You may know Liza Minnelli by her breakout role in Cabaret, or by her famous parents Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli, or maybe by her recurring role in the sitcom hit Arrested Development. However you recognize this superstar, there's always more to find out.
Someone recently located her childhood home and shared their findings on YouTube. Sadly, the abandoned home is anything but pristine. Let's take a look at what a disaster the home turned into. Later on, we'll also look at some before and after photos to show how beautiful the home used to be.
An All American Family
Right around the birth of Hollywood's Golden Age, Judy Garland was the sweetheart of the film industry with movies like The Wizard of Oz, and A Star Is Born. She starred in the film Meet Me in St. Louise, which her future husband, Vincente Minnelli, directed.
The two were married and gave birth to Liza Minnelli shortly thereafter. When she was still young, the couple divorced and Vincente bought a home in Beverly Hills where Liza grew up. Today, the home is unrecognizable.
Enter If You Dare
A YouTuber by the name of Adam waltzed right into the abandoned home through a side gate. The chipped, black paint of the gate gives way to a view of a broken window. The small window leads to a kitchenette off of the main kitchen.
Overgrown plants engulf the house's perimeter. Chipped window sills and shutters match the wooden gates whose locks are rusted and broken. The abandoned home is more or less a free for all.
Someone Cooked Here Once
Despite the tile and cabinetry, it's hard to imagine this as a kitchen without the appliances or any sense of organization and purpose. Pulled out drawers sit on the countertops, which are also riddled with loose papers.
The dated cabinets aren't anything special. Beyond the room is a kitchenette with the broken window we saw in the previous photograph. To the left, you can see the peeling paint on the walls that are consistent throughout the home.
How Did That Even Happen?
How their soft carpeting turned into that science experiment is a wonder. It appears that someone began the removal process, and gave up once they discovered what was underneath. However, some of the pink substance seems to have been scraped away.
Around the time that the mansion was built, carpeting was widely popular. As such, carpets are throughout the home. Decades later, we've discovered how uncleanly carpets can be. This photograph confirms our worst carpet fears.
Here's The Second Floor
How that door managed to come off its hinges is a mystery. You can even see the dirt markings on the white guardrail. And did someone bang their entire head into that wall?
Though the carpets aren't tremendously visible, you can see the dark stain marks throughout. What you can't see in this photo is the that to the very left, just at the top of the staircase, someone signed Judy Garland's name on the wall.
Looks Like Someone Had A Mail Fit
We've all been there. You take that stake of mail you've been avoiding for weeks, open it up, and just throw it all over the place. Okay, maybe not all of us do that. But, whoever left this room last clearly had an aversion to paper.
It seems unnecessary to have every single cabinet door in this house opened up. It resembles a home that's been robbed. Also, what kind of floor is that? Is looks red, but doesn't appear to be carpeting.
What Is In That Tub?
You'd have to really dislike someone to wish this tub on an enemy. It appears to be full of sand that's the color and texture of dust. You can see places on the ledges where something was removed.
Whoever paid this bathroom a visit recently didn't even dare to give it a quick dusting. You can't blame them, it looks like a hazard to even be in there. However, the pink suggests it could have been Liza's room, long, long ago.
Paper Mache Ceiling?
It's hard to believe that a ceiling could become so frayed. It looks more like an abstract art piece than it does a ceiling. Remember paper snowflakes? This appears to be a strange take on those. The discoloration between the stark white and the off white is another curious characteristic of this ceiling.
It appears that the brighter white was underneath a layer of paint that was done later on and matches the walls. The new layer must have begun to peel or was intentionally peeled back over the years.
You Can See Through The Walls
If you're wondering why this photo looks like you're looking through a crumbled brown bag, it's because you're actually looking through a hole in the wall. The guy who took the video that this photo is derived from put the lens right up to the wall's hole.
Beyond, you can see an ajar door leading to a bedroom. Yet again, drawers have been pulled out and left open. A thin, white sheet appears to be acting as a curtain. The bed is stripped of any bedding and looks like a stack of mattresses.
