Thursday, June 12, 2008

A Little Piece of OC Television History Goes on the Market

SELLERS: James and Katherine Conrad
LOCATION: Vista del Sol, Laguna Beach, CA
PRICE: $17,900,000
SIZE: 8,000 square feet (approx.), 7 bedrooms 6.5 bathrooms
DESCRIPTION: ...The villa is thoughtfully designed to capture the many breathtaking vistas. The villa's noted architect, James Conrad, incorporated 200 year old reclaimed oak timbers and hand carved stone fireplace mantels to give the home a feel as if it was constructed centuries ago. The incredible infinity edge pool seems to spill into the Pacific Ocean below, providing a wonderful foreground to the panoramic ocean views....

YOUR MAMAS NOTES: Long before The Hills' Lauren Conrad (aka LC) became queen bee-hawtcha of the confounding crop of young demi-celebs famous only for being famous, and way before she became a "fashion designer" and began feuding with her frenemies on the pages of all the gossip glossies, she was just another rich blond gurl from behind the Orange Curtain who lived a life of teenage luxury at her parent's lavish Laguna Beach mansion over looking the Pacific Ocean.

Although Your Mama and Dr. Cooter freely admit to suffering from a brain damaging reality television addiction, we rarely bother to tune in for The Hills, nor did we waste much time watching young Miss Conrad's former vehicle to fame, Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County. We find it both bo-ring and upsetting to watch a bunch of rich, white and entitled 20-something year old gurls shop and bitch about each other and then bitch and shop some more. Besides, we can read whatever we might (not) want to know about their fashion disasters, boyfriend brouhahas and alleged sex tape travails on the blogs and in the tabs without having to bear listening to them whine about each other on the boob-toob.

None the less, Your Mama recognizes that many of the children may think The Hills is television genius–and from a marketing and money making point of view, perhaps it is–and that Miss Lauren Conrad, also known as "LC," deserves a damn star of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. So with that in mind we're going to discuss the luxurious Laguna Beach home of Miss LC's parents, James and Katherine Conrad. Thanks to a thoughtful gentleman we'll call Laguna Larry, Your Mama has learned that the elder Conrads have dumped their high drama domicile on to the market with a side splitting $17,900,000 asking price. Yes puppies, this is the same house that was prominently featured on the Laguna Beach "reality" program.

The property records on this one are a wee bit confusing to Your Mama and it appears that Mister Daddy Conrad purchased the property in 1997, but the listing information indicates the house was built around 2004. Whatever the case, Your Mama presumes the already quite rich Conrads stand to make millions on the sale of this house regardless of when they bought and/or built their behemoth. How many times has Your Mama told the children that this is just another example of how the rich get richer in southern California kiddies...they buy low and sell ridiculously high.

Located on a calle called Vista del Sol on the land side of the swank and gated Three Arch Bay community, the neo-Tuscan style house (is that what the children would call it, Neo-Tuscan?) sits on an unusually large 11.4 acre lot and carries the slightly absurd name Villa San Lorenzo. The three story and (approximately) 8,000 square foot stone and stucco built house was designed and built by Mister Daddy Conrad himself, a well known and seriously successful Orange County based architect who is no doubt responsible for some of the big mcmansions that have proliferated throughout the area.

Listing information for the property reveals that the house includes 6 bedrooms and 7.5 bathrooms, four fireplaces (living room, family room, master bedroom and outdoor patio) and garaging for four cars, because no one, and we mean no one likes to leave their hundred and something thousand dollar Mercedes' and tricked out Range Rovers sitting in the blistering southern Calee-fornia sunshine. The master suite, which occupies considerable square footage on the main level includes a private laundry room perfect for anyone who prefers not to have Lucinda the Laundress wash and fold their fetish wear. Because let's be honest, household help gossip about their employers, and who needs that information floating about amongst your neighbors hired hands?

According to listing information, other rooms include formal living and dining rooms, a den/office, a second laundry room, gym and a gigantic kitchen with all manner of carved corbells, granite counter tops and top grade appliances. The interior spaces have been done up and done over in all manor of beiges and browns with acres of limestone floors, stone walls, 200-year old reclaimed oak timber beamed ceilings, carved stone fireplace mantels and plaster walls that have processed and painted to appears as if they've weathered and withstood the test of time...which, of course, they have not since this house is fake old, rather than actually old.

Here's Your Mama's two cents on the day-core: It's all very theatrical and expensive looking and yet, besides the awesome views of the coastline, everything looks utterly ordinary to Your Mama. It looks exactly as we imagine the mcmansions of half the rich people in Orange County look. Tell me the interior spaces of this house are not nearly indistinguishable from the Coto de Caza calamaties of Jeana and Vicki from the Housewives of Orange County?

