Category Archives: beach houses

Beach, beach houses, California, Celebrity Homes, famous musician homes, Los Angeles CA, Malibu CA, Unique Homes, Video

Joni Mitchell’s Former Malibu Beach Retreat Hits the Market for $27 Million: ‘Magnificent in Every Respect’

Posted on by Mike B
23
Jul

Music legend Joni Mitchell‘s former Malibu beach house has been put on the market for $26.99 million—listing for the first time in nearly 40 years.

The property was custom-designed for the “Big Yellow Taxi” singer, who purchased beachfront land in the early 1980s, then commissioned acclaimed architect Ron Goldman to craft her perfect retreat, according to information shared with Realtor.com®.

Mitchell later sold the property in 1988 to a Walt Disney Company board director, in whose family it has remained. Now, they are ready to give someone new the chance to own the “truly exceptional offering,” which is located in the exclusive Malibu Colony enclave and features several rare amenities that likely could not be replicated today.

Those include a “grandfathered pool and spa” that are nestled in an enormous backyard deck overlooking Colony Beach, offering incredible—and completely unobscured—ocean views.

Because of updated coastal regulations, these features “would be extraordinarily difficult to recreate today,” according to a statement shared by Joyce Rey of Coldwell Banker Realty, who is co-listing the property with her colleague, Nanette Iggulden, as well as Jody Katz and Leona Katz of Estates and Trusts Realty.

Rear view of a beachfront house featuring a lap pool, spa hot tub, lounge deck, and sunroom enclosure.
Music legend Joni Mitchell’s former Malibu beach house has been put on the market for $26.99 million—listing for the first time in nearly 40 years. (Anthony Barcelo)
Sunlit living room with large glass doors opening to an oceanfront pool deck and sweeping sea views.
The property was custom-designed for the “Big Yellow Taxi” singer, who purchased the beachfront parcel in the early 1980s. (Anthony Barcelo)
Galley kitchen featuring stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, skylights, stone flagstone flooring, and a koi pond rug.
In 1988, Mitchell sold the property to a Walt Disney Company board director, in whose family it has since remained. (Anthony Barcelo)

“This property is magnificent in every respect, from its refined architectural design and beautifully considered interiors to its rare beachfront amenities and irreplaceable Malibu setting,” said Rey.

“The grandfathered pool and spa would be extraordinarily difficult to recreate under today’s coastal regulations, making this a truly exceptional offering within the luxury coastal market.”

To take full advantage of the incredible beach views, the Cape Cod-inspired abode features a wall of windows on the beachfront side of the property, which not only turn the vistas into a living work of art, but also help to fill the living spaces with natural light.

“Sun-filled interiors blend warmth and sophistication through vaulted wood-beamed ceilings, expansive walls of glass and an airy open floor plan that seamlessly connects the living spaces to the shoreline,” the listing states.

Nature plays a significant role throughout the home, which features numerous windows and skylights throughout. Stone flooring runs through the main level and extends onto the deck.

At the back of the property is an idyllic courtyard, which serves as both an entertaining and dining area. Large hedges and trees surround this outdoor space, helping it to feel intimate and private.

Inside the home itself, an open-plan living and kitchen area help the property to feel incredibly spacious, while a fireplace provides comfort and coziness. Separating the living room from the pool area is an elegant solarium, which comes with space for a small dining table and some chairs.

A formal dining area can be found between the living room and the kitchen, and a second living area is located just off the courtyard.

The beach-facing primary bedroom is a serene retreat, complete with an elegant bathroom and a private balcony overlooking the ocean. Two more bedrooms can be found on this floor.

Home office with vaulted beam ceilings, built-in shelving, stone floors, and French doors leading to a stone walkway.
The home is located in the exclusive Malibu Colony enclave and features several rare amenities that likely could not be replicated today. (Anthony Barcelo)
Primary bedroom with vaulted white ceilings, a private oceanfront balcony, and scenic sea views.
It sits directly on the beach and offers incredible views over the water. (Anthony Barcelo)
Open-concept beach house living room featuring stone floors, fireplace, and glass doors with ocean sunset views.
A wall of windows on the beachfront side of the home turn the vistas into a living work of art. (Anthony Barcelo)
Pacific oceanfront stone patio with an outdoor dining set, lap pool, and view of a vibrant twilight sky.
According to the listing agents, the “grandfathered pool and spa” would be almost impossible to replicate today because of updated regulations. (Anthony Barcelo)
Illuminated stone courtyard with dining table and armchairs in front of a gabled coastal Malibu home at dusk.
The home also features a guesthouse and a private courtyard. (Anthony Barcelo)

The fourth bedroom is located on the floor below, and the fifth is located in a detached guesthouse, which sits on the opposite side of the courtyard, along with the garage.

The listing notes that there is an office area that could be used as a flex space.

“A gated entry introduces a serene retreat where timeless architecture, irreplaceable beachfront features and an unmatched Malibu lifestyle converge,” the description adds.

While updates have been made to the dwelling since it last changed hands in 1988—for just $2.75 million—the property remains true to Goldman’s original design.