Now That's A Bedroom
Back in 2002, Vincente Minnelli's last wife, Lee Minnelli, welcomed the press into her home. The home is where Vincente died from emphysema and pneumonia back in 1983. He left the estate to his daughter, Liza, but Lee occupied the home until her death in 2009, at the age of 100.
As you can see, the home was still in great shape back in 2002. The carpet looks fresh, the paint impeccable, and the decorating holds an old Hollywood feel.
The Desolate Master Bedroom
Nowadays, the room is hardly recognizable. The tall doors are still intact, and even of the chairs from the previous photo remains. However, the curtains appear to have been torn down, half still hanging depressingly along with the french doors.
Scratch marks seem to be on the door. A large piece of mismatched flooring lays atop the carpeting in the middle of the room. Trash litters the floor and there's a large black mark on the wall that the bed used to lean against.
Meet Lee
Here is Lee Minnelli, seated beneath a portrait of her late husband. A grand piano is lined with photographs of Liza, Vincente, and Lee. Liza and her father were notably close, taking photos together throughout Vincente's life from the time Liza was born.
The home looks so clean and put together. Lee smiles into the distance meditatively. She looks comfortable and right at home. It's strange to think that this is how the home functioned in 2002.
Here's The Living Space These Days
From a different angle, you can see that the room was lined with a glorious fireplace and a speckled mirror. The mirror allows you to see the other side of the room, which is lined with windows that overlook the backyard.
More strange objects litter the floor. Though the carpet doesn't look as horrid as some of the other photos we've seen, it's clear that is hasn't been cleaned in years. Another abandoned piece of furniture is also visible in the reflection.
A Glorious Dining Room
This formal dining room is not shy of space, boasting a giant (and very old-school) television is the corner. The chandelier and artistic room divider against the wall adds a glamorous touch. The chairs match the tablecloth, which rests underneath the table's glass top.
Orange-pink paint on the walls picks up on the decor's color scheme. A small table against the window could have been a place to set hors d'oeuvres and other treats for guests to help themselves to.
That Can't Be The Dining Room
If it weren't for that oversized television and the walls' distinctive paint, you'd swear that this was a completely different part of the house. Even with the sunlight pouring in, the room manages to look dark and dingy.
Green cushions from a couch in another room are strewn across the floor for no apparent reason. A large, white nick in the paint is painfully obvious from far away. The dining room table and chandelier are gone.
A Nice Place To Take A Dip
What kid didn't dream of having a pool in their backyard? This mansion had beautiful gardening surrounding a large pool. If you look to the right of where Lee is sitting, you can see a tiny glimpse of the pool's adjoining jacuzzi.
It appears to have been one of those jacuzzis that pours into the pool, offering a soothing sound and appearance like a small waterfall. Sitting beside this pool in her white gown, Lee screams elegance.
That's Some Dirty Water
Before we get to the painfully obvious, what's going on with the divider between the jacuzzi and the pool? It looks like a wooden plank that's been spraypainted black. The walls of the pool look suspiciously blue-colored.
The water in the jacuzzi is black. In the pool, the water appears to still at least be somewhat clear. It's likely that the water is from the rain over the years, rather than being leftover from when the pool was drained.
A Lovely Place To Come Home To
This photograph from 2002 shows that the house's curb appeal held up for the latter half of the century. The black shutters from the master bedroom lead out to a balcony overlooking the driveway. Can you imagine being a Hollywood star, and greeting your guests from your master balcony?
It's very Beverly Hills. The surrounding landscaping lingered onto the building without being overgrown. The stark white was defined by the slick, black outlines. In a word, the home looked classic.
No More Curb Appeal
The deep, dark front door and balcony doors make the face of the house look like a giant wall outlet at best, and a haunted villa at worst. The white paint is severely peeling, and the landscape doesn't appear to have been manicured in years.
The two small trees that used to sit on either side of the door are gone. The cloudy weather adds to the somber mood of this house, which seems to have past its expiration date.
