We heard whispers of this more than a week ago from a birdie we’ll call call Brentwood Beotch but rather stupidly sat on the story. Anywho, we’re here now and yes, as was first noted by our pals at the LA Times, gossip-plagued and formerly NYC-based Today Show anchor Natalie Morales (soon to be the LA-based host of Access Hollywood) has paid $6,800,000 for a newly-built family-friendly spec mansion in Brentwood.
Mr. Beotch told us Ms. Morales and her long-suffering hubby What’s-His-Name have already moved into the house, which seems kind of odd to Yolanda because Ms. Morales, along with most of the NBC crew, has been down in Rio for awhile now. But whatever.
The tri-level “East Coast Traditional” residence sports 6 bedrooms and a total of 5.25 baths in its 7,020 square feet of living space. (But bizarrely enough, the same listing also says there are 5 bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms. Huh?!) The property sits just a block or two south of Sunset, right in the proverbial heart of almost shockingly-expensive but rather lovely Brentwood neighborhood.
Yolanda applauds the developer for choosing a rather unusual two-tone color scheme for the house. While the white-on-grey theme might not suit everyone’s taste, we appreciate the effort to differentiate the home from all those other very similar-looking all-white homes nearby.
A grey stone driveway leads to a chocolate-colored front-facing two car garage. The front door opens directly into the living room, with its pleasant arched ceilings and what appears to be a black marble-surrounded fireplace and dramatic 9-foot French dooes that open to the outdoor patios. Directly next to that is a contemporary-style formal dining room that easily seats 10 and has a backlit wine cellar/rack thingy for easily grabbing a good bottle of Shiraz to go with your sirloin.
Wide-plank white oak floors continue in the open kitchen. Per the listing, the appliances are all state-of-the-are and the enormous center island features a white Caesar stone counter top.
Back near the entryway, a staircase leads up to the home’s five (or six?) bedrooms, including the master suite, which features a sitting room, dual bathrooms, and a fashion designer-suited walk-in closet with glass cabinets and tons of space for all Ms. Morales’s Louboutins and Birkins (or whatever).
The house, two stories at the front, drops down mullet-style to three out back and sports a rather melodramatic staircase running from the second level to the ground space and bisecting
Despite the somewhat-paltry .28-acre lot, the outdoor spaces are maximized with a rectangular pool and inset spa, dog-run-sized patch of very green grass, and several outdoor dining and lounging areas, including one with a full-size fireplace.
Although both parties have vehemently denied it, there has been oft-repeated speculation that Ms. Morales’s move to the West Coast may have been prompted by an affair gone awry with her former Today co-star Matt Lauer. Whatever the case, Ms. Morales will now co-helm Access Hollywood and she seems ready to leave NYC behind for good, as she and Mr. What’s-His-Name have put their Hoboken crib on the market.
Mazel Tov, Ms. Morales (and hubby). Now if The Bald One comes a-knockin’, do like Whitney should’ve done and just say no. Remember how he played our gurl Annie?