By Meranda Yslas
Without a doubt, celebs live extraordinary lifestyles. From the designer clothes they wear, the expensive cars they drive, and the luxurious parties and dinners they attend, it’s natural to want to take a peek into their world. Luckily, thanks to our celebrity interview with Lisa Johnson Mandell, we’re able to get an inside look at the homes of some of the most famous celebs.
A Look Inside Celebs’ Homes
The HGTV Los Angeles correspondent has toured the houses of many stars, including the home of Hollywood couple Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. One of Mandell’s favorite parts of their Hidden Hills house was the master bedroom. “The master suite is fabulous and enormous. It’s like 3,000 square feet, which is bigger than most of our homes,” she reveals. “It has a sitting room, a kitchenette, his-and-her bathrooms, his-and-her closets, and his-and-her dressing rooms.” That’s not the only impressive room in this 50 million dollar mansion: It also has a spa room, a gym, a courtyard with a fountain, and a backyard that can easily hold 500 people.
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Without a doubt, their house is gorgeous, but this famous couple was also guilty of “the worst celebrity purchase” that the founder of At Home In Hollywood has ever seen. The two bought “an absolute rundown shack.” She elaborates, “It was a ranch style home that had fallen into disrepair. Nobody lived there; weeds were growing inside of the house; and everything was dilapidated.” Even with such an unflattering descriptions, the married celebrity couple paid three million dollars for it. The reason for this seemingly outrageous purchase was for security purposes. This “awful shack” overlooked their beautiful new home, so they bought it and “will probably just tear it down and keep the lot so that nobody can peer into their backyard,” the real estate agent shares.
The decision to move into a home in Hidden Hills is not that shocking, especially for a Kardashian. According to Mandell, their new house is really close to momager Kris and sisters Kourtney and Kendall. Celebs tend to buy homes in exclusive neighborhoods like this one because “it’s a great community, especially for families. It’s super private.”
For the most part, stars usually hire professionals to help decorate and make interior design decisions. It makes a lot of sense, considering they are constantly traveling or working and don’t have a lot of down time. However, that’s not always the case. Mandell shares that there are some celebrities who “really have a flare for decoration.” Annie Potts from Designing Women is one of them. “She just put her house on the market a couple of months ago, and it is absolutely gorgeous,” she divulges.
Real Estate and Relationship Advice
Not only is Mandell an expert in all things related to celebrity real estate, she is also familiar in offering relationship advice. As the author of two relationship books How to Snare a Millionaire and its sequel How to Snare a Millionaire Now, she is able to combine both of her areas of expertise and share some great real estate tips for couples.
Related Link: What You Need to Know Before You Move In Together
For couples deciding to move in with each other, “it’s really a good idea to get a new space.” She further explains, “There are things that will remind your new partner of your ex, so I think it’s definitely best to start fresh if possible.” She jokingly adds, “If you can’t afford to move, at least get a new bed!”
When it comes to raising a family, there are a few things a couple should look for in a home. The relationship author believes the school district should be the number one priority. Although she does admit that buying a house in a good school district is going to cost a little bit more, “it ends up being a good investment.” She explains, “If you’re paying to put kids in private school, tuition can be 30,000 dollars or more a year. It’s going to be pricey. The extra money you’re putting in your home, you’ll make up later in school costs.”
She also makes a note of caution regarding the stairs. “If there is a staircase in your home, you’ve got to make sure it can be carpeted if you’re going to have little ones,” she says.
Related Link: ‘Million Dollar Listing’ Star Josh Altman Says, “Relationships are Harder Than Owning a House”
The journalist shares a few tips to offer anyone who is single and house hunting. Reminiscing about her own bachelorette pad, she suggests that it’d be “really great if your home can be within walking distance from nightlife, restaurants, coffee shops, and stores. If you could walk home at night without having to worry, that’s always good,” she says.
One thing that singles shouldn’t stress out about when looking for a new home is the size. Mandell explains that “square footage is less important than location.” If you do end up entering into a new relationship and love, living in a smaller house makes it more convenient for you. “The fewer possessions you have, the easier a move is and the freer and less encumbered you can be,” she shares.
You can keep up with Lisa on her website At Home In Hollywood.Â
