The Chateau de Versailles identifies as a La Jolla style kickback vacation home on the beach, translocated to South Dakota. As a Frenchman, I can say this without damnation from the PC crowd. Red Wine, Baguettes and non-pasteurized Brie for all!
I’m a long time Realtor, 33 years, in San Diego. Over the years I have sold a number of homes in La Jolla, as well as most beach areas of San Diego including ocean front. I’m here to say that price is a freaking joke. Don’t even get me started on the house because it’s a joke too. I’ll just say “you nailed it!”
@@guitar911rock it is an ocean front double lot, so maybe the 50 mil range. It is after all only a 2 bedroom house, one of which is in the basement, with a 3 bedroom pool house. Highest ever closing in San Diego county that I am aware of was 44.1 mil for a Del Mar home in 2023.
Thanks for calling this house out. That wall is indeed an eye sore and I couldn't believe how cheap and dirty it makes everything look. Run down waterpark vibes for sure.
"It's so ornate and heavy, that doesn't allow you to really relax" You couldn't have summarized this property better than that. But the main thing I hate about this home is how dark it is, and all the "grandma" furniture, I don't care how expensive it is. This house does not belong in the beach.
I have lived in the area for years. There used to be several "antique" (decore) stores in the Village of LJ. You know, the kind with the really tacky, usually very large metal or marble, over-the-top gawdy decor. We would walk by with our ice cream cones in hand on a summer evening and play a game - if you were forced to buy and then display one of those tacky items in your house, which would it be? The furnishings in this house reminded me of that game - but like they really went through with it! 😂
Absolutely disgusting he made a pro Hamas comment. I have sent this video to my local ADL chapter and CC’ed TH-cam. Any content that makes light of HAMAS is EVIL!!! Arvin hates Israel!!
@@AriankaDebuhsy What are you talking about?! He was clearly making fun of Hamas here. Their tunnels suck (and most have been blown up by now besides).
I’m just about to start the video-but first and foremost-just wanted to say that it’s nice to see Arvin posting again. We’ve been thinking about and praying for you and your family. I truly had a smile when I saw that you posted something.
I only consider it "beach access" if I have sand for sunbathing, leading towards the deeper end, not jumping off a stone wall straight into the cold ocean. And yes, that is my opinion while living in a tiny one-bedroom apartment :D
This home looks so depressing…it’s like I don’t want to touch a single thing in it everything looks ridiculously expensive, ornate, and way too formal. It looks like a showing home like it should be a history museum or formal event space. The architecture looks so out of place for the beach…this looks like a property that should be propped on the plains with an estate or an estate that’s a bit of a drive from the beach with lots of flat land or approaching a hillside. I can’t imagine any person in the world wanting a property like this right next to the beach I’d be extremely surprised if this ever sells, the new owner would get tired of the elegance after 1 month. Way too uncomfortable if you want to do a tear down it’d be extremely expensive not worth the cost.
Arvin, 100% agree with your final thoughts. I live in Thailand and I see these overly ornate very custom homes on large plots that fit the current owners style, layout, fit, finishes, etc. when they go to sell these places they expect a buyer will spend the money and appreciate the property. Not the case at all. This is why we can’t find a ready built home here and will just buy raw land and build our own home with a design that will stand the test of time and appeal to the next owner whether it be my children or someone else. Thanks for your analysis. It’s very helpful and is thought provoking!
@@ArvinHaddadOfficial I am a super fan of your videos, will contact you when I become rich and ready to buy / design my dream house/compound (although you will have to endure my architect wife haha)
The ocean side of this property is not even vaguely based on Versaille. Its Italianate design is straight out of the Med. The agent that made up this fantasy is counting on the part of the market I like to call "The undereducated super wealthy". They couldn't tell the difference between a French palace, and a French Fry. There is no beach there. None. Big lies to support a price that the actual property doesnt support. Way too much furniture everywhere. Too busy, and not particularly well designed interior. BUSY with way too many furnishings. Take a third of the furnishings out and let the space breathe, drop the faux French references, and call this what it is: An Italianate seaside villa. A LARGE and lovely Italianate seaside villa. Not Paris, the Mediterranean. Also, if this interests you, set aside about a million for structural, and foundational inspection of these buildings.
