TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Dead Parrots Need More Space?

ADVERTISEMENT

By ANN BRENOFF

Los Angeles Times

Published: November 9, 2008

LOS ANGELES - Nothing like a parting of the ways to make for a parting of the properties.

In July, Monty Pythoner John Cleese sold his 14.6-acre Montecito equestrian ranch to cell phone pioneer Craig McCaw. (McCaw is the former spouse of Wendy McCaw, owner of the Santa Barbara News-Press.)

And now Cleese, who has parted ways with his third wife, psychotherapist Alyce Faye Eichelberger, has listed their oceanfront enclave in Montecito - in the Santa Barbara area - at $10.75 million.

You've heard of an infinity-edge pool? Try an infinity-edge house. The three-bedroom, four-bathroom home seems to extend into the ocean. There are beamed ceilings and views from every room, as well as multilevel decks and gardens, a spa and a 1,000-bottle wine cellar. The property is in a private cove.

The master suite - opening to a private balcony overlooking the Pacific - occupies a full level of the home. It includes a sunroom, a walk-in closet, a sitting/dressing room and a second, room-size walk-in closet. The master bathroom has a glassed-in steam shower.

At beach level, there is a self-contained guest studio with an efficiency kitchen, sitting room and sleeping area.

In addition to the Monty Python shows and movies, Cleese starred in the BBC's "Fawlty Towers" and the 1988 film "A Fish Called Wanda."

OFFERS SKATE ALONG

Sellers, take heart: Champion ice skater Tai Babilonia listed her Los Angeles home at $1,085,000 - and it was in escrow in less than a week. There were multiple offers on the traditional home.

The four-bedroom, three-bathroom house in L.A.'s Sherman Oaks section has about 3,000 square feet. The rooms are bright, and the master bedroom opens to the backyard. The two-story home was built in 1955.

Babilonia and her partner, Randy Gardner, were five-time gold medalists at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

She and Gardner began skating together when they were just 8 and 10 years old, respectively. They were medal favorites at the 1980 Olympics but were unable to compete after Gardner was injured.

Babilonia is engaged to comedian David Brenner.

PRICE DROPS $1.5 MILLION

A new price, a new dawn? Perhaps. Eddie Murphy's ex-wife, Nicole Murphy, has relisted her house, asking $8.5 milliion. In October 2007, she had it on the market at almost $10 million.

The 9,214-square-foot Spanish hacienda, in a gated community in Calabasas, northwest of downtown L.A., has an open floor plan. According to MLS, it has seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms. There are six fireplaces, vaulted ceilings, crown molding, hand-painted tiles, distressed hardwood floors and floor-to-ceiling windows. Other features include a state-of-the-art theater, an office with lots of built-ins, two three-car garages, an elevator, game room, pool, spa and detached casita with a full kitchen.

The Murphys divorced after five children and 13 years.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT