COTE DE TEXAS: John Saladino–Part Two

John Saladino–Part Two

 

After doing a bit more research – this is an update to the previous story about Ellen and Portia and the Saladino Villa, along with some history about John Saladino’s new house. And then I promise, no more Saladino, for a while at least!

According to several news reports, including Richard Mineards who writes a real estate/gossip column for the Montecito Journal, Ellen & Portia actually bought the villa from Tom Sturgess, the wealthy Texas businessman – NOT Saladino.   Almost a year before Ellen and Portia bought the villa, it was Tom and his wife Heather who purchased Villa di Lemma from Saladino for either 16 or 18 million - depending on different reports. 

The Sturgesses lived at the villa for a while and even hired Lorraine Letendre  to redo the house.    Though it isn’t known why Ellen didn’t buy it outright from Saladino since she reportedly wanted it and had visited with him several times, she ended up paying around 28 million for the estate – making Sturgess even wealthier – he netted a quick 10 million in less than a year on the villa.

 

image

Tom Sturgess’ designer Lorraine Letendre has BIG named clients like Jennifer Lopez.   She was recently in Architectural Digest for designing Michael Bay’s house, above. HERE.

Thinking about the transaction of Saladino selling the villa to Sturgess for almost half of what Ellen paid Sturgess, it’s just a shame.  Saladino is the one who took the risk, buying up the decaying villa: on the day he bought the estate – 250 rats were killed.   Saladino spent a small fortune renovating the property – no detail was deemed too insignificant to ignore.  It was a masterpiece, an accomplishment that few could undertake so magnificently…and yet, the greatest of riches went to Sturgess who was basically a glorified middle man.  Seriously.   The care that Saladino undertook during the renovation – doing things like rerouting flues of tiny fireplaces – all to bring this stone house back to what it originally once was and more - and in the end, the riches, the spoils, went to Sturgess.

That is a shame.    

Once Ellen bought the estate, she hired architect Howard Backen, along with her designer Tommy Clements, to build a guest house on the property – “something more contemporary in style, maybe incorporating steel and glass windows, mixed with corrugated metal.”

Hmm…maybe something like this? 

 

image

One of the barns on Ellen’s former horse ranch.

 

image_thumb5

A new aerial view of the villa does shows new construction at the front of the property.  Perhaps this is the guest house and maybe a stables for Portia’s horses?

Actually Tommy Clements who works with his mom Kathleen is very talented.  Kathleen moved to L.A. from New Orleans where she owned the popular shop Sister Agnes on Magazine Street.    She made a splash a few years ago when she launched a furniture line – I’m sure you will remember this to die for piece from her collection:

 

image

Design blogs loved this settee – with its striped mini slip.

 

image

This spread in Veranda, designed by Clements, caught my eye because I can’t resist a gorgeous ballerina tie.

 

image

Ellen & Portia’s house in Trousdale done by Clements Design.

But, it’s Tommy’s work with Ellen that has amped up the attention to their firm.  Clements Design’s portfolio is really beautiful – so it makes me feel that the villa might end up alright when they are finished with it. 

Besides Saladino getting cheated out of millions in the sale, the other sad thing about this story is that Ellen is a serial house buyer.  She has bought and sold more houses than seems normal, to be honest.  It is truly strange how many houses she has bought – furnishing them all incredibly well - and then moving on.  What a waste of money, money that could be donated to people who don’t even have a roof.  Last year she bought the Brody house which is supposed to be the best house in L.A.  (That’s someone’s personal opinion. To me - it’s very contemporary.)  She paid almost $40 million for it and declared this was it.  It was the best house in L.A. and there was nowhere else for her to go – even if she wanted to.  A few months later, real estate bloggers were stunned when she sold the Brody house for $55 million to Sean Parker of Napster/Facebook fame.  She then quickly bought a floor in a highrise for $16 million and then sold that a few months later. All this was done while she sold her ranch and bought the villa and sold the Malibu house she bought from Brad Pitt.  Wow.   The last report was she bought BACK a house she sold in 2007, but even that is questionable and who cares really?  It’s all very strange and seems to mask some kind of basic unhappiness or restlessness.  Tommy, her designer, disagrees and says Ellen’s serial house buying is because she wants new design challenges.

