The iconic Paul Williams-designed Azria Estate in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles has been on and off the market for nearly a decade.

The ritzy residence, longtime home of fashion magnate Max Azria, has been listed for as much as $88 million. And now, with its most recent reentry to the market, it’s available for $55 million.

The pricey estate is also headed to the auction block. Will Concierge Auctions finally move the mansion now that it’s on the block with no reserve?

Bidding opens in May, and starting offers are expected to come in as high as $38 million, the listing notes.

Let’s take a look inside.

Storied estate

The lavish property has a fascinating history. It was originally designed in 1939 by classic, Hollywood Regency designer Williams, known as the architect to the stars.

Azria and wife Lubov Azria purchased the estate in 2005 for $14.4 million, according to the Los Angeles Times. Prolific author and Oscar-winning producer-writer Sidney Sheldon was the seller.

The fashionable couple then dubbed the 2.8-acre estate Maison du Soleil and spent a reported $30 million on a total renovation. It now features 14 bedrooms and 25 baths, ensconced in an astounding 30,000 square feet.

Is the Max Azria Estate priced to sell now?

The Azrias first put the property on the market in 2015 for $85 million, and it’s been on and off the market at ascending and descending prices ever since. Max Azria, the award-winning designer and founder of the fashion retail line BCBG, died in 2019.

When the house hit the market that year for $78 million, it was the most expensive home that week on Realtor.com®.

While the price has come down, the interiors have been similarly toned down. Once fearlessly flamboyant, the spaces are repainted and updated to appeal to a broader pool of buyers.

Gone are the colorful carpets and ornate decor hanging from the ceiling. While they’ve been replaced by more neutral selections, at least one cheerful, kaleidoscopic carpet remains.

The crystal lighting column in the grand foyer has been removed, and the walls are more monochromatic; but the striking, mirrored home-theater lobby also seems to be relatively untouched.

And while the color palette is more reserved now, the massive primary-suite closet is intact (as befits a couple of fashion designers).

The estate features several luxe structures. In addition to the main house, there’s a separate 5,500-square-foot entertainment center with a theater, game room, and chic home office.

The beautifully manicured grounds include rolling lawns, mature trees, a pool and sauna, a partially glass-walled tennis court, Japanese- and Mediterranean-themed gardens, and a lovely greenhouse for growing produce and exotic flowers. There’s also a Moroccan bathhouse encased in marble tile.

Bidding on the estate is scheduled to start May 9 and close May 23. All bidders must, of course, be prequalified. For more info on the auction and estate, go to Concierge Auctions.

The post Ready, Set, Bid: See the Transformed Max Azria Estate in L.A. Before It Heads to Auction appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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