Tag Archives: LA

Vintage

Beverly Hills Prettiest Mansion

Leave a comment

Brunette knockout Christina Estrada modeled for some of the world’s top brands and appeared in the famous Pirelli calendar. Born in the USA, the glamorous Estrada has been based in London since 1998. She was previously married to Saudi billionaire Sheikh Walid Juffali, but the couple divorced in 2016, leaving Estrada the sole owner of a fabulous Beverly Hills villa. The supermodel has listed the stunning estate for sale at $26 million usd/ $37.7 million cad. According to the listing agent, Gary Gold, “This is the quintessential Beverly Hills estate located on the best block of the best street in the Flats. This is the type of home you see in a movie portraying the good life.” 

Built in the 1930s, the mansion has been painstakingly restored, blending the irreplaceable craftsmanship of a bygone era with all the latest in modern luxury.

Spanning 9,000 square feet with five bedrooms, eight bathrooms, and luxe modern amenities, the residence will be sold fully furnished. 

The two-story home boasts an imposing Italian-style facade. Old World styling is evident throughout the mansion, with columns, archways, wrought-iron details, and exquisite beamed ceilings. Enter through the impressive two-story foyer, featuring double staircases, coved archways, a wonderful chandelier, and a hand-painted ceiling. The chef’s kitchen boasts top-of-the-line appliances and a spacious butler’s pantry, while the formal dining room includes seating for 12. A cozy breakfast offers a more relaxed atmosphere, with yard access for al fresco dining. 

The spacious primary suite includes big windows for lots of natural light, a generously appointed bathroom with marble accents and a glamorous mirrored powder room, plus a walk-in closet fit for a supermodel’s wardrobe. Upstairs, find three more bedrooms with their own en-suites, furnished in a classic style. A step-down living room with steel-case windows and an attractive great room with an inviting fireplace offer lots of space for lounging. Meticulous attention to detail is evident in every room, while the chic but understated furnishings allow the home’s timeless beauty to shine.

The spectacular yard offers a resort-like atmosphere with a stylish pool, manicured lawns, and tall hedges for lots of privacy. Multiple balconies offer pool views, while the den and family room connect with the outdoor spaces for seamless indoor-outdoor living, taking advantage of LA’s year-round pleasant weather. The covered loggia is especially lovely, with intricate columns and a curtained gazebo. Other amenities include a library with built-in bookshelves, a five-car garage, and a separate guest house with two bedrooms and two baths.

Located just off world-famous Sunset Blvd, the mansion is convenient to the music and entertainment venues of the Sunset Strip, the high-end shops on Rodeo Drive, the Getty Museum, and the Los Angeles Country Club. Known for its beautiful homes on large lots, the Flats is one of 90210’s most exclusive neighborhoods. Just a few of the zipcode’s illustrious residents include Adele, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Aniston, Jack Nicholson, Ashton Kutcher and Katy Perry. For the Silo, Bob Walsh/ toptenrealestatedeals.com.

The listing is held by Gary Gold at Forward One.  Photo Credit: Jennifer Mann, The Luxury Level

Source: soldbygold.net

Fashion

Canada’s Jim Carrey Lists L.A. Brentwood Mansion

Leave a comment

Jim Carrey’s prolific career includes marquee comedy roles such as The Riddler,  The Mask and Ace Ventura and critically acclaimed dramas Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, for which he won two golden globes and eleven MTV awards.

In 2022, he announced that he was taking a break from acting and was considering retirement. The prolific star has relocated to his vacation property in Maui and put the Brentwood estate where he has lived for the last 30 years up for sale. 



Now listed for $26.5 million USD/ $35.2 CAD, reduced from $28.9 million USD/ $38.4 million CAD, the sprawling ranch-style mansion is nestled behind huge hedges and private red-brick gates.