Anyhoo, the house sits high on a promontory which provides the back of the house and the rear yard with soo-blime views of the sort that only the very rich in Orange County can afford nowadays. The outdoor entertainment areas have been worked over like a private resort and include a large outdoor living area with fireplace (perfect for sipping gin and tonics in the shade), lots of flagstone terraces and a kidney shaped infinity edged pool that from the right angle appears to slip right into the Pacific Ocean far below.

The children will recall that young Miss Conrad recently forked over $2,360000 for a Los Angeles home of her own on N. Orange Grove Avenue. Your Mama discussed the purchase back in January of 2008. We have no information on why the Mommy and Daddy Conrad would sell their little slice of Orange County real estate heaven, but Your Mama can only presume they're moving to some place equally as big and beige.

57 comments:

Anonymous said...

hideous!!

Anonymous said...

they should advertise it in 'Dictators Monthy'it will be snapped up.

Anonymous said...

And here I thought it was the Cohens' house from the show "The O.C.". Guess all those Orange County McMansions really do look the same.

Parker said...

I really dislike the interior but I'm in love with the outdoor entertaining area and infinity pool. I'd love to have that lot with charming real old, instead of fake old, house on it.

Anonymous said...

Although similar, I don't think any of those middle "Orange County" middle class housewives' homes can hold an candle to this property. In reality, though they would never admit it, the tract housing in Coto de Caza, is like comparing the Valley, to prime Beverly Hills, or Murray Hill to the West Village. Properties in Laguna Beach are exponetially more expensive than those 40 minutes inland featured on that freakshow of a television show.

The houses of the respective "housewives" most likely range from about $2 million to $3.5 million dollars in value. Anything with an ocean view, or any decent view for that matter start at about $4-$5 million.

They may make it sound very exclusive, but living "behind the gates" is not all that glamorous.

Anonymous said...

A dab of Pompei Red paint and this could be Chupi West. Come to think of it, isn't the Gere apartment listed at $17-something?

Anonymous said...

omg, the entire front facade of this house is garage doors, and for 18 milion big ones too. I don't think so.

chris said...

Who are the peoples so reckless financially that they will pay 18 million for something that may have cost one third of that ten years ago. You don't say what the Conrads paid for this, but I would assume it would not have topped 5 million in 1997.

StPaulSnowman said...

This is, quite simply, an ugly house.

Anonymous said...

how did this guy get his money?

Anonymous said...

a few more pics:

http://www.movoto.com/showallphotos.aspx?mlsDb=203&mlsNum=L26550

Anonymous said...

>how did this guy get his money?

According to Mama's article he is "a well known and seriously successful Orange County based architect"

Anonymous said...

Do people just comment without reading the paragraphs?

In the 1st season of Laguna Beach the family didn't live in this property but Lauren was filmed at it while her Father was in the process of building it - the 2nd season they had moved in

Anonymous said...

The home was being built during one of the seasons of Laguna Beach and featured "finished" in the last seasons. From the timeline of the show it seems like this house took a couple years to finish.

ar

pch said...

I'm more into the north end of town (e.g. Cliff Drive, Emerald Bay) than south Laguna Beach. Three Arch Bay is practically at Dana Point. Some people might prefer that; I don't.

I hate this house. Truly, truly hate it. This faux rustic thing. Ugh.

Anonymous said...

OC houses and architecture make me yaaaaaawwwwwn!

Is it me or do they all look the same and like they're trying too hard. It's like KB Homes (or a similar group) built every house in the county... absolutely boring and horrid!!!!

Alessandra said...

I like the views.

But what architect in his right mind designs a house with the damned garages waving hello like that? Tacky, ugly and sad.

Agree with PCH that the faux rustic look is horrid.

Wouldn't know anyone from The Hills even if they introduced themselves, told me their entire life stories and sent me a link to their imdb page.

Anonymous said...

Rich people with no culture always, always opt for beige. Not only does an interior designer sanitize their houses with anonymous content, the color totally neutralizes everything.

Anonymous said...

what an unfortunate waste of 200 year old oak...

Anonymous said...

"Big & Beige"
LMAO!

Anonymous said...

If I came home drunk I would not work out which room I'm in - they all look the same.

$17m - use the money for a decent pad above Sunset Strip. I recommend 2260 Sunset Plaza for $9.9m and $8m in a New Zealand bank earning 8%.

Anonymous said...

The view is banging, but other than that that same house could be sitting in Calabasas. yikes.

