Unique Homes Blog

Lots of magnificent homes grace our covers but few merit the “Ultimate” accolade. This issue features Le Belvédère, a stunning Bel Air estate that ranks among our top Ultimate homes.

As with most exceptional properties, the many over-the-top features, such as the opulent materials, a ballroom that seats 200 or more or the traditional Turkish hammam, garner the most initial attention. But delve more deeply into our cover and you might just discover that you’re falling in love with this home, with the exceptional beauty of intricate but refined details, such as the embossed leather or hand-carved ceilings, the elegant stateliness of the architecture and the tranquility that comes from having every facet in perfect alignment.

Slip through Le Belvédère’s massive entry gates, past the swan pond and you are transported back to an era more romantic and gracious than 21st-century Los Angeles. Inside, the foyer dazzles with views that extend past the infinity pool to a 280-degree panorama of the city below.

“It is so magic when you enter this house,” says Stacy Gottula, who, with Joyce Rey, is listing the property for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Beverly Hills for $85 million. The artistry of the embellishment created by more than 100 master craftsmen from Morocco, Mexico, Italy, China and Russia would in itself make this home exceptional. But the real magic comes from melding modern technology with Old World ambiance. For example, the screening room offers the highest-quality audio and video in a setting akin to ornate opera houses of France and Russia.

The best real estate realizes the magic that lives in all of us, and that’s what renowned developer Mohamed Hadid has done with Le Belvédère.

—Camilla McLaughlin

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