Cosmetics Mogul Picks Up Swank Venice Contemporary

After attending New York City’s Parsons School of Design, Carisa Janes helped create products for Urban Decay before founding her own luxury cosmetics brand back in 2004. Fast-forward to today, and the Newport Beach native still serves as CEO of Hourglass, which was acquired by Unilever in 2017, with estimates reportedly pegging the deal’s value at upwards of $300 million.

Janes’ blossoming success enabled her to buy a $27 million Pacific Palisades estate and a three-story Venice home. Though she still owns those places, records reveal she’s adding to her real estate portfolio, doling out $6.9 million in an off-market deal for another Venice home, this one a sleekly-designed contemporary that was sold while still under construction.

Built in early 2022 as L.A.-based Pentagon design studio’s first ground-up residential project, the striking white geometric structure is nestled on a narrow parcel and wraps around a courtyard on three sides. Inside, four bedrooms and five baths are spread across just over 3,600 square feet of minimalist living space boasting Venetian plaster walls, walnut paneling, and a mix of European white oak and radiant-heated concrete floors, plus large windows and skylights providing an abundance of natural light.

Especially standing out on the main level are an entry foyer featuring a bank of curving built-in shelves, along with a floating staircase that acts as the focal point of a central atrium topped by a large walkable oculus skylight embedded in a roof terrace. Other highlights include an open-concept living and dining room, and a gourmet kitchen outfitted with an eat-in island and high-end stainless appliances.

Upstairs, a large landing doubles as a lounge area, and four bedrooms include a master retreat with a walk-in closet and luxe bath; and there’s also an office space and gym overlooking the street. Professionally landscaped by Sarita Jaccard Design, the grounds include a raised basalt slab holding a pool, sundeck and fireplace that, per the listing, was “conceptualized as a bento box of outdoor activities.”

The seller was represented by Sandra Miller of Engel & Völkers Santa Monica; Devorah Balakhaneh of Hilton & Hyland repped Janes.