 

image_thumb[10]

The Brody House, critically acclaimed as the “best house in L.A.”   OK.  If you say so.

 

image

Ellen & Portia’s former horse ranch

When Ellen bought the horse ranch – and then spent a few years completely decorating all its houses – Portia was happy and wanted to stay there and ride her horses which she credited with healing her mentally.  Not Ellen.  It seemed almost as if Portia didn’t even count, as if her happiness didn’t matter – I’m sure that isn’t true, but it sounded that way.  In Elle Décor – Ellen said she would move, but she’d have to fight Portia on it because this is Portia’s “dream property.   This we may just hold on to.”  

Sure.  Within a few months the ranch was gone.  I have a feeling the Saladino Villa will be gone before long too.  We will hear that Montecito was just too far a drive for weekend visiting from L.A.

 

NEXT…

image_thumb[1]

I was looking at pictures of the horse ranch and thought I spied the woodman – you know the wood sculpture found on the villa’s front porch?!  Is that it – do you see it standing in the middle section – on the left console?

 

image_thumb[11]

The woodman on the entry porch at the villa.  Sure looks similar.

 

 

image_thumb[2]

And here in one of the guest houses at the ranch – I found this chaise!

 

image_thumb[14]

And here is that same chaise, now at the villa.  It’s not Restoration Hardware – it is 19th century French.

 

image_thumb[15]

The Basquiat stumped me because I had never seen it  in any published pictures of Ellen’s houses.

 

image

There is this Basquiat/Warhol collaboration they own.

 

image_thumb[16]

But, on the Clements Design web site – unmarked photographs of Ellen and Portia’s Trousdale House shows the Basquiat was once in that library before it was moved to the villa.

I do think that these few pictures  of Ellen and Portia at Saladino Villa were premature and not staged – I doubt her designer authorized their release.  I’m sure by the time Tommy Clements is finished with the project, it will look great – albeit not quite as great as it did when Saladino furnished it!   But it won’t matter really, because they will have moved on by then anyway – judging by their past record.

 

NEXT…

The house that John Saladino moved into on the Birnam Wood golf course was so pretty – it was furnished so well, so attractively by the people who owned it before he did.    It turns out that Saladino bought the house from interior designer Bruce Gregga and his partner, antique shop owner William Laman.   Gregga, an inductee in the Interior Design Hall of Fame, originally hailed from Chicago and moved to Montecito after vacationing there.  The two have lived in several beautiful houses which have been published in magazines such as Architectural Digest, CHome, and Veranda. 

Here’s a look at Gregga/Laman’s magazine pictorial:

 

image_thumb[18]

BEFORE:  The real estate pictures – nice enough.

 

image_thumb[19]

But they could be prettier….like these:

 

image

  VERANDA:  These suzani pillows get changed out later and this is before the colorful blue rug was placed here. The CHome photoshoot below is my favorite:

 

image

CHOME:  When Gregga and Laman bought the 40 year old house, they did some remodeling – the windows were made taller and more graceful, doorways were enlarged, while walls were replastered and moved.  Antique herringbone wood floors were added.  These two round windows were added by Gregga, inspired by Venetian architecture.  Love this photograph!

 

image

VERANDA:  In the window – another small settee.

 

image

Against the side wall, Regence commode and Jean Michel Frank chairs.

 

image

Against the back wall of the living room – 18th century console and the Botero painting that Gregga bought in 1958 before he was discovered.

 

image

TODAY:  And the living room under John Saladino – he painted the walls a bit more creamy to go with his rug.  The vase outside becomes a focal point in the room.

 

image

CHOME:  A view of the entry hall how Gregga designed it.