The 12,700-square-foot home features five bedrooms, six full bathrooms, and three half baths. The stylish residence’s pitched high-beam ceilings offer tons of airflow, while skylights let in plenty of natural light to bathe the bright white walls and Jim’s extensive art collection, including his own impressive creations. The living, dining, and family rooms flow together with hardwood and polished stone floors, fireplaces and ample windows with views of the lushly landscaped grounds. The well-appointed chef’s kitchen offers an indoor BBQ. A circular breakfast nook looks out onto flowering pear trees. Multiple sliding glass doors open onto a central courtyard that provides space for entertaining or lounging in the classic California indoor/outdoor living style. 

Jim’s primary bedroom suite includes its own private patio, plus a stunning wood-paneled bathroom with a copper-hooded fireplace, leaded glass windows, and a soaking tub. An Art Deco-style home theater pays homage to the movie palaces of old, with mohair-covered sofas, burl wood columns, and a lavish marble bathroom. The spacious gym and home office are perfect for the modern remote-work lifestyle. The massive two-acre grounds are a rarity in LA and include a full-size tennis court, a waterfall swimming pool, a pool house with bar, a sauna/steam room, vegetable gardens, and numerous mature trees. Walking paths wind through the serene environment, leading to the yoga and meditation platform. Carrey called the home “a place of enchantment and inspiration” and hopes it will continue to be “a magical sanctuary” for its next occupant.

One of LA’s most sought-after neighborhoods, Brentwood is right next to the hustle and bustle of Santa Monica but retains a community feel. Known for its tree-lined streets, unique mansions, and one of the best farmer’s markets in Los Angeles, Brentwood is home to numerous celebrities, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, LeBron James, and Tobey Maguire. Options for entertainment include the world-class Getty Museum, the Brentwood Golf Club, and the upscale shops and restaurants on San Vicente Blvd. 

The listing is held by Janelle Friedman of Sotheby’s International. 

The 12,700-square-foot home features five bedrooms, six full bathrooms, and three half baths, plus tennis courts, a waterfall pool, and an enormous two-acre lot. 




For the Silo, Bob Walsh. Photos: Daniel Dahler for Sotheby’s International Realty

Sci-Tech

FCC Promoted American Broadband Competition And Net Neutrality

Leave a comment

In late 2014- early 2015, the FCC stood up for more competition and more choice in local broadband. This is a critical step in making faster, cheaper Internet available for all Americans.

You may have heard that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) just put in place rules to protect ‘net neutrality.’ That’s big news. But there was another important decision today to help keep the Internet competitive and open — and while it’s getting less attention, it may be just as important. As part of its agenda to encourage meaningful competition in high speed broadband for Americans, the FCC supported allowing cities to make their own decisions about investing in new broadband networks. More needs to be done to drive innovation in bigger, faster broadband, but this was a good step.
Canadian ISP client

While the FCC’s net neutrality rules can help prevent Internet access providers from relegating some applications to a “slow lane,” this move alone won’t lead to a world where every consumer has an ultra fast connection to the entire Internet. That’s going to take more competition and innovation in new broadband networks.

It’s been nearly five years since we offered to build a fiber-optic network in one U.S. city as an experiment — and as we’ve expanded Google Fiber into a business, we’ve seen firsthand how faster speeds can improve lives and give cities new platforms for economic development. Google is not the only one innovating in this area. Along with investments by other private providers, cities like Lafayette, LA and Chattanooga, TN have been investing in their own networks and developing public-private partnerships to that end.

The FCC decided that it’s important for users to be able to control their own Internet connections and for communities to make their own choices to suit their local needs for broadband. While it may not make sense for most governments to operate broadband networks themselves, we think faster, better broadband for all Americans is too important to remove an option for deployment.

Thank Chairman Wheeler and the FCC for supporting local choice and competition in broadband networks: https://takeaction.withgoogle.com/thank-the-fcc     For the Silo, Derek Slater Google Inc.

P.S. If you want to learn more about the ingenuity of cities supporting broadband investment and competition, check out Next Century Cities.

Supplemental- Test if your Internet Service Provider is “throttling down” your internet connection speed. (requires Java plug-in installed)

How competitive is the Canadian Residential Broadband Market?  ( Essay from 2009- has anything improved since?)