One of the most historic estates in Santa Monica, California, recently went up for sale, and boy is it a stunner. Villa Ruchello is currently owned by media bigwig Shane Smith of Vice Media, but the home was once the residence of several members of legendary band Fleetwood Mac, which is of course where icon Stevie Nicks earned her fame. The opulent home was even used as a set for the film Beverly Hills Cop as well as the TV series Entourage. Perhaps for good reason, the immensely sized manse is currently the most expensive home in the area.
Its European feel is reminiscent of the villas lining Italy's Amalfi Coast and the French Riviera, and being surrounded by 3 acres of lush tropical woods, the home offers plenty of privacy and a tranquil atmosphere in which to unwind. The resort-like outdoor area includes two guest houses, a 74-foot swimming pool, and even a vineyard.
Built in 1932, the mega mansion, which was listed for $50,000,000, has 13 bedrooms and boasts 12 1/2 bathrooms. Located in a celebrity hot spot, the area has 3 miles of scenic coastline, the historic Santa Monica Pier, and Muscle Beach and a trove of trendy restaurants, bars, and boutiques. Take a look inside the property.
Living Large
The Mediterranean-style villa is undoubtedly massive and cuts an impressive figure set amid its lush surroundings. With more than 14,000 square feet of living space, there's plenty of room to spread out and personalize the classically styled home. With plenty of windows, the views from nearly anywhere in the home are likely breathtaking.
Grand Gardens
Villa Ruchello's expansive gardens feature lemon, lime, and orange orchards, as well as avocado trees, herb and vegetable gardens, and a private vineyard. In addition, the home is surrounded by thick rows of towering palm trees and beautiful shrub- and tropical-plant-lined lawns. There are even private water wells.
Bold Entry
This home has a two-story foyer complete with a massive winding Moroccan tile and white oak staircase with wrought-iron railings. The white walls and dark wood create a lovely juxtaposition that shows off the home's traditional Mediterranean architecture. It's such a large space that opens up to several rooms in the house.
Lighting Matters
Highlighting the home's enormous entryway is a massive chandelier set into the dark wood, beamed ceilings. It really sets an elegant and rather formal tone for the home, which at one time housed a speakeasy. The home has been extensively renovated, so it's hard to say how much it resembles what it looked like in those days, but we can imagine it hasn't changed too much.
Lush Living Room
The home's gorgeous formal living room has an absolutely sumptuous feel. The room's wood-paned walls make it feel truly authentic and totally luxe. We also adore the arched windows and those emerald chairs are to die for. Even though this room has been designated as the "formal" living room, it still seems cozy.
The Details
The opposite side of the living room is just as luxurious, with an additional fireplace and hand-painted wooden beams on the ceiling. The velvet furnishings really give the space a special feel, and of course, it's so convenient that the room opens up to the home's beautiful grounds via those French doors.
Modern Kitchen
The mansion is equipped with a gorgeous chef's kitchen that features some lovely Mediterranean-inspired details, including a decorative tile backsplash and a natural wood center island. It's also outfitted with the most modern amenities, including state-of-the-art appliances.
Lovely Library
The villa's library is one of its most stunning interior spaces. It's a spacious room lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves on one wall and an entertainment center on the other. But the library's most amazing feature has to be the gorgeous arched glass doors that span an entire wall and open to the outside. There's also a secret! Behind the bookshelves is a hidden door that opens to the former speakeasy.
Comfy, Cozy Main Bedroom
We love that this home's spacious master bedroom is simple, open and airy, while still maintaining a bit of the traditional Mediteranean feel that defines this historic Santa Monica villa. The light from all those windows must be incredible in the morning. Plus, the furniture looks beyond relaxing.
Massive Main Bath
Another of the home's most impressive spaces is the sprawling master bathroom. It features a deep soaking tub, ornate tile floors and walls, absolutely huge paned windows, and lounge-style seating. It looks like an incredibly indulgent and relaxing place to have a nice soak.
Elegant Dressing Area
We are a little obsessed with the dark floral wall paper in the master closet/dressing room at Villa Ruchello. It has such a romantic vibe to it and it makes the space feel super-chill and swanky. Just imagine getting ready for a night on the town in here! And, don't even get us started on that shoe wall.
Oasis of Relaxation
Nestled within the home's thickly planted grounds is a cedar soaking tub. Framed by giant palms, this outdoor space is an absolute oasis of relaxation. We can imagine it's the ideal spot to soak away the cares of the day, reconnect with nature, and enjoy some peace and quiet after work and on the weekends.
Swimmer's Delight
Many would be hard-pressed to definitively state whether this mansion's stunning pool area is in Santa Monica or somewhere in the French or Italian Rivieras. All of the tilework gives an entirely Mediterranean vibe to the area, and the furnishings make it seem just like a luxury resort.
There's More!
While the huge pool is impressive, that's not all there is to this property. The compound features two guest houses, a wood-fired pizza oven, a bocce ball court, and an Argentinian grill. It is absolutely built for entertaining guests, and we're sure Fleetwood Mac and all of the home's other wealthy residents have held plenty of parties here.
Private Botanical Garden
The lush gardens on the property really do make for an ultra-private living experience. The entrance here is completely surrounded by massive hedges and beautiful shrubs. Plus, with over 3 acres of land, it must make for a lovely evening stroll to enjoy the views.
Mega Manse
If the sheer expanse of this home and its surrounding property isn't yet evident, one look at this aerial view and it's abundantly clear that it is truly a huge and absolutely beautiful living compound. There's so much green space, it almost dwarfs the home itself, but those 14,000 square feet are indeed there.
