Turrets, towers over Malibu
Malibu’s ultimate trophy home, the Castle, is for sale. The good news -- at least for a multitude of charities -- is that its owner, Princess Lilly, as international socialite Lilly Lawrence is known, isn’t leaving town.
Lawrence has commanded Malibu uber-agent Scotty Brown to find her a hilltop parcel on which to build her next project.
Lawrence, daughter of an exiled Iranian oil minister and goddaughter of Aristotle Onassis, oversaw extensive renovations to Castle Kashan, the 10,500-plus-square-foot stone-turreted fortress she named for her father’s village. After she bought it in 1998, walls were removed, rooms brightened, vistas unblocked. And in doing so, she unveiled soaring views of the ocean, the canyons and the Malibu lagoons beneath her acreage.
The result is an honest-to-goodness fairy-tale castle that sits perched on a hilltop, guarding against invaders high above Malibu’s coastline. There are turrets, barbicans and winding stone steps that lead to circular rooms.
It’s a flip of the queen’s penny as to what speaks loudest to the home’s royal nature. There’s the ornate mirrored foyer with its 40-foot ceilings and circular staircase fit for a princess making a red-carpeted entrance. And then there are the wrap-around terraces that simply beg for a crystal flute of chilled Champagne at sunset while Mozart plays.
This is one of several homes owned by the princess -- a flag flies and a crown sculpture is illuminated when she is in residence -- and it is used principally for entertaining. She frequently hosts charity events here, and has been known to have a celeb or two in attendance.
Before her ownership, several episodes of “The Rockford Files” were filmed inside.
The castle, built in 1978, is furnished largely with pieces from Fallah Palace in Tehran, the princess’ ancestral home, and objets d’art from her world travels with her husband, the late Francis “Bunty” Lawrence. But this castle is not without some touches of irony, such as the Rock ‘n’ Roll Room, an incarnation of the princess’ affection for the other King -- as in Elvis -- right down to the hand-painted “Gates of Graceland” mural and the ’59 Cadillac couch. Elvis’ red Ford Fairlane is parked in the driveway, just in case he returns. (The guitar on the wall, however, belonged to Eric Clapton.)
The Napoleonic Study -- her working office -- is adjacent to the Empress Josephine Garden Room -- a lovely sun room in which to have tea. On the lower level is the King Ludwig Hunting Lodge -- named after the royal who built the Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany. All rooms are jam-packed with collectibles and family treasures and photos.
The castle is being sold unfurnished and it’s hard to separate the princess from the property here. When she goes, so goes the contents of the presidential library -- including signed memorabilia from every living U.S. president plus a holiday card or two from Prince Charles, Di and the boys. But staying will be the secret passageway door to a full master bathroom suite just off the library.
Asking price: $17 million
Size: 10,500 square feet in the main house
Features: In the main house, six bedrooms -- some of them used as libraries and public rooms; eight bathrooms; five fireplaces; a glass-ceilinged sun room; two guesthouses; a motor court; and room for a helicopter pad.
Where: Malibu
Listing agent: Scotty Brown, Coldwell Banker Previews, Malibu Colony, (310) 317-8334.
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