“What makes it especially compelling is the combination of design heritage, oceanfront setting, and irreplaceable features, which create a rare opportunity to acquire a true legacy estate in one of the world’s most recognized beachfront communities,” Iggulden explained.

“Malibu buyers consistently seek properties that deliver both privacy and convenience, and this residence offers the exclusivity of Colony Beach with effortless access to everything Malibu has to offer.”

Mitchell, who is originally from Canada, has been based in California for nearly six decades now, having moved to the Golden State in the late 1960s, when she bought her first property in the area—a petite cottage in Laurel Canyon.

The singer used the royalties from her debut album, “Song to a Seagull,” to pay for the property, where she later wrote and recorded new music, including the 1970 album, “Ladies of the Canyon,” which was inspired by the home’s location.

Today, 82-year-old Mitchell resides in a historical Bel-Air mansion that she has owned since the mid-1970s and which she previously showcased in a shoot for Architectural Digest.

Beach, beach houses, Cape Cod MA, Massachusetts, Push Notification, Truro MA, Unique Homes, Video

Tiny 189-Square-Foot Cape Cod Cottage That Is Just Steps From the Beach Hits Market for Under $300K

Posted on by Mike B
13
Jun

A seasonal tiny cottage that offers less than 190 square feet of living space has bobbed onto the market in Cape Cod, where it is being touted as a prime investment opportunity that could earn a future buyer a very lucrative rental income.

Built in 1940, the minuscule Truro, MA, abode is tucked behind two other dwellings that are part of a larger compound—and are also available for sale with the cottage for the much larger price of $2.1 million.

But for those seeking a much slimmer slice of beachside paradise, the 189-square-foot dwelling, which is referred to as Unit 16S, can be purchased by itself for just $295,000.

Despite its diminutive size, the property packs quite the punch as far as amenities are concerned, boasting a kitchenette, a bedroom that is currently set up with two twin beds, and a full bathroom, as well as “exclusive use of a private outdoor yard.”

The adorable abode also comes with a sizable history. For the past six decades, it has been owned by the same family—having originally been built as one of 16 homes in the highly sought-after community of White Village Cottages.

Unit 16S condo in Truro, MA, on sale for $265,000
A seasonal cottage that offers less than 190 square feet of living space has bobbed onto the market in Cape Cod, where it is being touted as a prime investment opportunity that could earn a future buyer a very lucrative rental income. (Aerial Advantage Photography)
Interior of 189 sf condo in Truro, MA, on sale for $269,000
Built in 1940, the minuscule Truro, MA, abode is tucked behind two other dwellings that are part of a larger compound—and are also available for sale with the cottage for the much larger price of $2.1 million. (Aerial Advantage Photography)
Kitchen of 189 sf condo in Truro, MA, on sale for $269,000
For those seeking a very slim slice of beachside paradise, the 189-square-foot dwelling, which is referred to as Unit 16S, can be purchased for just $295,000. (Aerial Advantage Photography)

“The seller has had the property in her family since the ’70s and possibly longer, and she also owns Oceana Cottages along Shore Road,” says listing agent Rebecca Pistone of Christie’s International Real Estate Atlantic Brokerage.

“These residences are a part of the 16-unit community of White Village Cottages. At one point, her family owned all 16, but these are the only three she owns now.”

This free-standing seasonal cottage is currently being used as an income-producing property.

“The next buyer will be someone similar to the people who rent it every year from May through October for $1,700 a month, who are seasonal workers who work in Provincetown,” Pistone said.

“It is a great house for seasonal workers and would also be a great beach property or a rental. There are no restrictions on rentals, so you can pick and choose the way you want to use the home.”

The diminutive dwelling comes with access to a private yard and two deeded parking spaces. It also features beautiful views of the beach, which sits just steps away from the cute cottage.

Pistone notes that the dwelling is currently in a flood zone, but says there are ways in which a future buyer can ensure the home’s safety.

“It has incredible views of the dunes and beach across the street,” she says. “It doesn’t have a basement, so it is on concrete blocks, but you could put it up on stilts to get it out of the flood zone.

“The seller does have a flood insurance policy, and the whole property is in the AE Flood Zone because of the elevation. A lot of the homes in the area have been built up on stilts.”

The condo is part of a three-bedroom collection in Truro, MA, on sale for $2,073,000 for the trio of dwellings.
The adorable abode comes with a sizable history. (Aerial Advantage Photography)
The condo is part of a three-bedroom collection in Truro, MA, on sale for $2,073,000 for the trio of dwellings.
The diminutive has access to a private yard and two deeded parking spaces. (Aerial Advantage Photography)
Unit 14S condo in Truro, MA, on sale for $629,000
The dwelling is part of a larger compound that includes two other dwellings—all of which are on the market. (Aerial Advantage Photography)
Unit 15S condo in Truro, MA, on sale for $1,149,000
“The real thing you are buying is the location,” the listing agent says. (Aerial Advantage Photography)

Buyers should note that it is located in a condo association, which means “you don’t technically own the land,” Pistone says. But “for $59 a month, they will provide trash removal, maintain the shared septic system, and provide winterization.”

