Famed TV producer Shonda Rhimes is no stranger to drama. The creator of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and Bridgerton knows her way around a good setting and how to properly sell an audience on a story.
She’s likely hoping those skills carry over into real estate, as it was announced this week that Rhimes is selling her Hancock Park mansion for a whopping $25 million. The seven-bedroom, 8.5-bathroom home was purchased by Rhimes in 2014 for $8 million. The reason for the huge price spike? She's put a ton of work into the place.
“A rambling 8,400-square-foot behemoth the color of pea soup," Rhimes wrote in Architectural Digest. “It was a mess, an illogical pairing of design styles. Why would I want this wrong, ugly house? ... I can only explain it like this: The house felt like [a] good story. And every inch of me wanted to write it.”
As a result, Rhimes began a five-year renovation project on the home. She got some help from Michael S. Smith who designed the interiors for the Obama White House, as well as famed architect Bill Baldwin. The end result? A gorgeous, modern California classic that’ll turn anyone’s head.
The property sprawls across more than 1.14 acres of land and 11,749 square feet, according to People magazine. Outside, the mansion features a three-car garage, a scenic walkway to the front, and a spacious front yard for all to see and enjoy. Behind the property rests a guest house, as well as a pool, hot tub, cabana, spa and hair salon. There's even a secret hedge maze, complete with a decorative fountain.
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“Smooth lawns flow into a sport court; a pool stretches over to wide bougainvillea-covered trellises; fountains bubble along winding paths revealing the entrance to a secret rose garden,” Rhimes wrote about the home’s exterior. “When you stand on the back patio, the views of towering trees and wide lawns and garden make it easy to imagine the house is somewhere in wine country instead of five minutes from Hollywood.”
Rhimes worked painstakingly with Smith to bring light into every inch of the house. The entry foyer is topped with a gorgeous skylight, inviting light and holding space for guests and residents alike. The first floor continues this theme throughout with a spacious two-story gallery that opens into the backyard, a traditional library with fireplace (which Rhimes writes is inspired by the original property), and a family room. All feature heated marble floors, straight out of a European fairy tale.
The kitchen was also of interest to Rhimes, who wrote that she wanted a spacious, relaxing kitchen for both her family and guests to enjoy while entertaining. The chef’s kitchen does just that, with a large island for cooking, a nook for guests to nibble at, and plenty of amenities to enjoy whether you're a novice cook or a master chef.
Below the kitchen lies a fully furnished basement, with stadium seating in a theater and a large playroom.
On the upper levels lie six of the seven bedrooms, each with its own spacious bathroom. The primary suite is gorgeous, with a spacious walk-in closet that features plenty of cabinets for storage and even a bench, as well as a gorgeous bathroom, complete with a large bathtub, shower and even a center island for storage. Within the room itself, there’s a sitting area with a fireplace.
Rhimes is selling the property following her signing of a $300 million deal with Netflix, who recently released her latest project, Bridgerton. The show is now one of the platform’s most successful. While she’s put a lot of love into this home, perhaps she’s looking for a new property to fix up—and write a new story in the process.
Learn more about the Hancock Park home and see pictures via the official listing.
Photography by: Owen Kolasinski/BFA
