Desert retreat woos a buyer
Palm Springs compound was owned by Mexican singer-songwriter Gabriel
LOS ANGELES — A desert retreat owned by Juan Gabriel, the late Mexican singer-songwriter known for his ballads of love and heartbreak, has wooed a buyer in Palm Springs. The resortstyle compound sold this month for $1.637 million US.
Set behind a corrugated metal fence, the single-storey structure was previously operated as a boutique hotel. The property includes eight private suites in a total 3,500 square feet of living space.
Among features of note are travertine-lined showers and soaking tubs, custom furnishings and wall fireplaces in each bedroom. The master bedroom has a walk-in shower that opens to a private outdoor spa.
Outside, the U-shaped residence surrounds a sun deck, a swimming pool and a separate spa. Elsewhere is a large parking area that fronts the quarter-acre property.
Gabriel, who died last year at 66, was among the bestselling artists in Mexican history. His scores of hits — Gabriel wrote more than 1,000 songs for himself and other performers — include Abrazame Muy Fuerte, Pero Que Necesidad and Debo Hacerlo.
He bought the property in 2015 for $1.55 million US.
Model sale for colourful home
Fashion model and actress Amber Valletta has sold her Santa Monica home of more than a decade for $5.015 million US, or $20,000 over the asking price.
The Monterey Colonial-style house, built in 1927 and awash in colourful details, features a clay-tile roof, blue trim and a garden courtyard. Overlooking the courtyard, which has brick pavers and accents of vintage Mexican tile, is a sun porch. About 2,400 square feet of living space, styled by interior designer Ross Cassidy, offers a range of original and artistic features. There are white-painted beams in the living room, and powder blue-hued built-ins and striped ceilings in the library. Horizontal wood panelling and a marble-topped island lend a contemporary vibe to the kitchen.
The original wroughtiron staircase leads upstairs, where the master suite keeps the eye moving with red walls and ceilings lined with handpainted wallpaper. Including the guest cottage, there are four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms in all.
The 42-year-old Valletta has worked as the face of such fashion brands as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada and Gucci. Among her film credits are Hitch (2005) and Transporter 2 (2005). She previously had a recurring role on the TV drama Revenge.
France by way of Palm Springs
Actress-entrepreneur Suzanne Somers and her husband, producer Alan Hamel, have put their European-inspired retreat in the hills of Palm Springs back on the market for $14.5 million US.
Owned by the couple since 1977, the 70-acre estate sits among boulders and native outcrops and is reached by a private funicular railway system.
The estate includes eight bedrooms, nine full bathrooms and two half bathrooms spread across various structures, among them a stacked-stone house designed by architect Albert Frey that rests against the hillside.
The main house, designed in the French villa style, includes the master suite, office space and an outdoor shower. Other amenities include a two-room kitchen and a 5,000-bottle wine cellar with tasting room.
Stone-lined steps wind through the various guest villas, outdoor dining areas and an amphitheatre. A lap swimming pool, a carousel and a waterfallfed pond also lie within the grounds. Views take in the Coachella Valley.
Somers, 70, gained fame in the 1973 film American Graffiti and later the sitcoms Three’s Company and Step by Step. She became the face of the Thighmaster exercise machine during its height in the 1990s.
Hamel, 80, hosted such ’60s television game shows as Wedding Party and Anniversary Game. He is best remembered by Canadians of a certain vintage as a host of the CBC children’s show Razzle Dazzle from 1961-64. The sale will not include Howard the Turtle.
Royal estate in the 90210
The Beverly Hills home of Moulay Souleimane Cherkaoui, a member of the royal family of Morocco, has sold for $12.5 million US.
The two-storey Mediterranean-villastyle house, built in 1991, sits behind fences and hedges on a nearly half-acre site. Palladian windows flank the front entry and bring in views to the living and family rooms. Contemporary wrought-iron work and limestone floors add embellishment to the grand foyer.
The 7,020 square feet of living space includes an office/library, a remodelled kitchen with an island, a formal dining room and a theatre room. The master suite has a glass-enclosed shower and soaking tub for a total of five bedrooms and seven bathrooms.
French doors line the rear of the home and take in the backyard swimming pool, lawns and patio area.
The house had been listed for $13.888 million US, records show.
Cherkaoui is the son of Princess Lalla Malika, the sister of late King Hassan II. His cousin, Mohammed VI, is the current king of Morocco.
Georgian estate ultramodern
R&B singer, producer and actor Akon has put his renovated home in Alpharetta, a city about 45 kilometres north of downtown Atlanta, on the market for $6.995 million US.
The four-storey mansion, built in 2014, has an ultramodern vibe similar to the singer’s Woodland Hills home that came up for sale three years ago for $3.5 million US.
Sitting on about five acres, the six-bedroom, nine-bathroom house dazzles with brilliant white-on-white interiors, vaulted ceilings and walls of windows.
A band of glass tiles runs through the heart of the home, giving the illusion of walking on water.
Amenities include an elevator, a piano room, a movie theatre and a recording studio.
The garage has parking for as many as nine cars.
Outside, steps lead down to a swimming pool and spa.
Patios, lawns and formal landscaping fill out the grounds.
Akon bought the house in 2008 for $1.65 million US, public records show.
The 43-year-old Akon has hits that include Locked Up, Smack That and I Want to Love You. Among his acting credits are the films Black November (2012) and American Heist (2014).