 

image

VERNADA:  In the entry – Gregga laid new marble floor. 

 

image

VERANDA:  In the hall Gregga placed this beautiful French empire antique bed.

 

image

CHome – the Gregga dining room.

 

image

TODAY:  And Saladino’s.  Well, if this is a contest – I’d have to give the prize to Saladino.  I just love what he did to basically an empty shell.   This is just so “John Saladino” – which is suppose is why I love it.

 

image

In Veranda, the earlier version of the Gregga library shows the study with a French desk at the side.

 

image

CHOME:  Later, the French desk was replaced with a bamboo version and a rug was added.   The paneling was dark when Gregga bought the house – he lightened it and changed the feel of the room completely when he added the fireplace (below.)

 

image

CHOME:  The fireplace that Gregga added.   Compare the library to now, under Saladino’s ownership:

 

image

Saladino’s bronze fabrics seem to blend in more with the paneling than Gregga’s red.  The white in the painting has just the right pop and acts like a white pillow on a black sofa.  The scale of the light fixture brings the high ceiling down to a more human scale – a trick of Saladino’s.  I have to say – I much prefer Saladino’s library, though I do like them both.  I do love Gregga’s arrangement with two chairs next to the fireplace, which must be very cozy in the winter.

 

image

BEFORE:  I adore the real estate pictures of Gregga’s guest room – the white sofa, the crisp navy bedspread, the wicker chair. 

 

image

And in CHome, another view.  Love this!!!!

 

image

TODAY:  As decorated by Saladino.  He carries the same color tones from the library in here.  The room looks completely different because of the color scheme.

 

image

BEFORE:  The real estate photograph of the master bedroom shows off Gregga’s Billy Baldwin etageres.

 

image

Veranda shows a better view of the bed with the ikat spread.

 

image

AFTER:  The master bedroom as designed by Saladino is set up more as a sitting room.  The bed is half sofa – a sort of Knole design.

 

image

CHOME:  The sunroom  by Bruce Gregga.

 

image

And the other side – in the real estate pictures.

 

image

BEFORE:  The kitchen is really great – under both owners – I especially love where Gregga’s Delft ware is kept.

 

image

Gregga has a large collection of blue and white that he displays.

 

image

CHOME:  And the magazine spread showed Gregga’s outside dining area.

 

image

The pool side during Gregga, which was already discussed.  Pretty.  But…

 

image

I love what Saladino did – bringing in white and light colored plants – and agaves.  He also took out all the pointed evergreens.  It’s much prettier now – but then again, Saladino is a genius and this one picture shows his strengths.

So, what now?  I hear that John Saladino actually took this house off the market and did not sell it.  That makes me happy – at least he is staying out west during the cold months and probably the hot summers, because in California, the summers are actually cool, not hot.

 

NEXT…

And what of William Laman and Bruce Gregga shown above?  Where did they move to?   CHome recently showed yet ANOTHER house of theirs!  That’s two in the last few years that CHOME has shown.  I think that makes five houses they have now lived in in Montecito, they obviously like to move!!  Gregga said he prefers to use what he has – and not redecorate for every house.

   The house before the one that Saladino bought from the pair was rather large and ultra contemporary.  Since then, they have gone for more traditional houses.   The ultra contemporary one was shown in Architectural Digest if you would like to see it HERE

 

image

Gregga/Laman’s very contemporary Montecito house in Architectural Digest.

 

image

TODAY:  The house that Gregga/Laman moved to after the Saladino golf course house was another 1960s home in the same Birnam Wood country club neighborhood.  They took a house stuck in the 80s and quickly renovated it and then put it up for sale.  All these Montecito real estate deals can give you whiplash – they buy and sell houses at the drop of a hat.   This house was then taken off the market and they continued remodeling it – adding more permanent changes.  Then – CHome came and photographed it.  Got that?

 

image

Here the handsome couple, Laman and Gregga stand outside their new Country Club house.

