Yesterday, Yolanda discussed a big new $7 million Encino spec-mansion that was very recently sold to an obviously wealthy woman named Cyndi Ruud-Johnson.
Well, kiddies, if you love the Valley you’re in luck today. There happens to be another similarly-styled spec-mansion directly next door to Ms. Ruud-Johnson’s new Encino estate. This other house was built by the very same developer and completed right around the same time, and it also was recently sold for a fat $5,300,000. And although It’s not quite as huge as Ms. Ruud-Johnson’s residence, it is certainly large and no less luxurious.
Our astute friend Vlad the Revealer at Celebrity Address Aerial noted that – just like Ms. Ruud-Johnson’s home — this house next door was sold to another mysterious blind trust that shields the true identity of the owner from prying eyes. Who could it be, Vlad wondered?
Well, kiddies, Yolanda just happens to know that the new owner of this house is also a woman. Her name is Ina Marlene King, though she is better known as I. Marlene King or simply Marlene King. And make no mistake, our Ms. King has a yacht-sized boatload of cash. She created the super-successful teen drama show Pretty Little Liars, after all. And in addition to the money, she’s got the legion of followers (more than 1.3 million on Instagram) to back up her success.
A bit of family background: Ms. King is openly lesbian and has long been partnered/married to an attorney named Sheri Rosenthal. There are two children in the King/Rosenthal household – Emerson and Atticus – both of whom have made cameo appearance in various PLL episodes. At least one of Ms. King’s sons attends the elite Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, where tuition can easily top $40,000 per year. Yikes!
But it’s late and that’s enough gossip for all y’all nosy Nellies.
Desirably located just two blocks south of Ventura Boulevard, the house is another large, contemporary take on Cape Cod. The .44-acre lot is completely walled, gated, and camera-secured for privacy, naturally. As for the pizza delivery boy, he’s sure to be thoroughly wowed with the grandiose 21-foot-tall entryway and the regal-ish staircase. The wide plank “French Oak” (whatever that means) hardwood floors are quite lovely, too.
Like Ms. Ruud-Johnson’s house next door, this fancy-pants mansion sports a plethora of name-brand and swanky materials. There are Walker Zanger/Ann Sacks tiles, Caesar Stone countertops, Carrara & Ecuadorian marble, and Crestron & Lutron lighting. Whew! We don’t even know what half of that stuff means, but we’ll take it.
More mundane but no less impressive amenities include an office with direct access to the backyard and spacious formal living/family rooms, each with its own fireplace.
The 7,699-square-foot home has a total of 5 bedrooms and 3.75 baths in the main structure. The master suite keeps it light and bright with a pitched-roof bedroom and French doors accessing a private balcony.
Elsewhere in the main structure are a movie theater and game room w/ pool table. Out back is a detached recreation room slash mini-guest house with one bedroom and one bathroom. Also within this little structure is a surprisingly large living room and a full-sized wet bar. If Yolanda were one of Ms. King’s kids, we know where we’d be after our parents went to bed for the night. Just sayin’.
The lot isn’t particularly huge, as y’all can see, but it certainly has plenty of space: there is a rolling lawn and the requisite zero-edge saltwater pool w/ attached spa.
Turns out that — again like Ms. Ruud-Johnson — Ms. King is a newcomer to the Valley and hails from over yonder mountains. What’s in the water over there, huh?
Property records reveal that Ms. King and Ms. Rosenthal still own their old house, a single-story traditional set on a celeb-popular Hollywood Hills street just above the world-famous Sunset Strip. Our Ms. King paid $1,650,000 for the .31-acre property back in 2003. The lot sports a 1921-built Traditional with city views, dark hardwood floors, a “gourmet kitchen”, a gazebo, and even a swing set. The home is dangerously close to Sunset Plaza — a slightly raunchy area and not necessarily the best place to raise kids — but sits privately behind gates, sculpted hedges, and mature magnolia and willow trees.
If any of y’all are looking for a classy and conservatively-styled house in the WeHo area and you’ve got a few million bucks to spare, hit up your gurls Ms. King and Ms. Rosenthal. Yolanda’s educated guess says their Hollywood Hills house will be available for sale very soon, and we don’t think this one will last long. Mark our words, you hear?
Listing agents: James Harris & David Parnes, The Agency
Marlene King’s agent: Daniel Lam, The Agency