Friday 11th November

Rihanna under her umbrella

Grammy-winning pop princes, Rihanna is selling her rain rotten, and never-quite-completed, disaster home in California for $4.5 million.

The star purchased the property in 2009 for the considerably higher amount of $6.9 million, however Rihanna continues an ongoing legal battle with the developer, and is reportedly furious over serious construction faults and wants to finally wipe her hands clean of the home.

The current listing states clearly that the property does have its downfalls, highlighting its "significant water intrusion and moisture issues throughout" and its "encroachment issues”. The listing also clarifies that a short settlement is required and that the price is somewhat negotiable, expressing that they “will consider all offers”.

The 8,520 square foot residence includes eight bedrooms, ten bathrooms, a colossal custom fitted wardrobe, and a gourmet kitchen with commercial appliances.

The last of Sydney's dress circle

A recently-completed three-storey penthouse at The Rocks in Sydney is for sale for $16.1 million.

Located on the north-western half of the new Stamford Residences tower, the four-bedroom, five-bathroom penthouse has been lavishly decorated by internationally-known interior designer Thomas Hamel – right down to a baby grand piano in one of the many living areas.

The penthouse has an internal space of 468 square metres, and terraces on levels 28 and 29 which add a further 99 square metres. A sweeping 9-metre (30 foot) staircase of serpentine curves and artistic flourishes links each floor, but if steps are not your thing there is a private internal lift.

The master bedroom has its own kitchen and bar area, and a massive ensuite with a sumptuous shower-in-the-round large enough to fit a basketball team. The shower is enclosed by circular glass to a design inspired by the revolving entry doors of the nearby Grosvenor Place office building. 

The penthouse has commanding views over the Harbour, the Bridge, the Opera House, Darling Harbour, Balmain, Lavender Bay and the CBD – all exhilaratingly showcased through the panoramic three-storey windows surrounding the staircase.

A second slightly smaller penthouse on the eastern side of the building is on sale for $13.4-Million. This is 412 square metres internally, with two terraces of 111 square metres, and has been decorated by Poco Designs of Woollahra.

Both penthouses come with three car parking spaces and additional basement storage.

“Each penthouse captures the spirit of a sophisticated New York retreat,” says Colin Griffin of Colliers International.

From the spacious interiors it’s hard to know where to cast your eye, such is the kaleidoscope of colour and smorgasbord of sights.

“These views can never be built out,” Mr Griffin adds.

With frontages to both Gloucester and Cumberland Streets, The Stamford Residences is the third apartment building developed by Stamford in the northern CBD precinct. The earlier two Stamford On Kent and Stamford Marque were extremely successful.
 
Anthony Rice, a Director of Stamford Property Services, believes the penthouses set a new benchmark in luxury, style and excellence in an area he refers to as ‘Sydney’s dress circle’.
 
“This is the last residential high-rise permitted in The Rocks’ heritage conservation area, so the building will appreciate in value at the highest rate,” says Rice.
 
Designed by Kann Finch, The Stamford Residences has 122 apartments of which just five remain.

For further information, find it on Millionplus.

Have your Hacienda Haven

A unique country estate near the Northern NSW suburb of Tenterfield has come on the market for just under $3 million.

Named Casa de Vogel, the owner of the retreat lovingly designed and built the property, along with Paul Hogans famous ‘Cedar Springs’ mansion in Possum Creek, and the Beach Hotel in Byron Bay, lending their unique relaxed style to yet another spectacular locale.

"Casa de Vogel is a truly magical private retreat for an executive couple looking to escape the rat race for some well deserved rest and relaxation,” says Agent Nicolette van Wijngaarden.

The residence pays homage to the owner’s love of the Hacienda style of architecture, and boasts authentic Spanish style finishes both inside and out. The three-winged building is based around a central courtyard and includes five bedrooms, five bathrooms, gourmet kitchen with walk-in pantry, games room, and various living and entertaining areas.

The grounds are landscaped with ornamental exotic gardens, and include a two-car garage, stables to accommodate four horses, and a large established vegetable garden.

“You can access the property by chopper, plane or car and immerse yourself in nature, relax in the wonderful Spanish inspired surrounds of the home, or horse ride or bushwalk the 650 acre estate," says van Wijngaarden.

For further information, find it on Millionplus.

Toni Collette to sell Bronte cottage

Academy Award-nominated actor Toni Collette, the star of the TV series ‘United States of Tara’, and her musician husband, David Galafassi, are selling their hillside house at Bronte because the renovation rebuild costings defied property logic.

Their 1885 weatherboard cottage on a 750-square-metre block in Bronte Road cost $4.4 million in mid-2009. They’ve since obtaining rebuilding approval, but have opted not to proceed given the rebuild construction tender quotes are understood to have tallied about $4 million.  The official application with Waverley Council suggested its minimal revamp cost would be $2.5 million.

Set privately above the high side of the street, the four-bedroom house is one of the last remnants of the original Bronte Estate. Given the current top-end market conditions aren’t resplendent with sunshine, its McGrath Estate Agents listing agent Bethwyn Richards has given public estimates she expects the property to sell for about $3.5 million and that Collette and Galafassi are prepared to cop a $900,000 loss.

It’s one of three Bronte Road houses currently listed through McGrath. There are unconfirmed rumours the couple have bought elsewhere in Sydney.

The Bronte house was bought a month before the sale of their Bellevue Hill home for $6.35 million to Adelicia Dawson-Damer and her husband, Nick Harding through McGrath agents Ben Collier and James Dack. The bullish $6.34 million bucked the prestige property market's woes during 2009. The 1928 Spanish Mission-style cul-de-sac house, El Mio, cost $5 million in 2004 when sold by Patricia Power, who had expanded the house since she bought it in late 1998 from one-time Brambles director Emmett Hobbs and his wife, actor Sarah Pierce, for $2.655 million.

Before heading back to Los Angeles, Collette and Galafassi, parents of six-month-old son Arlo and three-year-old daughter Sage, recently stayed in Bronte but rented the redundant house of media tycoon Lachlan Murdoch and his wife, model Sarah, which is currently for sale through Christies International.

For the full article, click here.