Keaton next looked to add to her real estate portfolio with a stunning Beverly Hills Spanish Colonial Revival structured around a two-story courtyard with a fountain. Originally built in 1927 by California architect Ralph Flewelling, the abode was meant to mimic the architectural aesthetic of the likes of Wallace Neff and George Washington Smith. Keaton got cold feet and backed out of the purchase. (“It needed a lot of work,” she told AD.) When it came up for sale again several years later, however, she shelled out $8.1 million for the property. She and designer friend Shadley then worked together to renovate the home, redoing the kitchen, remodelling the facade, and adding about 500 square feet. She sold the place to Glee creator Ryan Murphy for an undisclosed amount in 2010.
Also in 2007, Keaton picked up a home known as the Alfred Newman House, which was also designed by Frank Lloyd Wright’s son. Set on 1.4 acres in the Rustic Canyon area of the Pacific Palisades, the 4,386-square-foot midcentury-modern dwelling boasted five bedrooms and four bathrooms, with brick and concrete interior accents. Keaton updated the kitchen, restored the woodwork and built-in furniture, and converted the second floor into a primary-suite space with glass walls. Her time and investment paid off – though she purchased the estate for $9.1 million, she sold it for $10.75 million just two years later.
2012
One of Keaton’s more unexpected real estate purchases was a Cape Cod-style home in the Pacific Palisades (given her penchant for colourful tile and warm, Spanish Colonial aesthetics). The actor paid $5.6 million for the relatively new pad, which was completed in 2009. It featured all the trappings of a celebrity oasis – a home theatre, a gym, two wet bars, a wine room, and a rooftop deck facing the ocean – with six bedrooms and nine bathrooms spread across three levels. Out back there was an outdoor living room with its own fireplace, a swimming pool, and a spa. Keaton made a few cosmetic changes and listed the home for $6.995 million in 2015.
2017
A few years later, Keaton began what would become perhaps one of her biggest architectural endeavours. She designed and built her current residence, the eponymous house at the centre of her third book, The House That Pinterest Built. Situated in Sullivan Canyon, the home measures 8,000 square feet and is quite literally the amalgamation of inspirational photos Keaton collected over the years. “I follow my impulses just like I did with acting,” she told AD about piecing together the light-filled, industrial feel she so loves. “I fell in love with the bricks, and I fell in love with the mortar. I wanted to have space between the bricks so they could have a life of their own.”
2018
Keaton’s next project took her to the desert. The Oscar winner picked up a historic Barrio Viejo home in Tucson, Arizona, for $1.5 million. The…
Read More: Remembering Diane Keaton: The Real Estate Icons She Always Called Home
