
If this Holmby Hills estate recently purchased by billionaire entrepreneur Isaac Larian was one of those sassy Bratz dolls the toy tycoon’s credited with creating, it could definitely be Jade — a quirky yet confident “Kool Kat” that’s not afraid to stand out from the crowd. Think a gated entrance flanked by a pair of stone Chinese guardian lion statues (sometimes called foo dogs) meant to protect the grounds and people within from harm, paired with a backyard boasting a magical landscape design marked by rows upon rows of maze-like shrubbery and an unusual octagonal-shaped pool bordered by a tropical paradise, just for starters.
Add to that a juxtaposition of out-of-the-ordinary interiors, and you have the epitome of Jade … only in a house. Sometimes colorful and playful (can you say walls in bright hues of red-orange and mustard?) and, in other occurrences, serene and muted, they’re highlighted by a wide selection of ceiling heights topped by a swath of designer lighting choices. The décor, meanwhile, ranges from Zen-inducing Tibetan statues and Shoji sliding screen doors, to a flashy fireplace encased within a mirrored accent wall.
Perhaps it’s the eclectic nature of the estate that appealed to the Iranian-born founder of MGA Entertainment (the world’s largest privately-owned toy company, which also manufactures those astonishingly popular L.O.L. Surprise! dolls) when he plopped down $18.5 million to purchase the coveted property — which lies on one of the most prestigious streets in Holmby Hills — earlier this month.
But more likely, it was the prime locale. After all, the estate is found on an acre-plus parcel of land directly across from Larian’s longtime home, an 11,000-square-foot mansion he and his longtime wife Angela custom-built in the mid-1990s. It’s also just up the road from an even larger property that was purchased last year for $29.3 million by developer Ryan Hekmat and his wife Jasmin (Larian’s daughter, and owner of popular apparel brand Cult Gaia).
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Image Credit: realtor.com -
Image Credit: realtor.com -
Image Credit: realtor.com Regardless of what exactly drew Larian to the property, the rare residence, much like that Jade Bratz doll, seems to be on the cutting edge of cool … with a passion for breaking all of the fashion rules. Built in 1925 (and last updated in 1942, according to the listing), the French Normandy style estate was designed by none other than noted SoCal architect Gordon B. Kaufmann (best known for his work on the Hoover Dam, Greystone Mansion and Hollywood Palladium) and features 7,941 square feet of living space on two levels.
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Image Credit: realtor.com -
Image Credit: realtor.com Among the current highlights — although we speculate some of this could be altered by the new owners — is a massive great room for entertaining, complete with ample windows, a soaring wood-beamed ceiling with an ornate chandelier and uplights, stacked-stone walls and zigzag-pattern tile flooring and a wet bar bolstered by an enlightening Buddha statue.
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Image Credit: realtor.com The listing also shows a formal living room with an elaborate marble-clad fireplace; light-filled formal dining room that could easily seat 12 or more; spacious master suite sporting a seating room, special alcove for the bed and spa-like bath with a jetted tub/shower combo; and a private office.
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Image Credit: realtor.com -
Image Credit: realtor.com -
Image Credit: realtor.com -
Image Credit: realtor.com Not to be left out: a two-room art studio/guest house outfitted with a wet bar and bath.
Drew Mandile of Sothebys International Realty service as the listing agent, with Mojgan Larian of Nelson Shelton Real Estate Era Powered representing the buyer.
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Image Credit: realtor.com -
Image Credit: realtor.com