It is arguably the most famous driveway in Los Angeles. If you’ve ever found yourself scrolling through real estate archives or obsessing over Old Hollywood glamour, you already know the address. 700 Nimes Road Bel Air CA isn't just a plot of land; it's a piece of cultural history that housed the "Queen of Hollywood" herself, Elizabeth Taylor.
She lived there for thirty years. Think about that. In a city where celebrities swap mansions like they’re trading Pokémon cards, Taylor stayed put. She bought the place in 1981 and didn't leave until she passed away in 2011. It’s a ranch-style house, mostly. But calling it a ranch-style house is like calling the Hope Diamond a "pretty rock." It’s sprawling, tucked behind massive gates, and sits on a hill that looks down on the rest of the world.
People expect these homes to be cold. Glass boxes. Modernist nightmares. This place was different. It felt like a home, albeit one filled with Picasso paintings, Andy Warhol originals, and more jewelry than a Cartier vault.
What Actually Happened at 700 Nimes Road Bel Air CA?
The house was originally built in 1960. It was designed by architect Paul Williams, a man whose name is basically synonymous with the high-society architecture of Southern California. If you were anyone in the mid-century era, you wanted a Williams house. He knew how to make luxury feel lived-in.
Elizabeth Taylor bought the estate from Nancy Sinclair, the daughter of Hyatt Hotels founder Jay Pritzker. Before that? It belonged to rockers and industry titans. But Taylor made it hers. She famously had the interiors redone by Waldo Fernandez. He’s the guy who worked with everyone from Merv Griffin to Brad Pitt.
The vibe? Lavender.
Seriously. Taylor had a thing for the color. She even had her own "lavender room." It wasn't just a design choice; it was a branding exercise before branding was even a word. Honestly, when you walk through the history of 700 Nimes Road Bel Air CA, you realize it served as the headquarters for her massive philanthropic efforts. This is where she coordinated the early days of the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR). It wasn't just a place for parties; it was a war room for social change.
The Physicality of the Estate
Let's talk specs. It sits on about 1.25 acres. That sounds small for Bel Air until you realize how much usable land that actually is in the hills. The house itself is roughly 7,000 square feet.
You’ve got a long, winding driveway. It’s private. Like, "don't even think about peeking over the fence" private. There's a pool, obviously. There’s a terrace that overlooks the city. Inside, the master suite is essentially a wing of its own. It’s got his-and-hers bathrooms and enough closet space to house a small boutique.
🔗 Read more: Nicole Kidman with bangs: Why the actress just brought back her most iconic look
The garden is where the magic happened. Taylor was obsessed with her lilies and roses. She had a "jungle" path. It wasn't a manicured, boring lawn. It was lush. Overgrown in the best way possible. It felt like an escape from the paparazzi madness that followed her everywhere else.
Why the Sale in 2011 Was Such a Big Deal
When Taylor passed in 2011, the real estate world went into a frenzy. Everyone wanted to see inside. This was before the era of Zillow Gone Wild where we see every celebrity's bathroom. Back then, these homes were fortresses.
The property hit the market for $8.6 million.
In today's Bel Air market, $8.6 million buys you a fixer-upper or a teardown. But in 2011, it was a solid price for a home that needed some updating. It sold quickly. The buyer was Manaezm "Manny" Mashouf, the founder of Bebe stores.
A lot of people wondered if he was going to tear it down. In Los Angeles, that’s the standard move. Buy a legendary home, flatten it, and build a "white box" mansion that looks like a high-end refrigerator. Surprisingly, that didn't happen immediately. The bones remained.
The Catherine Opie Connection
If you want to understand the soul of 700 Nimes Road Bel Air CA, you have to look at the work of photographer Catherine Opie. She spent six months at the house right before Taylor died and in the weeks following her passing.
The book she produced, 700 Nimes Road, is a masterpiece of "indirect portraiture." She didn't take pictures of the star. She took pictures of her shoes. Her closets. The remote controls on her bedside table labeled with tape.
