now.
cool house

Anonymous said...

Here are more photos -

http://www.farwestlocations.com/peter/9400readcrest.html

Anonymous said...

12:29...

Thank's for the additional pics. This is a very interesting and appealing home. So many interior design opportunities to be explored by lucky next owners. Sorry, Staging Lady, but it's true, and you know it! And, isn't it nice to see a soaking tub with a window you can actually gaze from at eye level when you're in it? (Mama, I know tubs are a sore subject, and I apologize for mentioning it, but...)

Anonymous said...

The house is stunning from the outside, but the floorplan leaves something to be desired as they basically kept the original when they remodeled in the 90s instead of opening it up, resulting in too many small rooms. They did live there with 2 kids, number 3 arrived just before or after they moved back East. And the price was depressed by the ongoing construction next door (not helped either by bad marketing, with the price starting at a ridiculous $4.5 million then dropping $500K and $500K more in just a few months).

Anonymous said...

http://www.bergproperties.com/blog/which-celebritys-house-was-this-house-2-9400-readcrest-drive-beverly-hills-calif-which-had-been-listed-for-3499000-and-which-sold-on-march-29-for-an-undisclosed-amount/1209/celebrities

Anonymous said...

This I like very much, particularly the wrap-around pool-on-an-angle. Its a shame they shoe-horned the kitchen into a corridor though.

Flora

Anonymous said...

Very dramatic! However, it makes my vertigo flair up. Full time 24/7 pool boys to keep hillside flora and fauna outta that pool.

Anonymous said...

i really love this joint. modern, clean and sexy. yet, you can still imagine a family thriving there (ironic, since apparently Brendan and the bride are heading for d-i-v-o-r-c-e)

the gym in the others pics link implies our boy brendan or his wife perhaps does some pilates work. the exterior leading out to the pool is dramatic and frames the interior beautifully.

the kitchen banquette situation is troubling though, it seems patterned on the idea of an RV. i would be interested in seeing the non-staged version.

so many celebs seems to want houses that dwarf them, whereas this seems scaled in such a way that would make you feel you are living in a home.

it'd be a great place to come home to after traveling.

Anonymous said...

I like the kitchen but not the banquette. Otherwise, the views from this house are stunning.

Anonymous said...

I do so love this house...it's very chic. But I agree with the others...I have to wonder about that kitchen table...it's so
"International House of Pancakes". If they do play "IHOP breakfast", unless it comes with a cute waiter and busboy, I say time to ReNoVate!!