Demolition Time
After all that, it may come as a relief that the home is under massive construction. The 19-bedroom, 5,900 square foot home is being gutted from the inside out. After Liza sold the home in 2004, she paid rent to the new homeowners so that Lee could still live there until her death.
For whatever reason, the homeowners refused to care for the mansion once the home was officially in their care. After years of people snooping through the home, the home is finally getting the attention it needed.
Lauren Bacall's $26 Million Central Park Apartment
Lauren Bacall defined an era. The actress and singer, who was known for her sultry looks, distinctive voice, and timeless style was named the 20th greatest female star of Classic Hollywood Cinema by the American Film Institute.
It's no surprise that with all of her success, the actress had an amazing home. In 2015, just a month shy of her 90th birthday, the legendary icon passed away and left behind her amazing Central Park apartment. Her home went on the market and we finally got a glimpse inside the $26 million stunner.
Nine Massive Rooms
Lauren Bacall's apartment inside the Dakota Building (one of the most famous properties in NYC history) was gigantic, and the floor plan shows the sheer size of the rooms within. The master bedroom is a massive 22 feet wide and opens into a private study, bathroom and walk-in closet.
It also has a gorgeous balcony looking over Central Park. The kitchen is not your average NYC apartment kitchen. It's not shoved into a corner. It's actually an eat-in kitchen which opens up into a 24 foot by 19 foot dining room and a family room. Bacall's home also includes a guest bedroom, a library and a gallery.
Bacall's Dining Room, With French-Inspired Design
Bacall was a fan of French-inspired design. This is evident in her furniture choices, many of which are in the style of Louis XIII (you'll see what just a pair of Louis XIII-style chairs sold for later).
Bacall's dining room brings these French elements together. The color pallet is flawless, opting for rusty reds and deep blues which can be seen accented in the chair upholstery, rug and wall hanging. The wall hanging is actually the star of the dining room. The Bell Époque French poster by Jules Cheret sold for a whopping $7,000.
French Posters And Fine China In The Formal Dining Room
Like most of the rooms in her massive, nine-bedroom apartment, Lauren Bacall had an overall French theme to her formal dining room. In addition to the Bell Époque French poster which sold for $7,000 in auction, the actress had a number of French posters hanging on the dining room's walls.
She paired these posters with expensive, highly collectible china, that instead of using she hung as art pieces next to the framed posters. This corner of Bacall's dining room shows just how much of a collector she truly was, with decorative lamps and art-pieces topping the surface of every piece of furniture.
Unique George III Style Dresser Sold For $6,875
Though Bacall favored French design, she also included pieces from other countries and periods. Her antique George III oak Welsh dresser, which displayed her collection of fine china, was from the late 18th century.
Though the style is straight from the United Kingdom, George III pieces are actually an English interpretation of Rococo (in other words, they're based on that classic, French style Bacall loves). Bacall's dresser, which sold for $6,875, was made from oak, a unique choice for pieces from that time. George III style furniture typically uses Mahogany. Sometimes painted satinwood and giltwood would be used, but rarely oak.
The Pretty Pink Master Bedroom
Like the rest of her apartment, Bacall's bedroom is dripping in prized pieces of artwork. Behind her bed is another gallery wall, undoubtedly worth a pretty penny. The master bedroom isn't just something because of its furnishings; it also has a highly-coveted, unobstructed view of Central Park. Could this be the most expensive room in NYC real-estate? Maybe. Imagine a life where you sit in the bay windows of your mansion-sized apartment and look out on the peaceful, green Central Park. Imagine!
Bacall's choice of color in her bedroom is also interesting considering most of her other rooms are blue, brown and white. Here she chose very feminine lavender and pink tones, which aren't seen anywhere else in her apartment.
The Master Suite
Bacall liked to fill every inch of a room with antique furniture, art and collectibles. The master suite is the only place where something seemingly new is placed. Adjacent to the working fireplace, which is adorned by a number of collectible metal plates and figurines, is what appears to be a very modern lounge.
