Gore Vidal Lists His Hollywood Hills Home

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Jan 21st 2011 at 7:01AM

Back in 2005, we mentioned that Gore Vidal's Italian retreat La Rondinaia is up for sale. It eventually sold for a reported $17.87 million and now can be rented out as a luxury vacation retreat. That probably won't be the fate of Vidal's Los Angeles home which recently hit the market for $3.495 million. The Real Estalker reports that Vidal bought his home in the Hollywood Hills way back in 1977 for just $149,500. The five-bedroom home is on nearly half an acre. The main house is a Mediterranean style home with four bedrooms. The property includes a pool and a one-bedroom guest house. The home is crammed full of the author's treasures including overstuffed furniture, objets d'art and plenty of books. The home has rustic carved wood beamed ceilings, wide-planked floors and a living room with a carved stone fireplace. The bibliophile's delight includes a library, bookshelf lined office, music room, and a meditation room.

Gallery: Gore Vidal In Hollywood Hills

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Tags: california real estate, celebrity real estate, Gore Vidal, hollywood hills, los angeles, los angeles real estate

Filed under: Estates

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Spectacular Bid Jan 21st 2011 2:17PM

I was married in Ravello, Italy and Gore Vidal's former place there (Swallow's Nest) was and is worth every penny. While other properties on the Amalfi Coast are to be found the inventory of homes in Ravello is exceptionally thin.

The views of the Sea are to die for, the weather spectacular, and unlike some of the tourist infested towns directly on the water, Ravello has always maintained its status. Vincenzo Palumbo will never lose a dime on that purchase.

Vidal's Hollywood Hills place is interesting but simply pales dramatically next to La Rondinaia or even his former Hudson River estate, Edgewater, which was lovingly restored by serial home-buy-restore-collector Richard Jenrette.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/06/realestate/greathomes/06Away.html

BTDT Jan 22nd 2011 10:36AM

Nice place but way too much furniture.

OLDERBLUE Jan 21st 2011 2:47PM

Antiquated, way too busy & cluttered , depressing, Like My Gramma's.

DENISE Jan 21st 2011 2:56PM

The house is pretty but not anywhere near worth 4mill in my eyes and it looks as if it could use a makeover bad.

allamerican7 Jan 21st 2011 6:59PM

$940k

MIKE Jan 21st 2011 7:04PM

I guess he can use the money.

jcangi3984 Jan 21st 2011 7:32PM

I'm sorry perhaps I haven't any taste but I think the home is OLD and would need alot of work, it's not attractive at all, and the furniture is so Victorian and I love that style but find this over the top, I really don't care for the home and do not feel it's worth that much money

JLS Jan 21st 2011 10:54PM

3.5 million? REALLY? No, sorry. This home shows extremely poorly. It's a chaotic mess. It looks like an old man lives there with what is valuable to him but junk to the people looking at it. Load of sentimental stuff.

If he wants it to sell, he should empty the home, and stage it. Very unappealing to me.

Hi Dave! Jan 22nd 2011 6:51AM

All the old lady furniture needs to be taken out so we can see the rooms better. Obviously, some updating is needed. Still, a grand old Hollywood home.

Elaine Jan 22nd 2011 9:27AM

This is one of the gaudiest houses I have ever seen...I wouldn't give you a dime for it...

thecornerzoo Jan 22nd 2011 10:31AM

Beautiful setting, tacky interior.

airalex8 Jan 22nd 2011 10:39AM

the furniture looks so well made, it is a shame people now like ikea and pier one instead of real furniture that has withstood the test of time

nikkivo Jan 22nd 2011 11:05AM

I wholly understand how people learning about style from arrivistes on reality TV would "stage" this home differently, but they'd probably also empty out the baroque rooms in the Met for their sense of the modern. Me? I would give everything I have (which wouldn't amount to the asking price) just to be able to work in the same library as Vidal.

nikkivo Jan 22nd 2011 11:14AM

I understand how those who've learned style from the arrivistes on reality TV wish to stage this house to reflect something they consider more tasteful, but then, they'd probably also want to redo the Uffizi. Me? I'd give everything I have (which is less than the asking price) just to work in the same library as Vidal.

MossKicker Jan 22nd 2011 12:51PM

This home reflects the taste of a tired old queen who has lived and loved only to reach his final years. The structure appears in need of a much needed renovation, the interior delights in a chock a block mix of what one hopes are pleasant and treasured memories. Brava Mr. Vidal in a life well lived.

msharvie Jan 22nd 2011 12:56PM

Albeit the furniture and wall decor may have some sentimental value to Mr. Vidal but it has to be one of the worst I have every seen. The house seems to be well built and lovely. Uncluttered you would be able to see more of the character.

diamondlotus Jan 22nd 2011 1:01PM

This is a fine example of a real "Old Hollywood" style house. I love it! I am over the standard granite counter tops and plain "modern" decor and love vintage glamour. I hate to see anyone take a home like this and destroy it's charm by trying to make it "modern, it's charm is it's vintage appeal and it is a lovely house. I would change some things, declutter a bit, but it is a lovely example of a real "Old Hollywood" home. Wish I could afford it!

diamondlotus Jan 22nd 2011 1:05PM

These days with the location, amount of property and the vintage charm of the actual home itself (without the furnishings) $3.5 million is not an excessive asking price at all. I see tract development homes here in San Diego that go for that much. You could not hope to build a home with all the built in charm of this one for that price these days. It is a relative bargain really.

Carolyn Jan 22nd 2011 5:23PM

I thought that Gore Vidal had passed away years ago. My bad. I wouldn't even consider buying a home in Hollywood Hills, but Revello, Italia? That's a given "yes!" I had met Gore Vidal in the late 1960s. I was employed by Esquire Magazine at the time. He was a bit haughty, but a gentleman. Jackie's cousin.
I wonder where he's going to live; maybe at a swanky assisted living complex.
BTW, I couldn't even afford to buy a doll house. :)

phil snith Jan 22nd 2011 7:06PM

Compare this beautiful property with the awful new stuff done in the Holloywood Hills and you will realize what a treasure it is.Holloywood Hills is one of the best kept secrets in all of the USA.One of the most desirable places to live in the world.The "old Guard" homes hardly ever come up for sale.Extremely private and not for show,Either you know or you don't about these types of things. As a designer I would give twice the price with the furnishings included and think I got a great bargain I would never part with any of it and know that must be the way Gore feels.He is one of the great writers of our time.They should make it a foundation and keep it for all of us to share.

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