Anonymous said...

I am so F'ing tired of staged homes--I would prob want to kill myself if I had to live there. I would rather move into a mental hospital without the staging and real people all around me. Actually, the mental hospital is nice, I can read my realestalker in peace and use their computers til 8pm. It's nice. Anyway, fake hair, fake nails, fake waxed eyebrows on men, fake enemies, fake friends, fake orgasms, fake boobs, fake fake fake fake fake. I am even acting fake crazy to entertain you "serious" people who take this sh*t so seriously and get mad at bad ed, not to get mixed up with good ed. So, mama keep throwin' us kids crumbs like you've been doing lately--any regrets at having kids?? Yes, were all teenagers now. Maybe one of us can take over for awhile--your a little frazzled. And, mama lay off the Gin--try yoga--learn how to contort yourself or something.

Mama's black sheep in WEHO.

I'm coming home in Sept. Mama

Anonymous said...

this area is a fire hazard.

Likely to see your $17m go up in smoke.

Why no just buy the land next to it and you could duplicate the property for about $9-12m.

These sellers are cunts

Anonymous said...

The views are incredible. The house is AWFUL!!!!!!! OMG, the inside is SO sterile. I wouldn't take it if they gave it to me--well then again, of course, I would, but I still don't like it.

Kryptonitesf said...

gone, gone, gone are the days of Laguna charm and g.e.n.u.i.n.e. good times.

yep, replaced by some sort of taste/cancer spreading in from outer boroughs of OC and beyond.

ah, the days of driving up from Huntington Beach on highway 1 or through Laguna Canyon Road, getting a date smoothie, and ending up spending an afternoon on the beach below Treasure Island Trailer park. then finishing up with a few drinks at the Boom Boom room.

mighty real.

bad, tasteless or cheaply vulgar architecture like this should be looked as a melanoma and should be excised post haste.

Anonymous said...

Can I trade my tribbles for trolls? What is the exchange rate? Does PayPal accept tribbles or only trolls? How are they going to invest my tribbles? If I only trade part of my tribbles for trolls, will my trolls eat the remaining tribbles? How many tribbles or trolls will fit in 2260? Will people really finally accept how cool I am if I own 2260? Could I just rent it and pretend I own it? Do people really think I am an idiot? What is this rash?

Anonymous said...

Hey Moma, it sounds like the kiddies are really in a foul mood. Why the need to say cunts and cancer when talking about someones home. Sure it's on the boring side but look at the view. Too bad you're not right on the ocean.

Anonymous said...

I guess Lauren won't have to worry much about her future. Even if she never works after The Hills, she should be set for life........

lil' gay boy said...

Ghastly.

As for: " I recommend 2260 Sunset Plaza for $9.9m"

I question your taste if you think 2260 Sunset Plaza is better than this place - There is a reason Sunset Plaza has been on the market for an eternity - It's f*cking disgusting!


Will that crass pile of concrete never die?

Anonymous said...

RE: 2260. There is a decent chance it is going into escrow soon for a sub 5 million price. The potential buyer is working with the city on whether he can get zoning variances and contacting neighbors to make sure he won't face any opposition to his plans. He wants to remodel it into a mausoleum. No actual bodies, just urns of cremated remains.

Anonymous said...

2260 isn't going to become a mausoleum. The guy changed his mind. Not because it isn't suited for it (looks like one already) but because it isn't worth anything close to 5 million.

Anonymous said...

Their private gated driveway in Google Earth is showing up as - "Lorbu Road".

What does "Lorbu" stand for???

Google Maps shows nothing.

Anonymous said...

We're all ANONYMOUS today - but I'm gonna be a POSITIVE person and say something nice.

MAMA, YOUR COMMENTARY HERE IS JUST SHEER BRILLIANCE!!! YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING - ESPECIALLY THE NEO-TUSCAN PART.

Kudos to Mister Conrad for working his way in the world and for doing his thing. New Money/Old Money, Good Taste/Bad taste Beige Walls/Color Walls. The California Light's just BRIGHT and when you build at the VERY TOP of the hill in California, garages always face the street and everything is built to maximize the view. Try finding an ocean view lot once and see which way you face your garages when you're building at the tip of a large hill or mountain.

Y'ALL ARE JUST BITTER ABOUT "OTHER THINGS".

THANKS MAMA. YOU'RE THE BEST!
Sincerely,
Another ANONYMOUS Child

Anonymous said...

agreed ^^^^
if you could afford this amazing of a home and view, i'm sure you all would not be complaining about the "excess beige" and cheesy "old" oak. stop hating and admit your just jealous.

