The so-called Three D’s of Real Estate — the primary reasons people sell homes — have long been death, divorce and debt. Of course, these aren’t the only reasons someone might choose (or need) to sell their home; a fat windfall fueled by ever-escalating prices is certainly a good and frequent reason nowadays. However, in the case of long-married Australian actors Simon Baker and Rebecca Rigg, it’s divorce. Though they quietly split last spring after nearly 30 years of coupledom, the parents of three adult children did not officially announce their impending divorce until sometime after the first of this year. And now, in accordance with the Three Ds adage, their longtime family home in Santa Monica, Calif., has come for sale at just under $6.3 million.
The former “Mentalist” star, who made his directorial debut with the 2017 feature film “Breath,” adapted from Tim Winton’s 2008 novel of the same name, and Rigg, who hasn’t appeared on the big or small screen since the 2010 thriller “Fair Game,” purchased the property just over 13 years ago for $4.65 million.
Obscured behind a wall of trees and shrubs and clad in weathered grey shingles, the securely gated and casually luxurious residence is described in listings held by David Offer of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties as a New England Traditional set on about one-fifth of an acre along a pretty, tree-lined street in a coveted pocket of the ferociously expensive ocean-side city. Built in 2000, and substantially updated over the last dozen or so years, the handsome, family-sized home offers six bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms in close to 4,800 square feet.
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Image Credit: Realtor.com Antique brick planters accent the pea gravel entrance courtyard where an olive tree shades an inviting seating area.
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Image Credit: Realtor.com A humongous industrial-style skylight tops the light-filled double-height entrance gallery and stair hall. Linen-covered furnishing, a whitewashed brick fireplace, simple matchstick shades and painted wood paneling on the walls and ceiling keep the formal living room from feeling stuffy, while French doors allow the room to spill out to the front courtyard.
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Image Credit: Realtor.com The lounge area of the home’s spacious and cozily appointed great room is bathed in natural light thanks to skylights in the whitewashed and barn-like vaulted ceiling. Extensive built-ins include a full wall of bookshelves, and a tiled fireplace stands between two sets of French doors that open to the backyard.
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Image Credit: Realtor.com Three identical, interestingly bulbous pendant lights hang over the dining space’s rustic farmhouse table, which is further gussied up with eight oval-backed French Country carved wood dining chairs. A casual place for both family meals and casual entertaining, the open-plan kitchen sports open shelving for easy access to daily dishes, a giant butler’s pantry and fashionable navy-colored cabinetry.
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Image Credit: Realtor.com A second-floor gallery wraps around the entrance hall beneath a massive skylight that ensures plenty of light tumbles down in to the home’s central core.
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Image Credit: Realtor.com Guest and family bedrooms feature high ceilings and scads of unique custom built-ins and unusual light fixtures. In one room, there’s a built-in loft bed and a ship-shaped chandelier, while a shared bathroom sports a combination of aqua and azure ceramic tiles on the double vanity.
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Image Credit: Realtor.com The airy, high-ceilinged main bedroom was designed as a homeowner’s retreat replete with a private study and French doors to a terrace that looks over the backyard.
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Image Credit: Realtor.com Both the fitted walk-in closet and marble bathroom benefit from large skylights. The shower features a round, porthole-like window and the soaking tub sits high enough off the tiled floor that most people will need a small stepping stool to climb in.
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Image Credit: Realtor.com Just outside the great room, a stacked stone fireplace warms the outdoor living room, and a sheltered dining terrace off the kitchen incorporates an outdoor kitchen outfitted with the same navy cabinetry and high-end accouterment as the kitchen.
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Image Credit: Realtor.com Seriously tall and impenetrably thick hedgerows ensure complete privacy around the sparkling swimming pool and spa.
Rigg and Baker, who co-stars in the newly released meat pie western “High Ground,” briefly owned another home just a few blocks away — a much smaller and far more ordinary three-bedroom home acquired in late 2006 for a bit more than $2.6 and sold in early 2008 for almost $2.9 million. And, before that, the erstwhile couple owned a one-acre spread on Malibu’s Point Dume that they bought in late 2001 for $1.65 million and profitably sold almost four years later for $5.185 million. The property was later owned by artist Ed Ruscha and his wife, Danna, and was recently acquired by Ana Pincus, granddaughter-in-law of late private equity magnate Lionel Pincus.