The lounge actually ties the room together quite nicely, making this room appear more cozy than cluttered (which is a fine line when you're a longtime collector like Bacall). Behind the lounge is a bookshelf, filled again with knickknacks and books. Guests who are enjoying the fireplace can also relax with some reading.
More Gallery Walls In The Master Suite
The fireplace by the master suite is the perfect display case for Bacall's collection of decorative metal plates and candle sticks. Next to the fireplace is yet another gallery wall with framed portraits of ships and floral designs. Bacall is not afraid to use accents of color.
Next to what appear to be two clown figurines is a bright blue decorative piece that really stands out among the wash of browns. The reason Bacall's apartment can have so much art is because the walls are a whopping 13 feet high. This place is definitely catered to an art collector because there's a lot of picture frame real estate.
Yellow Walls In The Guest Bedroom
Lauren Bacall went for an interesting choice in her guest bedroom – bright, cheerful, yellow walls. The pattern screams opulence whilst the color screams whimsical fun. Above the bed hangs a very expensive piece of artwork dating back to Spain in the 1920s. This piece, which depicts a woman holding a basket of fruit, was painted by Andrew Segovia and sold for a whopping $18,750 at auction.
Bacall kept her themes of robin's egg blue in the guest bedroom. Though the walls are a cheerful shade of yellow, the bedspread and rug match her living room couches and walls. She also has a unique, tiered shelving piece resting in the room's right corner and adding an interesting touch to the overall look.
A Palette Of Natural Blue And Robin's Egg Blue
Bacall's living room was quite formal, but she was known for her style. This is probably why she chose to paint the space a refreshing shade of robin's egg blue, which brightens up the entire room and works wonderfully with the space's natural light.
Throughout the room, there are blue accents that really tie her collection of vintage knick knacks together – everything from the statues on the fireplace mantle to the pattern on the comfy-looking couches. Bacall also collected animal accent pieces and had two Indian-inspired elephant statues set alongside a camel and crane statue.
A Baby Grand With Framed Figure Drawings
What's a lux New York City apartment without a baby grand piano? We don't even want to think about how difficult it was to get that thing in there, but it's absolutely gorgeous. The piano is by Mason & Hamlin, a premier New England-based piano company that was founded in 1854.
The piano sold for $6,875, just above the starting price for a new piano of that caliber. The original value was likely much, much more. Though Bacall was a great supporter of the arts, it didn't look like she did much playing in her old age. The piano appears to be a more of a table for displaying her old family photos.
Carved Fireplaces, Crown Moldings, and Not Your Average Grandmother's Couches
These couches look comfortable, but they're not your average grandmother's sofa. They're Lauren Bacall's and chosen to perfectly accent her living room's wall color. Patterned couches are sometimes hard to pull off, but these actually ground the room. Since they're white, they offset the dark wood of her gorgeously-carved fireplace and coffee table.
Bacall's grand apartment actually has a whopping five working fireplaces – an increasingly rare sight, especially for a New York City apartment. Each is mantle is detailed with gorgeous ornate carvings. This particular fireplace is accented with a deer head above the mantle, a nod to her overall theme of wildlife.
Ornate French Style Mirrors And Antique Dressers In The Master Suite
It's not just that Bacall's apartment had nine whole rooms, it's that the rooms are actually gigantic allowing her to have tons and tons of gorgeous antique furniture. In this room, an ornate French-style mirror rests on a Regence Provincial Walnut Commode. This mid-18th-century piece sold for $3,750.
The room also has an antique secretary desk which was crafted with French style. The Louis XV provincial bureau was crafted from walnut in the mid-to-late 18th century and sold for $5,000. Both of these pieces complement the wood floor.
Bacall Was A Collector
Bacall lived at the Dakota from when she was about 36 years old until she was 89. A lot happens when literally your entire life goes by, and throughout her many years, Bacall collected art and antiques. Bacall's home is practically an art museum with gallery walls enclosing the main living space.
