Own the Huge Italian Style House With Breathtaking Views
Television powerhouse and high-end house-flipper extraordinaire Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, actress Portia de Rossi, have put their 1930s Majestic Montecito Villa on the market for $45 million. This is one of the priciest homes that DeGeneres and de Rossi have sold to date.
The Wall Street Journal reports the Santa Barbara County home was idyllic enough that DeGeneres at one point considered hanging onto it (at least that’s what she wrote in her 2015 book, Home: The Art of Effortless Design). I’m not at all surprised considering the Villa, as its known, was designed by famed architect Wallace Frost as his personal residence after returning from living in Italy. Many years later, acclaimed interior designer John Saladino undertook an extensive five-year restoration of the property for his personal use. And now Ellen and Portia have added their touches.
On a nearly 17-acre lot, the home is surrounded by trees and features excellent views of the ocean and nearby mountains. It’s accessed via a one-quarter-mile drive, and the grounds include sculptures, fountains, gardens, and, of course, a swimming pool. New editions to the property include a lap pool, tennis court, and entertainment pavilion.
The Villa’s Old World details remind me of 17th-century Italian villas with their barrel-tiled roof, terracotta surfaces, and wide-plank hardwood floors. There are six bedrooms in the 10,500-square-foot home, along with eight bathrooms, nine fireplaces, multiple libraries, and a guest annex.
The couple first bought the home in 2013 for $26.5 million then acquired two adjacent properties to expand the estate to 16.88 acres. They made modernizing renovations and built an indoor-outdoor entertaining pavilion known as Jordan Hall, which features an infinity swimming pool, a sunken tennis court, and Japanese soaking tub, among other incredible amenities.
If you are looking to buy a majestic Montecito Villa, don’t wait. Not for you? I have other amazing listings in the area including the World Class Toro Estate I featured in a previous blog. Perched high in the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains and surrounded by the peaceful sylvan setting that is Toro Canyon Park, this incomparable over 40-acre Toro Canyon estate seems a world away yet is mere minutes from all the wonderful amenities of nearby Montecito and Santa Barbara. The over 6000 so. Ft. main residence, its 2-bedroom guest house, and multi-room cabaña were designed by award-winning architect Andy Neumann, and constructed to exacting detail with the use of the finest custom materials by master builders and craftspeople.
Contact me right away at 805.886.9378 or email me at Cristal@montecito-estate.com and I will arrange a private tour for you of Ellen DeGeneres’ Majestic Montecito Villa as well as any of my other amazing listings in the area.