Why Big Little Lies Houses Are Basically the Main Characters of the Show

Look at the glass. It’s everywhere. When you think about the Big Little Lies houses, you probably picture Celeste Wright’s massive windows overlooking a crashing Pacific Ocean or Madeline’s cozy-but-expensive kitchen island. These aren't just sets. They are architectural manifestations of the lies these women tell themselves.

The showrunners didn't just pick pretty buildings. They picked prisons made of sea-salt-sprayed glass. While the series is technically set in Monterey, California, the filming locations are actually scattered across the coast, mostly in Malibu and the Monterey Peninsula. It’s a bit of a Hollywood trick. You see a shot of the Bixby Creek Bridge, but the interior of the house is 300 miles south.

People obsess over these homes because they feel attainable yet impossible. They represent the "Monterey Lifestyle" that everyone in the show is killing themselves—literally—to maintain.

The Glass Fortress of Celeste and Perry Wright

Celeste’s house is the one everyone remembers. It’s located at 25272 Malibu Road. It’s a mid-century modern masterpiece that feels exposed. That’s the point. The irony of Celeste’s life is that she lives in a house where you can see everything, yet no one sees the violence happening inside.

The property is worth roughly $15 million in the real world. Maybe more now. It features massive floor-to-ceiling windows that make the ocean look like it's part of the living room. When Jean-Marc Vallée directed the first season, he used the natural light from these windows to create a sense of coldness. It’s beautiful, but it’s freezing. You can almost feel the wind coming off the water through the screen.

The house was designed by Harry Gesner. He’s a legend. He’s the guy who did the "Wave House" in Malibu. You can see his fingerprints all over Celeste’s place—the sharp angles, the integration with the jagged rocks, the feeling that the house is clinging to the edge of the world. It’s a metaphor for her marriage. One big wave and it all goes under.

Madeline Martha Mackenzie’s Cape Cod Mirage

Now, Madeline’s house is different. It’s located at 30760 Broad Beach Road in Malibu. It’s a Cape Cod-style mansion that looks like it belongs in the Hamptons, which is exactly why it fits Madeline. She’s all about the aesthetic of the perfect, traditional family.

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It’s about 6,000 square feet. Massive.
The kitchen is the heart of the show. If you’ve spent any time on Pinterest, you’ve seen that kitchen. The marble countertops, the double ovens, the endless supply of white wine in the fridge.

Interestingly, this house is a frequent flyer in Hollywood. It was used in Diagnosis Murder and a few other shows. It rents for about $3,000 to $5,000... per day. Not per month. Per day. It has six bedrooms and seven bathrooms. In the show, it feels lived-in and cluttered with teen angst and toddler toys, but in reality, it’s a meticulously curated vacation rental.

Renata Klein’s Brutalist Power Move

Renata doesn't do "cozy." Renata does "power." Her house is a literal castle on a hill. Located in Malibu (sensing a pattern?), this estate is all sharp edges and concrete. It’s located at 27326 Winding Way.

It’s a 10,000-square-foot beast.
When Renata stands on her balcony looking down at the commoners, she’s framed by architecture that looks like a corporate headquarters. It’s aggressive. The infinity pool looks like it drops off into the abyss. It perfectly captures her "I will not be not rich" energy.

The interior is minimalist to a fault. There are no soft edges. It’s the kind of house where a child could get a concussion just by walking through the living room. It’s a status symbol. It says, "I have arrived, and I have more money than you."

The Outliers: Jane and Bonnie

Then we have Jane Chapman. Her house isn't in Malibu. It’s actually in Monterey—specifically, a bungalow in the Pacific Grove area. It’s small. It’s cramped. It’s the only house that feels like a real person might live in it. It’s a 1920s cottage. It’s located on 17th Street.

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It serves as a visual anchor. While the other Big Little Lies houses are soaring monuments to wealth, Jane’s house is a hideout. It has character. It has peeling paint. It’s the "little" in Big Little Lies.

Then there’s Bonnie. Her house is tucked away in the woods. It’s supposed to be in the hills of Monterey, but it’s actually a property in Calabasas. It’s all wood and stone and "earthy" vibes. It’s meant to reflect her Zen-like exterior, though we all know that’s a facade. The house is surrounded by trees, creating a sense of isolation that becomes very important in Season 2 when she’s dealing with the guilt of the "accident."

Why We Can't Stop Looking at These Properties

There is a psychological element to why these homes became viral hits. It’s "Real Estate Porn," sure, but it’s more than that. The houses act as the external armor for the characters.

1. Space as Privacy: In the world of the show, wealth buys you distance. The houses are spaced far apart.
2. Transparency: The glass walls suggest a life with nothing to hide, which is the biggest lie of all.
3. The Ocean: The sound of the waves is a constant soundtrack. It’s calming but also destructive.

Real estate experts often point out that the "Big Little Lies effect" actually boosted interest in Monterey tourism, even though most of the homes are in Malibu. People want that lifestyle. They want the $100 candles and the $5,000 espresso machines.

The Logistics of Filming Luxury

Filming in these locations is a nightmare for a production crew. You have to deal with tides. You have to deal with salty air ruining the camera lenses. You have to pay astronomical location fees to homeowners who are already billionaires and don't really need the money.

Production designer John Paino had to find houses that felt like they belonged in the same zip code but reflected vastly different personalities. He famously said that finding Renata’s house was the hardest because it had to look like a "fortress."

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The set decorators then had to come in and "humanize" these massive spaces. They added personal photos, specific books, and high-end clutter. In Madeline’s house, they purposely left things on the counters to make it feel like a busy mom lived there. In Celeste’s house, everything was almost too perfect, which added to the eerie, stifling atmosphere of her domestic life.

How to Get the Look Without the $20 Million Price Tag

If you’re obsessed with the Big Little Lies houses, you don't actually need a Malibu zip code to mimic the style. It’s about a few specific elements.

• Natural Textures: Think linen, reclaimed wood, and stone.
• The Palette: Creams, seafoam greens, and slate grays. Basically, anything you’d find on a foggy beach.
• Large Windows: If you can’t replace your walls with glass, ditch the heavy drapes. Use sheer panels to let the light in.
• The Kitchen Island: Make it the centerpiece. Put a massive bowl of lemons on it. Done.

The real takeaway from the architecture of the show is that a house is just a container. You can have the most beautiful view in the world and still be miserable. Celeste Wright had the ocean in her backyard and couldn't breathe. Renata had a mansion and felt small.

If you're planning a trip to see these spots, remember that most are private residences. You can drive by the Jane Chapman house in Pacific Grove fairly easily, but the Malibu mansions are behind gates. The best way to experience them is still on the screen, where the lighting is perfect and the drama is high.

To truly understand the Monterey aesthetic, look into the work of Gregory Ain or Ray Kappe. They mastered the "indoor-outdoor" flow that makes these homes feel like they are breathing. It’s a specific California vernacular that prioritizes the horizon line over the walls.

For those looking to dive deeper into the filming locations, check out the Monterey County Film Commission. They have maps that show exactly where the non-Malibu scenes were shot, including the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the famous Lovers Point Park. It’s a great way to see the "real" side of the show’s world without the Hollywood filter.

Invest in high-quality outdoor seating. Get some oversized knit blankets. Pour a glass of chardonnay. You’re halfway to being a Monterey mom. Just try to avoid the murder part.