Although it seems likely the property was acquired for a lucky family member or two, records reveal Leonardo DiCaprio has paid “Modern Family” actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson and his husband Justin Mikita $7.1 million for a rather stunning house on what is arguably the best street in all of Los Feliz. That’s a bit more than the property’s $6.995 million asking price and way more than the $4.6 million Ferguson paid for the place back in 2013, indicating there was either stiff competition for the property, or maybe DiCaprio just really loved the home.
Built in 1928 and previously described by critics as “fabulously quirky,” the late 1920s Spanish Colonial structure weighs in with four bedrooms and four bathrooms in nearly 5,000 square feet of living space. Those square feet have hosted some famous folks — in 1998, the house was acquired for $1.3 million by Gwen Stefani, who lived there with Gavin Rossdale during No Doubt’s “Rock Steady” era and the arguable height of her solo career. Stefani also made a boatload of rockstar-worthy upgrades to the place, including the installation of the backyard swimming pool, before selling the house, in 2007 for $4.8 million, to Hollywood producer Mark Brazill (“That ’70s Show,” “3rd Rock from the Sun”).
Brazill only held onto the place for two years before dumping it at a nearly million-dollar loss to snack food entrepreneur Lara Merriken, owner of the Lärabar energy bar company — you’ve probably seen them in supermarkets, gas stations, and Whole Foods locations around the country. It was Merriken who sold the place in 2013 to Ferguson and Mikita, and the couple subsequently hired “Will & Grace” set decorator Peter Gurski to redesign the home’s interiors. The result — which deftly mixes original architectural details, a dollop of kitsch, and a healthy helping of Old Hollywood glam — was photographed for Architectural Digest in 2018.
Astute real estate aficionados may recall that this is not DiCaprio’s only recent Los Feliz home purchase; back in 2018, he paid Moby $4.9 million for a 1920s Tudor-style home that is primarily occupied by his father, George DiCaprio. It’s not yet publicly known who will be living in this latest Los Feliz acquisition, but Leo’s main residence remains a three-house compound — with three swimming pools and a sports court — in the coveted Bird Streets neighborhood of town, directly overlooking the Sunset Strip. The Oscar winner also owns a $23 million vacant lot atop Malibu’s Paradise Cove, a star-studded getaway in Palm Springs, and several luxury condos in Manhattan.
Jennifer Akbari of Compass held the listing; Brett Lawyer of Hilton & Hyland repped DiCaprio.
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Image Credit: Redfin Behind big gates and a long driveway, a steep flight of steps ascends to the home’s original hand-carved front door, past a sumptuous outdoor terrace encased by a succulent garden and climbing bougainvillea. A campy doormat reads “Homo Sweet Homo.”
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Image Credit: Redfin Guests will be awed by the museum-quality rotunda entry, which features original terracotta tile floors, stone block walls, and an intricately stenciled ceiling.
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Image Credit: Redfin A sizable living room is warmed by an appropriately massive stone fireplace; around the corner lies a cozy office with wood-paneled walls.
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Image Credit: Redfin There’s a two-story library with teal-splashed walls, while the adjoining formal dining room is spiced up with another intricately hand-stenciled ceiling.
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Image Credit: Redfin The chef’s kitchen goes for a lighter and brighter look with crisp white walls, top-of-the-line Wolf and SubZero stainless appliances, and medium blue cabinets.
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Image Credit: Redfin There’s also a family room that converts to a full-fledged media room at the push of a button, complete with a film screen that drops out of the ceiling, a projector, and electronic blackout curtains.
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Image Credit: Redfin The upstairs master retreat goes for a more neutral, calming look, though the modernized bathroom retains its vintage style.
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Image Credit: Redfin Outside, there’s a tiled dining terrace with ambience added by a colorful water feature and string lights.
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Image Credit: Redfin Because the half-acre property is set into a steep hillside, the pool and overlooking viewing deck both required extensive engineering; the former is set into a sheer retaining wall, while the latter boasts spectacular views of Griffith Observatory.
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Image Credit: Redfin Ferguson and Mikita, who also maintain a Manhattan vacation home, have already upgraded from Los Feliz to an $8.7 million mansion in L.A.’s more family-friendly neighborhood of Encino.
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