 

image

BEFORE:   The gallery hall had orange colored wood floors and wood ceilings. 

 

image

AFTER:   Gregga bleached the floors and ceiling to update the house and make it more sophisticated.

 

image

AFTER:  The entry – leads to the gallery hall.  The French empire daybed sits across the two consoles.

 

image

CHome:  18th century console mixed with modern art – Gregga’s aesthetic.

 

image

BEFORE:  The living room – pretty.

 

image

CHOME:  The mantel is new – and Gregga surrounded it with antique mirrors.  The house is painted Bruce Gregga white – a color he uses over and over again.   Notice the andirons!  Crystals!  Incredible!!!   I miss the all beige linen with the blue rug from the Saladino house – but Gregga updated it with the Moroccan rug layered over a textured stripe rug.

 

image

Real Estate photographs – this was taken before the mirror was installed and the new rug was placed. 

 

.image 

CHome:  The back wall of the living room – the living room becomes an art gallery when you see this wall with the oversized modern art.  The canvas pulls it all together – the black accents and fabrics.   The chairs are 19th century spoon.

 

image

BEFORE:  The dining room.

 

image

CHome:  The dining room with the Dennis and Lean table and the Cole Porter/Billy Baldwin etageres.   Gregga has turned this room into a library of sorts – with piles of design books.  He added textured blinds in the windows along with striped wallpaper.

 

image

CHome – a mix of antiques and modern in the gallery.

 

image

C Home:  A former’s maid room becomes the study.   The walls are lined in indigo linen and old tiles surround the fireplace.  Gorgeous fireplace – especially inside too.

 

image

Real Estate:  You can see here how the room looked before Gregga was finished.  The walls weren’t covered in the blue linen and the old red fabric was still on the chairs.  Now – with the blue walls and the new blue and white fabric on the chairs – the room looks decorated.  I’m sure there are textured blinds at the windows too.

 

image

C Home:  The library – interesting and with a vibrant mix of color – love the fur throw.  New colorful rug.

 

image

Real Estate:  before Gregga was finished decorating it, with the Moroccan rug here instead of the colorful one.  

I wonder why they put the house on the market so soon after they moved in, even before they were through decorating?

  

image

BEFORE:  Master bedroom.

 

image

CHome:  A tight vignette shot.  This room is wallpapered with breezy curtains.

 

image

Real Estate:  During – notice how he changed the fireplace mantel without replacing it.

 

image

Real Estate:  the guest room.  Shows you what a difference light makes.  The light in the guest room in the Saladino house was so much brighter and the windows were prettier – which made for a prettier room. 

 

image

Real Estate:  not sure what was done, but it’s now a sophisticated, updated kitchen with light and dark grey cabinets, black matte granite and a gray tiled wall, mixed with light floor and ceiling.

 

image

CHome:  The front and back yard were Frenchifried with gravel and green box.

 

image

Real Estate:  another picture before the trees were exchanged in the pots for box.

 

image

CHome:  Another view of the beautiful grounds.

 

NEXT….

Now that both Bruce Gregga and John Saladino are on the Montecito real estate fast tract it will be exciting to see what is next for these two super designers.  Here is an interesting look back for Gregga:

 

image

The Los Angeles home of Bruce Gregga as seen in Architectural Digest: The house was originally built for director George Cukor; Gregga owned it from 1977 to 1982.

Notice how similar the round window is to the one that Gregga added to his home that Saladino now owns.  And look how similar the day bed is to the one he now owns.  Nothing ever changes:

 

image

At first glance the bed seems the same as in 1980, but it’s a different Empire daybed.

 

image 

And in 2010s, Bruce Gregga repeats the same design element by adding two round windows to his house.

The more things change, the more they stay the same!!!

FINALLY:

While perusing an old Architectural  Digest, I found this photoshoot of a NYC highrise by John Saladino from 1989.  I was so excited to find this because it was a Saladino project that I had never seen before – enjoy!