Nearly every spare inch of wall space in her living room was covered in framed art – from expensive paintings (some more modern than others) to photographs and prints. Not to mention, Bacall's nine-room stunner also had a working fireplace, a rare sight for a New York City apartment.
Bacall's Pelican Painting Sold For $173,000
Bacall's art collection was worth even more than her furniture. This original print of American White Pelican by James Audubon sold for $173,000. Audubon was an ornithologist, naturalist, and painter. He gravitated towards painting birds in their natural habitats and American White Pelican truly showcases his niche.
Audubon's most major work is a color-plate book called The Birds of America (1827-1839) which is one of the first ornithological works ever completed. His goal was to paint one page each day and he massively succeeded. Audubon identified 25 new species of birds in his anthology – who says art and science can't be one?
Bacall's Antique Louis XIII Walnut Fauteuils Sold For $1,875
We don't often think about dropping nearly two grand on a couple of chairs unless you're in the world of antiques. Lauren Bacall's antique Louis XIII-style chairs were in excellent condition, and they really made a great addition to her already stunning home. The little bits of blue stitching on the upholstery really complimented her Robin's egg walls.
The pair of these chairs sold for $1,875, and are what some consider the top tier of French design. Louis XIII furniture featured veneer turned wood and moldings. It always leaned towards the architectural and walnut was a commonly used wood (along with ebony, oak, pear wood and pine).
Bronze Sculptures
Lauren Bacall filled her home with amazing works of art, including three bronze sculptures that reportedly fetched more than $30,000 when they were auctioned after her death.
The three sculptures pictured above were created by sculptor Robert Graham, who was famous for designing the entrance gates for the 1984 Olympics. The sculptor was also married to actress Anjelica Houston, which is how he and Bacall met. the two remained friends for many years, and Bacall fell in love with his portrayal of the female form. Bacall purchased the three bronze sculptures from Graham which depicted naked women in natural poses. The art remained in Bacall's foyer for years and she playing referred to them as "her girls."
Raw Sketches Beautifully Framed
In one of her last interviews, Lauren Bacall sat down with Vanity Fair and discussed her impressive career and how her New York City apartment had become a "map of memories" of times passed.
Lauren Bacall owned artwork by numerous renowned artists, painters, sculptors and more. Amongst her personal collection included works by John James Audubon, Max Ernst, David Hockney, Jim Dine, Henry Moore and many more.
Divine Wood Furnishings
The unique wood furnishings in her apartment, both decorative and functional, are one of the themes throughout the rooms. The interior of the New York City apartment wasn't flashy and glamorous, as many might expect of a Hollywood star.
Instead, the hand-carved wooden benches, dressers, and bureaus provide a sense of coziness and the feeling that the apartment is lived in and loved, not just staged and to be admired from afar.
Sweeping Views Of Central Park
In New York City, real estate is drastically increased if you have an enviable view. And there are few views more coveted than beautiful Central Park. Lauren Bacall's apartment has approximately 100 feet of Central Park frontage. This means nearly half of the apartment has a breathtaking view of the serene park.
In a 1978 issue of French Vogue, Lauren Bacall said of her apartment, "Outside that window lies Central Park; my relief from the city, an important reason to live there."
Extravagant Exterior
The exterior of Bacall's apartment building stood tall on the corner of Central Park West and West 72nd Street. While traffic flows by the grand building, it stands in place, holding its history, preserved and poignant.
Overlooking Central Park, this building is one of the beautiful things about New York City, as it's full of history, icons, and the essence of possibility and fulfilling dreams. The value of the building has grown to enormous proportions, and it's easy to see why.
Roses Adorned Her Gate A Day After She Passed
Lauren Bacall passed away on August 12, 2014 at her Dakota apartment where she lived for more than 50 years. According to her son, Bacall passed away after suffering a massive stroke. She was just five weeks shy of her 90th birthday. Upon hearing of her passing, fans decorated the iron gate outside of her apartment with roses to pay their respects.
Over the weeks following her death, fans from all over the country visit her former apartment, leaving gifts and paying respect to one of the last actresses from the Golden Age.
