I was invited to preview the Charles Farrell Estate in the Movie Colony neighborhood of Palm Springs earlier this month. The house is a part of a community of a handful of former celebrity homes - think Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Lucille Ball. Being able to walk through the same rooms that the 20s silent film star, Charles Farrell, and his wife slept in and taking in all the history of the house definitely was the highlight of my week.
The Charles Farrell estate has a lot of history since the home was built in the 1930s. Charles Farrell became the mayor of Palm Springs in the 50s and his home hosted many famous celebrities of the time. So I know this sounds really cliche, but very appropriate - "If only these walls could talk." The gossip that was shared, the memories made, and romantic connections that most likely went on during one of the many parties at the estate.
The entire estate sits on an acre of land and consists of the main house, a guest house, and a two-bedroom casita - 7 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, and 7 fireplaces! You can easily get lost on the property. However, the extra room definitely comes in handy when having large parties and inviting many friends over to spend the night.
Images: Marcia Prentice
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I would have appreciated some more details on the intro of this house: Who last inhabited the home and when? Are the furnishings his or was it staged or redone? Many of these items seem new and not all that lux while others seem more refined and original. Also, who invited you there for a preview and why? Is the house going on the market?
Makes me miss SoCal.
mginwa....Me too.
Oh, SWOOOON! Thanks for posting! This romantic-yet-ascetic mission style is one of my all time favorites!
Every single picture just lead to more "I love that, and I love that!" This is quite literally my dream house.
Stunning. I was lucky enough to visit Scotty's Castle in Death Valley last year and so many parts of this house reminded me of that. Such fantastic taste.
Do they do weddings? Would there be space? It's hard to tell how large the outdoor part its
Yes we do weddings! The home sits on an 30000 + square foot lot. Plenty of space for a wedding of 175-200
One couple owned it after Charles Farrell, and they sold it to the current owners in 2011. The renovation took years. None of the furnishings belonged to Charles Farrell, although they were selected in true Old Spanish taste, per 1930's Palm Springs. This home is a vacation rental.
How lovely. It would be such a great place to vacation with friends or family.
This is so beautiful.