Friday, September 26, 2008

Demille Estate

Back in April I read about the Cecil B. Demille estate up for sale on The Real Estalker- only $26.25 million asking price for 2.1 acres along with the buildings. A little out of my price range but it's always free to look! I think this is the most beautiful house. Above is the entryway. I love all the plasterwork!I'm sure this isn't the original kitchen as the home was built in 1914 but it really is my dream kitchen. I love the white cabinetry with glass doors and white marble countertop and backsplash. Notice the vintage stove in the alcove. The wood floors connect it to the rest of the house and make the space more homey, breaking up the expanse of white. What a great place to eat breakfast in the morning! I love this library: Space for all my books and magazines! This house also has lots of large expansive windows looking out onto the wooded lot.
The living room -more bookcases and huge open windows! You may recognize the name but not know who Demille was. He was a famous academy-award winning director in Hollywood in the first half of the 20th century.
Born in 1881, Demille started with silent films (obviously) in 1914. By the 1920s he was THE director to turn to in Hollywood! One of the few directors to be famous in his own right, he was practicaly canonized forever in the public's eye in 'Sunset Boulevard' when Gloria Swanson says "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up!". Demille played himself in this movie and in a few other films. He passed away in 1959.
I LOVE this master bathroom (assuming there is a shower around the corner that we can't see). I like the idea of putting an oriental rug in a bathroom and treating it as a real room. The double sink with lamps in front of the windows is charming!
The master bedroom - a fireplace and huge balcony -what more could you want? Is that a towel hanging on the wall? I'm not sure what that is about
What a cute little getaway this poolhouse is! The rear of the home from the pool.
All this and a guest house too! I'd be happy just living here! While the house is beautiful this dining room is semi-tragic. While I like the wood paneling, the carpet is too dreary, the chandelier too small and the furniture looks cheap and underscaled. And that fabric on the chairs - yikes!I also found some vintage photos of the estate from back in Demille's time.

The magic of Hollywood.

9 comments:

Julio Muao said...

I agree, beautiful estate. The master bedroom is my favorite. You know, I've watched Sunset Boulevard with Gloria Swanson and never knew that was actually Mr. Demille himself. Cool. Speaking of Sunset, did you get a chance to see the broadway musical? I saw it in New York with Betty Buckley who was fantastic. Anyway, thanks for the post.

ArchitectDesign™ said...

I never saw the musical, BMD! I hear it's being made into a movie though so I'll be sure to see that!

pve design said...

Why not let's pool resources and all chip in and buy the place, oh that's right, silly me, days of no-money down are over. I have long been intrigued with his name alone. It would make a great name for a collection,
The Demille Collection - so Hollywood, old Hollywood before the bling.
(I believe that is a blanket warmer - hanging on the wall- how nice would that be to have...)

ArchitectDesign™ said...

What a wonderful blogger's retreat it would make, PVE! A blanket warmer -WONDERFUL - I never even thought of that!!! Beats sticking your blankets in the dryer for 10 minutes while you hop into the shower (which is what I normally do LOL).

Kwana said...

Thanks for the tour. I love the library. I'd grab a few books and retire to that tub. Just heaven!

Things That Inspire said...

"The dining room is semi-tragic" - great, great assessment!

I love house posts; one of the best things about the internet is how it is literally opened up the doors of real estate so all of us house voyeurs can take a peek inside.

Anonymous said...

So Beautiful I love that house!!!! and the vintage stripe Awning!!!

Eddie Ross

ArchitectDesign™ said...

Oh yes, TTI! The internet is awesome for that -you're not stuck to just magazines and local house tours and open houses!

ArchitectDesign™ said...

Eddie, I wish that awning was still there! I Bet it was kelly green and white! Thats why I had to include that photo!