 

image

This apartment was once two units and now it takes up an entire floor.  Located in a new building, it did not have any architectural details.  For the front entrance – another 18th century Georgian door was used.  And no, it’s not the same one used before – I checked.

 

image

The highlight is the foyer with its stenciled floor in a tree of life design that he took from a 6th century Armenian mosaic uncovered this century – in Jerusalem!!!  The floor is stunning!!   Just beautiful.

 

image

The large living room is decorated with a mix of new and old.  Saladino added classic columns with mirrors between them.  Today, I hate to say this – but the diagonal placement looks a bit dated, as does the gold and red color scheme.

 

image

The dining room – with its tower of Korean red chests is something that Saladino had in his media room at Villa di Lemma.  The windows were short because of the building’s façade, so Saladino added the shades from the ceiling to hide the infamous Cote de Texas “dead spot”  - great minds think alike!  Right John?!   Ha! (I wish!)

 

image

For overflow dinner guests, this niche was created to provide extra seating.  The table was designed by Saladino and a very similar one is still sold today.

It’s fun getting hold of old design magazines and finding stories like this one – an apartment by Saladino that was basically forgotten since it was never scanned by anyone until now, nor was it pinned, or was it a part of his book.   I got the same thrill finding all of Bruce Gregga’s houses in Montecito.  I love new design as much as the next person, but there is so much to learn from the elder statesmen of interior design.

34 comments :

  1. Beautiful way to begin my Monday!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Joni,
    Wow, what a fantastic subject you are focusing on recently! Gregga and Saladino have always been two designers that I've had enormous admiration for. I remember when John had a magnificent penthouse suite of offices in Manhattan, it was above the Parish-Hadley offices, and had a huge south facing terrace! Thanks for sharing all of these amazing images.
    Btw, back in the 1980's I was involved in the River Oaks house decoration for Mrs. Pat Breen. We moved her from Tanglewood into River Oaks. We used a few things from Jas Gundry, and everything else we shipped down from New York. Keep up the good work on Cote de Texas!
    Dean Farris

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's so interesting about Pat Breen! Jas Gundry was a pioneer - nothing was more fun than going through his 3 houses finding some treasure.

      Delete
    2. That's so interesting about Pat Breen! Jas Gundry was a pioneer - nothing was more fun than going through his 3 houses finding some treasure.

      Delete
    3. Is Jas still around? Probably long gone- thanks for the reply!

      Delete
  3. I SO MUCH prefer tweaking to say..twerking. What an eye these artists have! franki

    ReplyDelete
  4. Odd to see so weird and startling Ellen snark. I imagine she sells properties for too much money to suit you because she does the same thing as your advertisers and most of the rest of us do; and that's making money. We have no idea what she does with her own money after accruing it. She very well may house some of the poor who don't even have a roof? I'm sure you and your well heeled clients in Houston are doing so? If not, what a "waste of money". Ah! But you also psychoanalyzed her from her home flipping. She's also "unhappy or restless" because of her quick flips. Yeah, I guess my grandfather, who was a home builder who lived in some of his houses before selling them, was unhappy or restless too? My grandfather who was married for 67 years and was probably the most contented person I know. I guess my husband and I (of 40 years marriage), who have lived in a few spec houses we built when the market goes soft are restless or unhappy too? Nope. Not that I know of, but you can interview some of our designers to make sure I'm not busting your bubble on this.

    "She has bought and sold more houses than seems normal, to be honest. It is truly strange how many houses she has bought – furnishing them all incredibly well - and then moving on. What a waste of money, money that could be donated to people who don’t even have a roof. Last year she bought the Brody house which is supposed to be the best house in L.A. (That’s someone’s personal opinion. To me - it’s very contemporary.) She paid almost $40 million for it and declared this was it. It was the best house in L.A. and there was nowhere else for her to go – even if she wanted to. A few months later, real estate bloggers were stunned when she sold the Brody house for $55 million to Sean Parker of Napster/Facebook fame. She then quickly bought a floor in a highrise for $16 million and then sold that a few months later. All this was done while she sold her ranch and bought the villa and sold the Malibu house she bought from Brad Pitt. Wow. The last report was she bought BACK a house she sold in 2007, but even that is questionable and who cares really? It’s all very strange and seems to mask some kind of basic unhappiness or restlessness. Tommy, her designer, disagrees and says Ellen’s serial house buying is because she wants new design challenges."