A larger two-bedroom condo with “proven rental history,” referred to as Unit 14S, features 700 square feet of living space and is being offered for $629,000.

Highlights include an original kitchen, living room, and full basement waiting to be transformed into additional living space or guest quarters. It also has a greenhouse structure offering “creative potential.”

The third dwelling, Unit 15S, offers the largest residence, boasting a fully renovated 990-square-foot interior featuring three bedrooms, one bathroom, an updated kitchen, and a spacious attic and basement. It is being offered fully furnished for $1,149,000.

According to the listing, this home with a detached garage has the potential to be rented out during the peak summer season for $800 to $825 per night. It also offers the possibility to expand “upward with approvals.”

“This condo features brand-new everything and reinforced everything,” Pistone says. “It has a full basement and a lot more expansion potential.”

Pistone believes the move-in-ready coastal retreat with income possibilities and expansion opportunities will prove to be the most appealing attributes to the next buyer.

“The real thing you are buying is the location,” she says. “It also has deeded beach rights and is less than 4 miles from Provincetown, right along the bus line. It’s a beautiful spot between Truro and Provincetown and feels like a piece of heaven at the tip of Cape Cod. The future potential is huge, and people see the value of it.”

beach houses, California, Malibu CA, Unique Homes

Malibu’s Spellbinding ‘Sandcastle’ Beach House Makes Market Debut for $27.5M

Posted on by Mike B
02
Jun

Spectacular 'Sandcastle' Beach House in Malibu Splashes onto the Market for a Cool $27.5M

Realtor.com

Self-taught architect and surfer Harry Gesner‘s Malibu, CA, estate is available for the first time, for $27.5 million.

Built by hand in 1974, the six-bedroom home comes with 122 feet of beach frontage. The circular, wood-and-glass structure was designed to capture Pacific Ocean views from every room.

“Sandcastle,” as Gesner’s family home is known, is situated next to his most famous creation, the Wave House—built for his friend Gerry Cooper.

Inspired by the sandcastle his son built on the beach, Gesner’s groundbreaking design quickly became a Malibu icon.

“The most famous of my father’s work is the iconic Cooper Wave House next door to our Sandcastle,” Zen Gesner tells us in a recent phone interview. “He designed it in the late 1950s while sitting offshore of the lot, on his balsa longboard, with a grease pen. Once he had sketched it out on the board, he paddled in and transferred it to paper, and brought it to life.”

Zen says his father “had a vision of building something that would blend in with the environment, the coastline, and surf, and it would evolve through the years.”

Harry died in 2022 at the age of 97.

Living room

Realtor.com

Sandcastle’s spectacular living area boasts a wood-beamed ceiling, walls of windows, and an enormous brick fireplace with a polished concrete hearth that Harry built as a stage for his wife, actress Nan Martin.

‘Before his time’

“I have always had an incredible respect for his originality,” Zen says about his father’s unconventional approach to architecture. “His early move into environmental architecture and design, as well as the use of recycled building materials, was decades before its time.”

Library

Realtor.com

The cylindrical kitchen wraps around a circular island and boasts stained-glass lunettes in the overhead beams, along with a cozy fireplace and breakfast bar.

There are two en suite bedrooms on the first floor. Upstairs, the primary suite features a soaring ceiling, beams, eyebrow windows, and a brick fireplace.

Sandcastle is built on a little cove, 4 miles north of Trancas Canyon.

“It was a magical place with no straight lines—mostly circles, multiple levels, and outer structures, winding upward like a treehouse,” Zen says.

Bedroom

Realtor.com

Made with reclaimed materials

The home was built from materials Harry salvaged and repurposed to spectacular effect: wall panels made from aqueduct pipes, maple wood rescued from an old high-school gym, old-growth redwood harvested in the 1800s, and windows and doors saved from one of Hollywood’s silent film theaters.

“My father built our family house almost entirely out of reclaimed materials that had lived a prior life somewhere else,” Zen says. “He preferred to use the reclaimed wood in his houses, because it had a soul to it and would sometimes be of a better quality than any new lumber that you could buy at the lumber yard. These practices influenced the way I look at everything. Waste not, recycle, and reuse when able.”

Wraparound deck

Realtor.com

A solarium with stained-glass panels, a wraparound deck, and a covered terrace offer unmatched sunset views.

The 1-acre property includes a treehouse apartment with ocean views, a one-bedroom boathouse, and an apartment “nest” above an indoor-outdoor cabana.

Zen recalls visiting job sites with his dad and says his best memories involve checking out a client’s piece of land for the first time. Gesner says he has photos of his father sketching out his initial impressions.

“He’d bring a chair and sit alone on the property for hours, taking note of everything there—the way the sun rose and set each day, the direction the prevailing wind would blow from, the wildlife that would wander through, any large trees or boulders that he could incorporate into the eventual design of the house, how to make the house feel organically born and rooted at that location,” Zen reminisces.

The post Malibu’s Spellbinding ‘Sandcastle’ Beach House Makes Market Debut for $27.5M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.