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Katie Holmes buys Calabasas crib

Boston Herald
By Mark David
8/22/14


Ever since Katie Holmes up and left movie star super-Scientologist Tom Cruise she and their fashion maverick daughter, Suri, now eight, have shacked up in a rented apartment in a celebrity-filled building in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood. It seems, however, her New York City days have come to an end and, as per celebrity gossip juggernaut TMZ, the stylish and photogenic divorcee dropped $3.375 million on small mansion in the same guard gated development in Calabasas, CA, where other residents include, Michael's long-suffering mother, Katherine Jackson, and whatever of the Jackson clan shack up with her, Toni Braxton, and Travis Barker who recently bought himself a new house near Century City. Both Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian also own mansion in the 'hood, the former recently bought her spread from hellion pop star Justin Bieber and the latter even more recently bought her allegedly mold infested mansion from former professional footballer Keyshawn Johnson.

Listing details Your Mama managed to tease up out of the internets describe the approximately 6,200-square-foot house in question as an "extensively customized...Grand European Manor" while Your Mama might less kindly call it a modern-minded if liberally pastiched and prototypical suburban Tudoresque mini-manse. Whatever the case, the house sits on nearly a half, mostly walled acres with five bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms plus a separate guest casita that's perfect for Miz Holmes's (probably armed) live-in bodyguard.

Not surprisingly for a seven-ish year old residence in an affluent gated development in Calabasas, the front door opens in to a grand, double height entrance with milk chocolate hardwood floors and an open staircase with wrought iron details. There's a step down formal living room with fireplace and a formal dining room with what appears to be a Dale Chihuly-designed chandelier. For better or worse, depending on one's point of view, both living and dining rooms have white and all but opaque floor-to-ceiling curtains that, when closed, lend the rooms a definite South Beach boutique hotel vibe.

Less formal, open-concept family space includes a family room with secondary staircase and television-surmounted corner fireplace. The adjoining and expensively outfitted center island kitchen with glossy black raised panel cabinetry, snow-white counter tops and a complete suite of high-grade stainless steel appliances.

In addition to whatever guest/family bedrooms are located on the second floor there is also an open library loft with built-in desk space and French doors to a Juliet balcony along with a master bedroom with separate sitting room/boudoir and an unexpectedly beige and brown bathroom in a house that is otherwise almost entirely did up and done over in black and white.

Outdoor living and recreation amenities include a cozy courtyard nestled between the formal living and dining rooms, a spacious loggia off the family room and kitchen that overlooks a pristine sport court, an outdoor cooking center, and a sleek swimming pool with slightly elevated spa and integrated sunken fire pit with cushioned built-in bench seating.

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