    Also, I bet Mr. Webb would be a lot happier if "the missus" didn't spend so much time blogging. After all, it's okay to speculate as to what we see online translates into how our significant other and yourself get along in your partnership, right? Maybe he would be happier if you did more.

    I couldn't even finish the rest of the post (and I usually eat them up), but this was just so weird and ugly. You seem absolutely weirdly suspicious about anything Ellen does and as if you're poised for a "Gotcha" on her. "Okay. If you say so."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. omg - I want easy on her compared to what is online. if her own designer feels the need to justify her behavior, that kind of gives you an idea of strange it must be. I didn't even get into what she does with the dogs she "rescues." that's an entirely other subject left to more snarky bloggers than me. if you don't think its strange to buy a 40 million $ house and tell everyone in the press that you will never move again and then two months later you sell it - well that's fine. most people think it's strange. as for my husband? he is sick and can't leave the house, and trust me, he is grateful that I am here, helping him. thanks for your concern about him.

      Delete
    2. Wow, Joni. I am normally a fan of yours, but this one just seemed hateful. What is the agenda??

      Delete
    3. Well as long as other people are being rougher on her than you are..."Okay. If you say so." (I would sell my house, the one I'm hoping will be my last and 17 years and counting, will be, but if someone offers us the right price, I will pack up my troubles in my old kit bag and smile, smile, smile. (All without alerting the media that I changed my mind or justifying anything that is my business to anyone. You might want to check with Ellen's gynecologist and see if she gave the correct last date for her last menstrual period. She OWES us that complete transparency, after all.)) You're acting as a child might and it's bizarre, to say the least.

      Did her designer just volunteer that he thought she was doing it out of loving a design challenge, or did he just answer some crazy nut who thought Ellen was doing *something* that we know about that is surely shady but can't quite project enough to figure out how?

      "It’s all very strange and seems to mask some kind of basic unhappiness or restlessness. Tommy, her designer, disagrees and says Ellen’s serial house buying is because she wants new design challenges."

      I hope your husband rallies soon. He's got checks to fill out to Habitat for Humanity, ASAP, plus I'm sure he would like a change of scenery sooner, rather than later.

      Oh go ahead and tell us about the dog situation. You know damn good and well all you have to do is say you *could* have told us about it but took the "high road" and leaving everyone to quickly Google about the effing dogs. It reminds me of that design blogger in Houston (I wont name any names, OF COURSE!) whose husband is ill due to a botched sex-change operation... See how that works? (And no, I'm not talking about your husband. Who in the world would just casually throw that out there?)

      Delete
    4. I see Joni's point regarding making changes to Saladino's former villa, and basically flipping it. It really was an incredible property. And there is nothing worse than witnessing modern or contemporary changes to such a classic home that was restored over so many years. I see it all the time in my neighborhood and I don't like it.

      And by the way Susan, I don't see any problem with Joni providing her opinion on design choices. "The best home in LA" is far from it in my opinion too! Perhaps Joni's Ellen comments are a little harsh but it's a blog .. and Joni has an opinion and she's passionate about design.

      Best wishes to your husband, Joni.

      Delete
    5. LOL .. Susan .. that was pretty funny. Love you Joni but lay off Ellen.

      Delete
    6. Anon, I am here for Joni's design commentary. Not for her 1. Amateurly psychoanalyzing someone over the number of houses they flip. 2. A criticism of someone making "too much" money when there are people without houses 3. Trying to make Basquiat-Gate happen 4. Ellen neglecting to inform us of a FUTURE sale on a house, 5. POOR PORTIA! 6. Something shady somewhere we can't project to yet but don't let the innuendo stop you.

