Thursday, September 09, 2010

The Manor

By Candy Spelling on November 12th, 2009

I’m all for haute couture and most of haute cuisine.

In fact, I was so taken by the fashion that I discovered, in France, the term “haute couture” is protected by law and is defined by the Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de Paris. The rules state that only “those companies mentioned on the list drawn up each year by a commission domiciled at the Ministry for Industry are entitled to avail themselves” of the label haute couture. The criteria for haute couture were established in 1945 and updated in 1992.

I’ve been at fashion events where I’ve heard someone scolded for using the term “haute couture” inappropriately for non-dressmaking activities, such as fine art, music, and more.

I never thought about “Haute Living” until I saw the magazine. I remember thinking, “Would I qualify? Would a commission allow my house in this category?” Better than a commission, I was asked by Haute Living Publisher Seth Semilof to write a by-lined piece about my house.

I thought I’d be way ahead of the “haute living” curve because, although my home is referred to as “The Manor” (or “Spelling Manor”), I originally referred to it with a French phrase, L’Oiseau, because of its shape like the wing of a bird.

The shape actually disguises the size of the house, although that was not my intention. I admit it. My house consists of 56,500 square feet, but the ultimate compliment I hear is, “Oh, Candy…it doesn’t look that big.”

My intention was always to create a home, a place we could live comfortably, entertain, a house that would be useful as well as a fantasy world, but most of all for it to be our home. My children wanted a ranch—in the middle of Los Angeles. Although my husband produced such legendary television programs as Fantasy Island and Dynasty—shows that would later be described as “aspirational”—we did not have the ability to build a ranch in the middle of our city.

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Reader Comments Comments (9)


9 Responses to “The Manor”

  1. Confidence Stimpson says:

    Why are they selling?

  2. chip12 says:

    Beautiful. Great story.

  3. Confidence Stimpson says:

    Why are they selling?

  4. chip12 says:

    Beautiful. Great story.

  5. Gerry says:

    Such a wonderful, heart warming story… Just wants to make you.. uhh… So wonderful… A tear comes to my eye…

  6. Gerry says:

    And that gift wrapping room!! Makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck…. Sooo wonderful…

  7. dlrmediagroup says:

    it's a wonderfully opulent living space…

  8. I am glad that Mrs. Spelling is enjoying her house. A house like that gives countless numbers of people employment. To say nothing of the amount of money spent building her dream home. Say what you will, no one can accuse Candy Spelling of NOT spreading the wealth.

    I just don't understand why she would want to sell it. If she has grown a bit tired of the place, she could do what they used to do in the old days for manor houses, roll up the rugs, cover all the furniture and chandeliers in white muslin and head out to some distant land. After a few years, on the road, having the house 'opened up' again would make it seem fresh and welcoming.

    I just don't know if she is going to be able to get $150 M~~~a property such as hers will really only appeal to another mogul/titan/industrialist and they will want to build their OWN monument on her 5 acres. I would not be surprised if the person who buys it will tear the place down and build something else altogether. Gerald and Iris Cantor (of Cantor Fitzgerald) used to live up the street from me on Tower Road in Beverly Hills, and though they did a number on their Tower Lane house, they eventually built a palatial mansion in Bel Air and called it La Belle Vie. They wanted to put their own imprimatur on a property. And who could blame them?

    I think that someone buying up Mrs Spelling's Manor house will do the very same thing. They did it to Bing Crosby's digs. History has a habit of repeating itself.

  9. rudy rudisill says:

    Lets hope that the new place….2 floors high rise condo….doesnt prove to be a large lonely place. It could be a little much for someone who lives alone….but who knows….

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