- The 20-carat rings sitting casually on a dresser.
- The awards shoved into bookshelves.
- The silk carpets that had been worn down by years of walking.
It showed the reality of living in a museum. The house wasn't just a piece of real estate; it was a diary. You can't replicate that with a $100 million new build.
💡 You might also like: Kate Middleton Astro Chart Explained: Why She Was Born for the Crown
Bel Air Real Estate vs. The Reality of Legend
Let’s be real for a second. Most people searching for 700 Nimes Road Bel Air CA are looking for a glimpse of a lifestyle that doesn't exist anymore. Today’s Bel Air is about "The One"—that $141 million monstrosity—or the "Billionaire" estate.
Taylor’s house was modest by comparison.
The house at 700 Nimes Road represents a transition period in Los Angeles architecture. It bridges the gap between the classic Hollywood Regency style and the modern mega-mansions. It’s also a case study in how "celebrity provenance" affects value. Does a house worth $5 million become worth $10 million because a legend lived there? Usually, yes. But the market is fickle.
Some buyers hate the "ghosts" of former owners. They want a blank slate. Others, like the collectors who buy Taylor's jewelry, want the aura. They want to stand in the same kitchen where she drank her morning coffee.
What Most People Get Wrong About Nimes Road
People think Nimes Road is just another street. It’s not. It’s a cul-de-sac. That’s why it’s so quiet. There’s no through traffic. You don't end up there by accident.
Another misconception is that the house is a sprawling palace like Versailles. It’s actually quite tucked away. From the street, you see nothing. Just a gate and some hedges. It’s a reminder that true wealth in Los Angeles used to be about what you couldn't see.
Honestly, the house has undergone renovations since Taylor’s time. If you saw it today, you might not recognize the interior. The lavender is likely gone. The Waldo Fernandez touch has probably been replaced by something more contemporary.
Actionable Insights for Real Estate Fans
If you're obsessed with 700 Nimes Road Bel Air CA or similar legendary properties, there are a few things you should keep in mind about how these estates work.
📖 Related: Ainsley Earhardt in Bikini: Why Fans Are Actually Searching for It
Track the Architectural Pedigree
Don't just look at the celebrity. Look at the architect. Paul Williams homes hold their value better than almost any other mid-century properties in California. If you're looking for an investment, the "who built it" is often more important than "who lived there."
Provenance Isn't Permanent
While Taylor lived there for 30 years, the house will eventually just be another Bel Air estate. As the generations change, the name "Elizabeth Taylor" loses some of its market-driving "oomph." If you’re buying for celebrity history, do it because you love it, not just for the resale value.
Check the Land Use
In Bel Air, the value is in the dirt. Most of these older homes are sitting on lots that allow for much larger builds. If you’re tracking a property like 700 Nimes, watch the permit filings. That’s where the real story of the house’s future is written.
Visit the Public Record
If you’re truly curious about the specifics of the property—the exact square footage, the tax history, or the renovation permits—you can find them through the Los Angeles County Assessor’s office. It’s public info. No need to rely on rumors.
Study the Interior Photography
If you want to see what the house actually looked like in its prime, find a copy of Catherine Opie’s book. It’s the closest any of us will ever get to walking through those halls. It’s a better education in design and history than any real estate listing could ever provide.
The story of 700 Nimes Road is basically the story of Hollywood's golden era fading into the high-finance reality of modern-day Los Angeles. It’s a gorgeous, slightly eccentric reminder of a time when a house was a home for life, even if that home had a world-class art collection inside.
To understand the current status of the property, you can monitor the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) portal for any recent "Notice of Proposed Demolition" or "Significant Alteration" filings. This is the most reliable way to see if the historic fabric of the home is being maintained or if it's being transformed into a contemporary spec house. Additionally, tracking local heritage groups like the Los Angeles Conservancy can provide context on whether the home has been considered for Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM) status, which offers some protection against radical changes to the exterior.