      "Portia was happy and wanted to stay there and ride her horses which she credited with healing her mentally. Not Ellen. It seemed almost as if Portia didn’t even count, as if her happiness didn’t matter – " WAH! I bet Ellen beat all the horses in front of Portia to show her who's boss! What else could make Portia so thin? Ellen. For sure, because we design people know...things. I bet Portia woke up more than once with a horse head in her bed, because...Ellen needs MOAR $$$$$!!!!!!!

      Oh well. It was a fun run to see Joni's blog build up, advertiser by advertiser, making that filthy, filthy, lucre! :blush:

      That's okay. I've had my fill of slips, marble, enfilades, and CUSTOM seagrass. I'll tarry on and find design and lose the Daily Mail aspect of the same.

      Delete
    7. Susan, chill. The part about Portia and the horse farm came straight from Elle Decor - in quotes. Portia wrote a book about her issues - and how horses cured her of this. That's why she loves horses so much. She freaking wrote a book about it. So - to own a horse ranch and say in a magazine - how much you love it, but your wife wants to sell it, but will have to fight you on that - to buy a house without stables - how else would you take it? And - I didn't make any of this up - it's all from their mouths. If they didn't want people to come to a conclusion they shouldn't talk about it in the press. The issue about her dogs is also not a secret. Howard Stern's wife Beth is a huge animal rescuer. They raise millions for the North Shore Animal Rescue - and you should hear what he says about it. And it's not about the hairdresser and that dog. It's about a lot of other puppies. Again, I didn't make it up. Sorry, she's just not someone I admire - you do. Good for you. As for advertisers? Right, I'm swimming in money, swimming. You are on the wrong blog for that. And - building up the blog? 8 years? Not sure I'm building anything at this point.

      Delete
    8. I'm chilled. Actually I haven't seen her since she was on whatever that show was when she "came out" on the airport PA system, or whatever it was. I'm not necessarily a fan or a foe. Oh, I saw some standup she did on HBO or some other channel and I thought she was funny. I'm not gay, I don't have family that's gay. I have a couple of gay friends, so it's not a "gay agenda" that's raising my hackles. Not that you said it's a gay agenda, but because I'm sure you're looking for some reason why I must think it's unseemly. I do because it is.

      You lifted what? Half a sentence from Elle and the rest you came to a conclusion on. It was just ugly. Also once again, you talk about someone else doing MUCH worse than you. She said it first! Nanny, nanny, boo boo! (And the sarcasm of some of what I said went right over your head.) I guess I will toddle over to Elle and tell them what asshats they are for being upset that Ellen is making money when some are unhoused. I will suggest to them a moratorium on profits until every child in Zimbabwe has a nice toile to snuggle in at the end of their library's chaise. <<<<<P.S. The last 2 sentences are sarcasm. So was another sentence but I'll leave it to you to figure it out. Good night. I will leave you be.

      Delete
    9. Susan - Ellen being a serial house buying is not news. Google it. there are hundreds of thousands of hits about her house buying habits. and I'm not saying that to say nanny nanny boo boo - I'm just saying that alot of people think the exact same thing I do. It's just a little strange. I usually dont ever call anyone out here, rarely. But honestly - that thing about the horses always bothered me and made me feel bad for Portia. Even though Ellen laughs at people who feel that way. She says Portia loves to move every other month, so be it. I actually like her as a comedian and think she is very funny and enjoy her show. I'm sorry you were upset that I feel this way.

      Delete
    10. Everything's fine. We are apparently not able to see each other's perspective, or understand the point, (Which, by the way, I wasn't the only one who posted similarly.) Peace.

