The Lodge at Spindrift on Carmel’s beloved coastline has drawn lots of attention from film producers over the decades
(Picture: Compass)The Hollywood home from Basic Instinct and Big Little Lies has gone on sale for nearly $30 million (£23 million).
Hidden away on a cliffside in the laid-back town of Carmel, California, the 12,000 sq ft property is the largest oceanfront residence in the area, and a hugely popular film set.
Famously the site of Sharon Stone’s seduction of Michael Douglas in Nineties erotic thriller Basic Instinct, it most recently featured in the award-winning HBO series, Big Little Lies, starring Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman.
Its current owner has invested millions into bringing its design and interiors into the 21st century.
There are five bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a grand living room and 12 fireplaces. The biggest of two kitchens features a glass-walled breakfast area from which to take in the Pacific Ocean views.
Bookworms will be in raptures over the two-storey library, while fitness and wellbeing fanatics will appreciate the home gym, spa and luxury swimming pool. The latter has been built inside the open atrium of the house, where it is peacefully protected from the elements.
Outside, the two acres of naturally landscaped grounds are richly planted with tropical foliage. There is a greenhouse for growing your own and a secluded hot tub cocooned by a natural rock wall, looking out over the waves.
Varying levels of terraces make for an entertainer’s dream; one is designed for summery al fresco dining, another for cosy firepit conversations, and a third offers a serene space to sit quietly and breathe the ocean air.
There are parking spaces for eight cars and garage spaces for four.
Jonathan Spencer, realtor at Compass, which is managing the sale, said: “For many years, Hollywood elites have recognised The Lodge at Spindrift as the quintessential coastal estate.
“The home lives like new constructions with the thoughtful and extensive improvements made in recent years.
“The savvy buyer knows there is still substantial room for price appreciation at its current valuation and will view this property as a trophy piece for generations to come.”
He has seen “strong” interest so far and expects a sale soon.
Thanks in no small part to its picturesque setting, artsy Carmel has attracted swarms of celebrities and film producers over the decades, featuring as a backdrop for the smash hit likes of Play Misty for Me, A Summer Place and the original The Parent Trap.
This is a town of amusing quirks. There are no street names or sidewalks outside of the commercial downtown zone, and women are banned from wearing high heels without a permit due to dangerously uneven paving.
Oscar-winning director Clint Eastwood had a brief spell as mayor during the Eighties, and the actress Doris Day campaigned hard for dogs to be allowed on its beach and in its many independent eateries, making Carmel an attractive location for those with four-legged friends.
The property, known as The Lodge at Sprindrift, is available through Compass for $29.625 million.
