NEW YORK and SANTA BARBARA, Calif., March 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Beloved stand-up comedian, television host, bestselling author, and Emmy-winning actress Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Australian–American actress Portia de Rossi, have listed their storied Santa Barbara villa for sale with Suzanne Perkins of luxury real estate brokerage Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. for $45 million.
Prominently featured in Ellen’s 2015 book Home and known as ‘The Villa,’ the estate dates to the 1930s when celebrated architect Wallace Frost, having recently returned from living in Italy, built the two-story, 10,500-square-foot residence for himself, emulating the classical style of 17th-century Italian villas with great accuracy. Decades later, acclaimed architectural designer John Saladino fell in love with its "mix of grandeur and modesty" and commenced a five-year meticulous restoration of the property for his personal use.
Ellen and Portia purchased the villa in 2012 and expanded the estate through the acquisition of two adjacent properties, which now totals 16.88 acres. They spared no expense in modernizing the historic property for a relaxed California lifestyle. A dramatic indoor-outdoor entertaining pavilion known as Jordan Hall was built from stone excavated on-site and hand-made iron windows. The couple also added a lap pool, sunken championship tennis court and installed state-of-the-art irrigation, mechanical, electronic and security systems.
The secluded estate, secured by 18th-century Spanish gates off a private road, offers expansive views of the ocean, harbor, and mountains from nearly every vantage point.
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Quotes:
- "The house is always surprising. It reveals itself to you in new ways every day. It’s not overly manicured or tidy. It’s not overly precious or perfect. And it’s a home that manages to be both spacious and cozy at once."
– Ellen DeGeneres - "The surrounding gardens and olive trees are almost as wonderful as the interior. The house truly feels like it was built out of the landscape, rather than plopped on a plot. It feels ancient, like it’s been there forever. Like that hill was never without the house. This is a home that honors nature, and I love that."
– Ellen DeGeneres - "If you think of your home as a canvas – regardless of its style of architecture – you can put anything on it. I tend to keep painting the painting until it’s so done, there’s nothing left to do. That’s when I sell the canvas and buy a new one."
– Ellen DeGeneres - "The one word that defines The Villa is perfection. Of all the extraordinary homes in Santa Barbara, Ellen and Portia have created a retreat like no other."
– Suzanne Perkins, listing agent, Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc.
The Villa:
Santa Barbara is often referred to as ‘the American Riviera’ for its similarity to Europe’s famed region. The Villa similarly brings touches of the Old World to the New World across its many features.
- Main Villa: 6 bedrooms, 6 full bathrooms, 2 half baths, 9 fireplaces, 800-square-foot living room, formal dining room, modern kitchen, media room, multiple libraries and reading areas, guest annex, Roman swimming pool, elevated stone terraces, fountains, and exquisite gardens
- Jordan Hall: Indoor-outdoor entertaining pavilion with great room, porch, sun room, dining room, kitchen, outdoor kitchen with pizza oven and dining terrace, infinity swimming pool, sunken tennis court, and spa bathroom with Japanese soaking tub
- Grounds: Strewn with stalwart olive and eucalyptus trees, aromatic plantings, charming fountains, colorful gardens, and eye-catching sculpture including a Roman column dating from 200 B.C.
- Unique materials: Classic barrel-tiled roof, terra-cotta surfaces, wide wood flooring planks, rustic exposed ceiling beams, eighteenth-century Italian tiles, vintage light fixtures, and sturdy walls of locally quarried stone
Media:
Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc.
Bradley Nelson, +1 212 606 4106
Bradley.Nelson@sothebyshomes.com
or
Listing Agent:
Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc.
Suzanne Perkins, +1 805 895 2138
Suzanne.Perkins@sothebyshomes.com
SOURCE Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc.
