Back in late 2019, shortly after her breakup with longtime partner Andrew Cuomo, Sandra Lee moved from the suburban New York residence she had shared with the disgraced former governor to a newly purchased oceanfront getaway in Malibu; and now, a little more than two years and a cute new actor fiancée later, if you’ve got an extra $75,000 burning a proverbial hole in your pocket, you could have the honor of calling the Emmy-winning TV chef/cookbook author your landlord for a month.
With three bedrooms and an equal number of baths spread across just over 1,700 square feet of bedazzled living space, the beachside digs are the ideal spot for anyone seeking a much-needed respite to shack up in style. Lee purchased the outdated 1940s house for $3.4 million from a non-famous family who had owned the property for over 50 years, and then swept in and gave everything her own personal touch.
Originally built in 1948, the rental estate sits directly oceanside, and offers sweeping views of the Queen’s Necklace, Palos Verdes and Catalina Island, along with access to 75 feet of beach frontage; and “everything about this home is top of the line, first class and immaculately clean,” per the listing, which is held by Brian Goldberg of Pinnacle Estate Properties.
Highlights of the fully furnished abode include a spacious living room resting beneath a vaulted wood-beam ceiling, and displaying a floor-to-ceiling brick fireplace flanked and walls of glass opening to an expansive deck.
There’s also a gourmet kitchen, naturally, which is decked out with an eat-in island topped by a rock crystal chandelier, high-end appliances — including double ovens, dishwashers and trash compactors — and a breakfast nook boasting garden views. A separate formal dining room has a soaring back-lit wine case.
Secluded in a corner locale overlooking the ocean, the sumptuous master retreat is showcased by a fireplace, walk-in closet, and balcony sporting dual fire-pits. A luxe bath comes equipped with a soaking tub and marble-clad steam shower; and the grassy grounds are ideal for al fresco entertaining with a tree-lined garden, courtyard with two fireplaces, and an outdoor living room, dining room and fully equipped kitchen.
The place also comes complete with security and Sonos sound systems, an office and a gated two-car motorcourt. An added bonus: The price — which includes a $150,000 security deposit — covers twice-weekly housekeeping, a gardener and private security.
Lee, 55, is a Food Network alum best known for her “semi-homemade” approach to cooking with 70 percent pre-packaged products and 30 percent fresh items. In addition to her beach house, the California native also owns a modest home in Van Nuys that she quietly acquired from her aunt and uncle, Bill and Peggy Sue Singlehurst, in 2019.
According to the New York Post, she and Cuomo sold the Colonial-style property they shared in Mount Kisco, N.Y., in December 2020 for $1.85 million, right before the governor was hit with a flurry of sexual harassment allegations.