Anonymous said...

agreed ^^^^
if you could afford this amazing of a home and view, i'm sure you all would not be complaining about the "excess beige" and cheesy "old" oak. stop hating and admit your just jealous.

Anonymous said...

agreed ^^^^
if you could afford this amazing of a home and view, i'm sure you all would not be complaining about the "excess beige" and cheesy "old" oak. stop hating and admit your just jealous.

Anonymous said...

Cut down on the gin, 10:35. Your mouse finger is starting to shake.

Anonymous said...

You're all just jealous because you can't afford a house like that.

Call it ugly if it helps you sleep at night, but the truth is you all wish you could live in a mansion like that.

If it wasn't Lauren Conrad's former house, you'd all be saying it was a dream home.

Anonymous said...

a) It's not "Lauren Conrad's house" (whoever she is). It is her parent's house.

b) It would only be a dream to own so I could slap that puppy on the market and buy something I would be able to sleep in at night.

c) I don't think any of the children are being jealous, they are just voicing opinions of a house. Which last I checked, was the reason for this blog. You on the other hand, are just being a petty mean little behatcha.

So in the words of one of my favorite siblings in Mama's little internet family, F**k off!

Anonymous said...

2260's definitely a TOUGH SELL. What price is gonna make it worth it to TEAR DOWN??

The Conrad house is more saleable and will be considered a TOP TIER property for a while, especially as it's pushing the price envelope in Laguna Beach.

No one's gonna pay extra for it because it's part of TV history. They'll pay extra for it because it's special to the Real Estate market for the area.

Anonymous said...

why are you all being such haters? i watched laguna beach & watch the hills. if you didn't see their house i don't think you would know the conrads had that kind of money. lauren's parents were both really nice & appeared to be down to earth. her mom is so low key. it wasn't like she was decked out in designer clothes & bags. the same can be said for lauren. she dressed like a normal teen in high school & had a job. now that lauren is making her own money & is in fashion she wears a lot of top desingers but i didn't think she was totally spoiled in high school.

i love the conrad's house & i am surprised it is on the market. they bought the lot or it was a tear down & the building was only completed a few years ago. if you saw laguna beach you would know how amazing the pool & view are & the entire backyard looks like a resort. i also love the inside. it is a home you can live in unlike so many homes in that price range where you wouldn't want to touch anything. as everyone knows the real estate market is tough right now but anyone looking at this house has money & they are going to pay what it takes if they really want the property. this is a pristine home w/ a dramatic ocean view & a decent size yard w/ a pool. a lot of the newer ocean view homes in laguna don't have yards but decks. i know from realtors that a lot of people who buy the multi million doallar homes in emerald & three arch bay are buying them as a vaction homes. people who have crazy money will spend what it takes to get something they really want.

i am in my late 20's & own a home in newport coast not far from laguna beach. there are a lot of posers here & there are also a lot of stuck up rich people. however, the conrads don't seem to fall into either category. they just seem like your normal everday family who represents a lot of the old laguna style.

i saw the mention of the real housewives of oc & those ladies are just white trash. the homes in coto are nice but they are not like the exclusive neighborhoods in laguna & newport. the real housewives are an example of how money can't buy class. i think the conrads are the exact opposite of the flaunting materialism in the real housewives & the conrads could probably buy those families at least 3 or 4x over.

just because you have money doesn't make you a bad person. i am happy for people that have money, especially those who work hard & earned it themselves. i love to hear people's success stories. that is what our country is all about. we should all be as lucky as jim conrad to obviously be great at what we do - he is a well known & respected architecht - and have what appears to be a really nice family.

Anonymous said...

Why do you all think this house is ugly! It is because and it is also liveable, which many expensive homes are unable to carry that environment. Although the front may be only garages, but the back of the home is beautiful, which is the whole point of beach homes! When people drive down the ocean highways and look up at the mountain side homes, they can only see the back if the estates.
Although the Conrads may be very wealthy, they do spend their money wisely and they raise their kids in a financially good way- meaning they do NOT spoil them like how other Laguna/Newport kids are. Especially since the Conrads may be on the more wealthier side than the other families, the Conrad children all recieved hand-me-down cars (aka their parent's toyota 4runner, which Lauren recieved then gave to Breanna. Even after Lauren gave her sister the 4runner, she still got her mom's hand-me-down BMW 3series). Her parents raised Lauren by having her estimate about how much money she'll have to spend in the year, discuss it with her parents, and her parents would give her a credit car with that amount. If Lauren went over, she would have to find money herself. Kathy Conrad is very low-key-like, she does not dress in designer, and their kids re-wear clothes all the time (for example, Breanna wearing her prom dress to a season premiere of "The Hills")
I definitely think the Conrad family is definitely a stable family- I know if I had that kind of money, I would not be able to control myself!

