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Screenwriter Chris Weitz Hopes to Pen Happy Ending for Malibu Beach House


Screenwriter Chris Weitz Hopes to Pen Happy Ending for Malibu Beach House

Desiree Navarro/WireImage; realtor.com

An address along the Pacific Coast Highway comes with a certain cinematic ring.

So it’s fitting that the homeowner, producer/director/writer Chris Weitz, is behind fantasies such as “The Golden Compass,” Disney’s live-action “Cinderella,” and even “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”

Weitz also had a hand in the lovely ambiance of the beachfront home in Malibu, CA, which is on the market for $2.98 million.

Twenty Thousand PCH

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Weitz and his wife, Mercedes Martinez, bought the house in 2004 for $1.95 million.

When they decided to renovate their beach retreat, which was originally built in 1946, they hired celebrity interior designer Barrie Livingstone, whose clientele includes Cher and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.

Livingstone went on to renovate the place so “it feels like a midcentury beach cottage,” while also keeping it low-maintenance. He thoughtfully added light fixtures made of wood, designed not to corrode in the salt air.

Living room

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The structure was also fortified with new floor beams and pilings to hold it firmly in place over the sand, because it is right on the beach, with high tide almost lapping the footings. Most of the day, the beach is clear for strolls with the dog, touch football games, or a proverbial long walk.

Newly fortified foundation

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And to access that beach, there’s a new, sturdy staircase on the side of the house. One other practical addition? A new septic tank, which is very important for beach dwellers.

Besides the practical stuff, the house also has a few luxuries, including a La Cornue stove and new wide-plank white oak flooring throughout.

Kitchen

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The 1,917-square-foot home has only two bedrooms and two baths, but “it feels much larger,” says Livingstone, “because it’s almost 60 feet wide—there’s 60 feet of windows overlooking the ocean.”

It’s an unusually large width for this part of Malibu. Those bi-fold, floor-to-ceiling windows vanish when open, allowing indoor-outdoor living at its finest.

Deck with disappearing windows

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Those same windows make the master bedroom, with its reading nook and private balcony, feel as if it’s set in the middle of the ocean. The master bathroom also has floor-to-ceiling glass doors and its own balcony.

Master bedroom

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Private master deck

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Master bedroom reading nook

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Master bath

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When the came time to sell the house, who better than the man who renovated it? Livingstone also wears the hat of real estate agent with The Agency.

“I started out as a designer,” confesses Livingstone. “But about six years ago, I decided I would be more useful to my clients if I could help them sell their homes as well.”

An agent who can help with decor and fixes buyers really crave is a useful person to have on your side. Livingstone could give “Property Brothers” stars Drew and Jonathan Scott a run for their money, and he might—he’ll soon be featured on an upcoming Bravo competition design series.

Dining area

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But in the meantime, Livingstone is focused on helping the Weitz family sell their Malibu pied-a-terre. The home is among the fortunate in east Malibu, about eight miles from those that suffered recent fire damage.

In addition to co-writing, directing, and/or producing the films mentioned above, Weitz is also responsible for the “American Pie” films and “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.” He also works in television, heading up series including “About a Boy,” “Lone Star,” and “Cracking Up.”

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Source: Real Estate News and Advice – realtor.com » Real Estate News