It’s sunny side up all the way at Maison du Soleil on Sunset Blvd. Smiles are built into the colourful décor and cosiness envelopes every room of the Los Angeles trophy estate.
The luxuriously appointed home was intended to be “candy for the eyes,” according to owner Lubov Azria, half of the power couple behind the fashion house BCBG Max Azria Group.
Much of the house is decorated in cheery orange, her husband Max’s favourite colour, Azria says during a video tour for Haute Havens.
With its scale and grandeur — 60 rooms in total — the “house of the sun” is beyond spacious. Yet you never feel lost or overwhelmed, according to Alla Furman of Hilton & Hyland, an affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate.
“It’s very cosy the way it’s furnished,” she says. “It’s grand because of the high ceilings but there’s a warmth that makes it very inviting and livable.”
As one example, Azria describes her living room as “happy,” with its collection of sunburst mirrors — which give the house its name — and whimsical touches, such as toy sheep lined up along one wall.
The room itself is alive with vibrant jewel tones, anchored by a wavy-patterned area carpet.
Maison du Soleil was designed in the late 1930s by architect Paul Williams, whose classic Hollywood homes have been occupied by celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball and Denzel Washington, among others.
After the Azrias bought the house from writer and producer Sidney Sheldon, they did a major renovation and rebuild 10 years ago, which blended contemporary design elements with classic architecture.
The gated estate near Beverly Hills occupies just over one hectare in the Holmby Hills neighbourhood, which is home to such celebrity pads as the Playboy Mansion.
In keeping with the glamorous lifestyles of area residents, the Azrias have enjoyed entertaining as many as 150 people in their lavish abode. They’ve also raised six children there.
A separate 6,000-square-foot building houses a home theatre with a catalogue of 7,000 films to entertain guests. Above the theatre is a guest suite and office, which Max has embellished with a 14-karat gold ceiling.
The former pool house, converted to a sumptuous spa, boasts a Moroccan theme that creates the atmosphere of a Mediterranean vacation, according to Furman.
She’s also captivated by the estate’s five themed gardens, including French and Japanese, where “you feel like you’re surrounded by nature.”
After numerous visits to the elegant and energizing compound, Furman sums up the experience in simple terms: “It’s like you’re in paradise.”
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The numbers
Price: $88 million (U.S.)
Size: 30,000 square feet
Bedrooms: 17
Bathrooms: 22
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Bring it home
Chase away the winter blahs and brighten your mood by bringing the sun inside. Warm shades of yellow and orange can enliven a room with a painted feature wall or new accents, such as cushions, table linens and artwork.
A potted plant or fresh flowers will bring affordable, instant freshness and colour to a space.
To let more natural light into your home and get a jump on spring cleaning, wash windows, replace heavy window coverings with lightweight fabrics or shades, or add a large mirror or shiny surfaces to reflect incoming light.
Winter is also the time to think about renovations, such as new or larger windows, skylights and solar tubes.
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