      Delete
    11. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    12. When anyone, famous or relatively unknown, acquires dream houses which are then "flipped" within an unsettlingly short period of time, wouldn't any normal person question the motivation? It didn't seem to me that Joni was hurling abuse at Ellen so much as expressing bewilderment. It was the comments from "Susan" which served to make things ugly. And that Joni Webb would allow a platform for such rantings indicates, to this reader at least, a kind of fairness which is completely, regarding "Susan", undeserved.

      Delete
    13. For what it's worth, I think that the move from the ranch was odd, too, given the way it seemed to fit their situation, etc., and was soon. Joni, you are entitled to your opinions, and this is your blog. If people don't like it, don't read the blog. People have addictions, some buy houses, some buy cars, some just buy stuff they don't need. They might even help others buy things, or buy things for people who have nothing. Me, I'd rather keep the Saladino house the way it was when he walked out of the door for the last time. Period. Wall-moving, etc., just seems too cookie-cutter and pedestrian. Of course whomever owns the house is free to make it their own, but sometimes it's painful to see perfection shift. Lighten up on Joni, as I think she hit the nail on the head with her observations. No matter who lives there, it will never be the same without Saladino.

      Delete
  5. Very fun to compare masters...and I love the use of modern art in these interiors. You work hard researching these posts, Joni...and they are visually pleasing and interesting. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ellen is buying houses, decorating them, and selling them and then making a profit. It is the American way to be entrepreneurial; making a business and being successful. Good for her! And it's obviously something she enjoys. She also has a line of home décor items on QVC which fits into this whole concept. I did the buying houses and reselling them thing on a much-cheaper-houses level. It was because I wanted to make money.
    If she wants to donate to the poor, well, that's up to her. I'm just happy when I see a decent hard-working person making an honest living.
    Sheila in Port Townsend

    ReplyDelete
  7. The market determines what a house is worth at any given moment in time. There are a plethora of factors that determined why one owner gets a certain amount for a house and the next owner gets gobs more money the next time it sells. Welcome to the world of real estate.
    Sheila in Port Townsend

    ReplyDelete
  8. thanks for the introduction to Gregga!! Wow! Over and over these photos show the stunning effects of white walls and good light! This was an incredible post with gorgeous photos! Thank you, Joni!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. After I wrote that first story - I realized that Bruce owned that house, which is why I felt like I had to come back and show it. And then, i thought I was through and I'm on twitter and see a story about another house in C Home that Gregga owned. So, it was like, wait. There's more. I was getting worried another one was going to pop up if I waited too long. I really wanted to show the contemporary house too but was thinking it was getting too long and a bit too confusing.

      Delete
  9. Hi Joni, I've never commented before, and I want to thank you. I feel like I am taking CEU's in the best possible way. I've loved Saladino since I was was a kid. Possibly my biggest influence as a designer. His use of scale, and skillful mix of contemporary and traditional are usually just so perfect, as you said, Genius. Why oh why didn't I know about his house in Norfolk? We were practically neighbors.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Joni uh,
    I think that one of Ellen's staffers was playing a joke on you! Punked! :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Joni
    ,Hope your hubby is feeling better soon!
    Sheila in Port Townsend

    ReplyDelete
  12. Nice blog.
    I do not usually comment on blogs, but I found it a bit confusing why you thought Saladino was cheated. Anyway, loved both the properties the villa and the horse ranch, however, the decor for my taste left much to be desired. Oh well to each his own.
    Continued success with your blog. I hope people stop using it as a place to be hateful.
    Lastly and more important, I hope your husband gets well soon. God bless.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Joni, so late in commenting because of a family situation.
    You do great work and as you know I believe this is YOUR blog and you have the say about your presentation.
    No one researches as much as you do for these amazing features. Will be in touch.....
    .
    xoxo
    Karena
    The Arts by Karena
    Lost Too Soon

    ReplyDelete
  14. Little me - recently flipped a Salidino Villa book for $600+.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How many times have you bought a book? You know a lot of people can't afford to read, right?

      Delete