Anonymous said...

1:44/9:45,

Don't worry. Take a deep breath. You'll eventually find a buyer for it. Just ask the broker on 2260 how to market it.

Anonymous said...

The style of this house in south coastal OC terms is "tuscan inspired". This example is similar to Lauren Conrad herself - attractive, rather bland but better than most of her peers (blonde, wealthy so-cal twentysomethings) while still remaining somewhat non-descript -- fitting in, if you will.

There seems to be a herd mentality with the monied in south coastal OC with respect to housing (and personal style). Mr. Conrad designed and built what sells. In the process, he's lost (if he really ever had) any real artistry for his skills as an architect. Not to say he's probably not a nice person, just a sellout (hey, it happens).

The best part about this home is the site. It sits on a steeply sloped ridgeline cut-out on a high elevation above the ocean (yes, land side of Coast Highway). The slope explains why the garages are up on the street level while the house cascades down the slope toward the sea. I understand that can be difficult for pea-brained people who cannot comprehend land topography or who think any expensive house should have an expensive looking facade.

While the 11+ acres are for the most part useless due to the extreme slop and building restrictions, it offers privacy and views not matched by other properties for sale in the area (yes, even the developments in north Laguna where lots are measured in feet, not acres, and which have recently lost cache to south Laguna's uber expensive homes).

You cannot "buy the property next door and recreate this property" you doofus. The local building codes/ordinances are strict and have become even more so. The fact that it took several years from the time the Conrads purchased the property until the home was completed should be a clue to you fools concerning the building and design process in Laguna Beach. Moreover, this property is unique -- this isn't a tract development where a nearly identical neighboring lot can be bought.

The price isn't pushing the price envelope in Laguna Beach. Several houses have sold for more, and there are houses currently listed for more.

But don't despair, you can still get a nice ocean-view property for under $2M in Laguna Beach, or a decent 1930's beach cottage with character (small house, small lot) for well under $1.5M.

Anonymous said...

Don't think anyone was losing any sleep over this one. Isn't Laguna Beach where the houses slide down the hill?

Anonymous said...

SHUT THE HELL UP HATERS LIKE YOUR HOUSE COULD EVEN MATCH UP !!!

THE HOUSE IS GORGEOUS !!! AND VIEWS WOW !!!!

Anonymous said...

SHUT THE HELL UP HATERS LIKE YOUR HOUSE COULD EVEN MATCH UP !!!

THE HOUSE IS GORGEOUS !!! AND VIEWS WOW !!!!

Anonymous said...

12:21 x2,

May I recommend -

www.AngerClassOnline.com

Please..One step at a time.

Anonymous said...

dude, just shut up!

Anonymous said...

Honestly, it looks like the Flintstone's house.

Anonymous said...

The home is considered tuscan inspired. I did some research on the home and family, thanks to the help of my daughter, and on the Laguna Beach dvd, Lauren , the couple's daughter gives a tour of the home. Her father designed and built it in 2004. the fireplaces are handcaved in mexico, and have the familys name chizled into them.


I believe they are selling because Lauren now has their own home, Breanna their 2nd eldest daughter is in Salt Lake City for college and their youngest, Brandon will start High school soon, so it is time to downsize.


As a Real Estate appraser, agent and developer in New England (Boston), I honestly dont think the fact that the house was on an mtv reality show will raise the selling price, the average viewer of the documentary was between the ages of 14 and 28. Most of them cant afford a 20 million dollar home, plus furnishings and the cost of maintance, and upkeeping, as well as taxes.

Heck I am 40 and I still cant afford it.

Anonymous said...

On the dvd Lauren also states that the reason the family name is carved into the fireplaces is because Kathy, her mother wants to keep the home in their family for generations, so why sell?

Anonymous said...

It just dropped to $13,900,000

http://www.movoto.com/showallphotos.aspx?mlsDb=203&mlsNum=L26550

Anonymous said...

Don't know what everyone is talking about - I love the house... I also love to FART in public!!

Anonymous said...

This is like the upscale version of those prefab 50's houses. If you came home drunk you could get all the way to the bedroom without realizing it was someone else's house. Much like the girls on the show- I watched it for a few episodes and quit when I realized I STILL couldn't tell any of them apart.

Anonymous said...

It's racist to say rich white girls.by the way nobody forced you to write an article for them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!RACIST!!!!