In 1992, Rod Stewart sold his 1925 Los Angeles mansion for $6.25 million; after a two-year restoration and estate expansion, the nearly 6-acre compound sold in two deals totaling $86 million

A historic 5.8-acre estate in Holmby Hills, which includes the former 1925 Spanish Colonial Revival mansion of rock star Rod Stewart, has sold in two separate deals totaling $86 million (£68 million). According to real estate records published by The Wall Street Journal and reported by Galerie Magazine, the combined sales end more than 30 years of ownership by daytime television executive producer Bradley Bell and his wife, former diplomat Colleen Bell. The couple bought the original house from Stewart in 1992 for $6.25 million. They then spent two years restoring the property while also buying nearby land, eventually creating a nearly six-acre estate in one of Los Angeles’ most exclusive neighborhoods.

Estate divided between two buyers

Instead of selling the full 5.8-acre property to one buyer, the owners divided it into two separate parcels. The larger parcel covers about four acres and includes the main 17,000-square-foot mansion. It sold for $57 million to television, commercial and film producer David Zander. According to Galerie Magazine, Zander has previously bought and restored important historic homes, including Lasata, the historic Hamptons estate where Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis spent summers as a child. Real estate broker Drew Fenton of Carolwood Estates represented Zander, while Ben Bacal of Revel Real Estate represented the sellers. The second parcel covers about two acres and includes a historic cabin dating to around 1911. It sold for about $29 million to Nick Kaiser, co-founder of private equity firm Marlin Equity Partners.

History and restoration

The main house has an important place in Southern California’s architectural history. Retired distillery executive Henry Kern and his wife, Elsa Mary Kern, commissioned the home in 1925. Montecito architect George Washington Smith designed the mansion and was one of the early leaders of the Spanish Colonial Revival style. In The Legendary Estates of Beverly Hills, the late real estate historian Jeff Hyland wrote that the Kerns encouraged Smith to use much more detailed decoration than he normally preferred. Stewart bought the house in the 1970s and made several major design changes. These included adding marble floors and an Art Nouveau-style disco room. After buying the property in 1992, Bradley and Colleen Bell began a careful two-year restoration to remove those changes. They took out the marble flooring to uncover Smith’s original hand-laid tile floors. They also removed later ceiling additions to reveal the historic carved coffered ceilings. Over the years, the couple continued to expand the property by buying nearby land. Some of that acreage came from their neighbor, actor Gregory Peck.

Modern features across the expanded estate

After the restoration and expansion, the property became a large private retreat that combines 1920s architecture with modern luxury features. The estate includes a 17,000-square-foot main house and a guest house, with a total of 13 bedrooms and 19 bathrooms.Major features across the house and grounds include:

The combined $86 million sale is one of the largest residential real estate transactions recorded in Los Angeles. It also highlights continued interest in large historic estates in prime Westside neighborhoods.