From the get-go, this Mid-Century Modern oasis in the desert has been blessed with a touch of celebrity glamour. This showpiece is now on the market for $2,249,000.
"It had quite a bit of Hollywood connections," listing agent Andy Linsky says. The home in Rancho Mirage, CA, is a sleek and stunning example of the work of architect E. Stewart Williams, who also designed Frank Sinatra's Palm Springs house.
Built in 1957, the masterpiece, dubbed Kenaston House, was commissioned by oil magnate Robert Kenaston and his wife, silent-film star Billie Dove, as a wedding gift for their son, according to the agent.
Decades later, the home has been "meticulously and authentically" restored and looks like a perfectly staged set piece -- along with modern updates that blend in seamlessly.
The impeccable interior decor was selected by Mark Davis at Modern Home Design, notes the agent. Although the furnishings aren't part of the sale price, they're available for separate purchase. We think they're a must-have.
At 4,780 square feet, "all the spaces are enormous in scale," Linsky says. "There are no small rooms." The property includes two master suites, two additional bedrooms that share a bathroom, and a powder room.
There's also a media room, a dining area, and a kitchen with modern appliances. Out back is a fabulous pool.
Architectural details include walls of windows, a flowing floor plan, and a floating fireplace. If any of this gives you a sense of dj vu, it may have to do with that infamous 2005 photo shoot of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie for W magazine, play-acting as a married couple, long before they were actually married or even "Brangelina." Scandalous!
The swinging pad, which has served as the backdrop for many other photo shoots, is on the Rancho Mirage Register of Historic Places.
The sellers purchased the home in 2007 and haven't been using it much, so they decided to sell, according to the agent.
"The best features of the home are first and foremost the architectural integrity and true representation of the era, and one of Williams' finest pieces," Linsky says. "Buying this home is like collecting a piece of art."