The only thing better than breakfast at Tiffany’s? Breakfast at Audrey Hepburn’s former Brentwood home—which, lucky for fans of the silver screen legend, just hit the market. Now, for the first time in 34 years, her former Los Angeles hideaway is for sale for $10.9 million.
The house was first owned by Mildred and Edwin Knopf, relatives of Alfred Knopf who owned the renowned publishing house, in the early 1950s. That was before British actress Deborah Kerr and her husband, Peter Viertel, snagged it. Hepburn leased the house twice from Kerr while she was abroad shooting films. According to several Sotheby’s International Realty listing agents, Hepburn was there in the spring of 1950, during a screen test of Quo Vadis (Hepburn was considered for the part of Lygia, but the role, in fact, went to Kerr), and again while prepping The Children’s Hour the next year (Hepburn played Karen Wright).
The 31,163-square-foot estate, tucked behind gates on of one of Brentwood’s most coveted streets, still exudes the understated elegance Hepburn was known for. Manicured rose gardens frame the property, while a covered lanai—outfitted with a fireplace, built-in ceiling heaters, and views of the expansive front lawn—feels tailor-made for early mornings with croissants and coffee.
The dining room features hand-painted Gracie wallpaper.
But it’s the house itself, built in 1939 by an unknown builder, that warrants such a hefty price tag. The 6,099-square-foot Georgian-style gem features five bedrooms, six-and-a-half baths, and a look that marries old-Hollywood grace with updated modernity. There’s hand-painted Gracie wallpaper in the dining room, a conservatory fit for cocktail hour, and a chef’s kitchen with sun-soaked garden views.
Go inside the house Audrey Hepburn lived in
The upstairs primary suite is practically a home in itself, with dual spa-like bathrooms, massive walk-in closets, and a balcony that overlooks the estate’s verdant-green front lawn. Downstairs, there’s a family room and a guest suite perfect for your live-in help—or your very lucky in-laws. Oh and did we mention the swimming pool and a small putting green in the backyard?
Sure, Tiffany’s has diamonds. But this house has Hepburn, history, and a front lawn fit for a film still.
Rachel Silva is the associate digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers all things design, architecture, and lifestyle. She also oversees the publication’s feature article coverage, and is, at any moment, knee-deep in an investigation on everything from the best spa gifts to the best faux florals on the internet right now. She has more than 16 years of experience in editorial, working as a photo assignment editor at Time and acting as the president of Women in Media in NYC. She went to Columbia Journalism School, and her work has been nominated for awards from ASME, the Society of Publication Designers, and World Press Photo.