What bothers me most about water seeping ot of the cliff, is that it means the house isn't on completely stable land, and that the mass of it is compacting the soil & squeezing the water out. Even if you could force it to compress evenly, straight down, there are two possibilities: It suddenly squeezes all the remaining ground out (like squeezing the marshmallow out of a s'more) and suddenly drops to beach level, or; It shears off if the more stable land behind the house. Both of those create damage. Now lets move into reality, which means uneven compression, and the above options become much worse with the house tearing itself apart in successive stages. Either way it's just not pretty. I'd stay far away from it for those reasons. Having an expert architectural engineer look at the house as it is now and compare it to the drawings from the initial build might help. I'm also wondering about cracks between horizontal and vetical planes in the house. There's functionally no way to tell from a video. Having said that, if something like that is visible in the video, think how much more noticeable & potentially dangerous it will be in person. There are reasons why other nearby houses are structurally smaller. Style wise I've always preferred Georgian, Federal, or even old Dutch (an unknown style here). Their extravagances were tempered. I hate pseudo French. Many people also call it European, but it isn't. It's tacky & tasteless. The flourishes in French royal architecture matched the scale and design features (gold leaf, mirrors, chandeliers everywhere, and gems for accents). When you lift the heavy stuff & add it to something on a much smaller scale & design, it just weighs everything down. Inside I do like some of the simpler wood paneled areas, but generally not the pseudo French/European mish-mash.
I live in LJ, my Grandmother used to live right up the street from this house so I've been by it tons of times. The house next to it is an eye sore. It's going to be underwater in winter when we get big swells and high tide. The beach isn't private, tons of tourists there all the time (it's out of the way but still tons of people) and kayak tours go right by there ALL day EVERY day.
I've been struggling for decades trying to explain why I dislike an excess of throw pillows, and this video summed it up perfectly. It makes me not want to sit down.
I think they're called throw pillows because you have to try and find somewhere to throw them before you can sit down comfortably. I also agreed with the comments about the low ceilings in the main house sitting areas. First impression for me was that ceiling style just made them look even lower and more oppressive. Also my personal wish for 2025. Stop putting TVs above fireplaces, especially when the fireplaces will likely never be used.
@@brolohalflemming7042yeah. Most interior designers say that also, to not put tv above the fireplace.. its so unpractical to watch it. Unless you put like a painting. But then just put a real painting instead:)
Thanks Arvin, you had me cracking up throughout this video!! My big complaint with this property has to do with the marble floors in the guest house, because if anyone is even slightly wet coming in from the pool, those floors are going to a a non-stop safety hazard.
Thank you for correcting the falsehood around Ultra-High Net Worth individuals and their use of dedicated, private staffing. There is an over-abundance of videos like Enes that leave everyone with the impression that people in this economic class behave like this.
I live 4 houses down from this place and it really is nuts. I have to say, despite the French influence, it really does look like it a sandcastle built right on the beach. More of a sand castle than Versailles.
Damned, I predicted that Arvin would comment about the two urinals side by side. “Why do you have two urinals next to each other? So you could pee together with your friends?”
Good to see you back and posting again Arvin. It's been rough with no videos for a while... but being sick and with the terrible, tragic fires down in LA, I'm sure it's been much rougher for you. Cool house to come back on though... can say it's my style (either), but it really is interesting. It really makes you think philosophically about what a cost-is-no-object house can and should be.
That kitchen is indistinguishable from a million builder-grade kitchens in $500k homes across the country. Actually, most kitchen's in $500k homes are more functional than this.
When I saw the sink, dishwasher, refrigerator, I thought that was right out of any starter townhouse/condo in America. Shocking that it is main kitchen of this house. Would have expected it in some small guest bungalow.
Now Arvin you know darn well if Enes had bought lobsters and thrown them in that cave you would have said "Come on Enes what did you do...go down to Albertson and drop those in before filming? 😂😂😂"
Hey Arvin, I'm still so sorry to see how devastated it must have been for your wonderful Aunt & many of your relatives & friends to have to lose their homes the way they did last week. I sincerely hope your Aunty manages to get back on her feet as quickly as possible though this utterly dreadful tragedy. Big love & kindest regards to you all. It's great to see you back on the channel again so quickly. All the very best to you Arvin, Richard U.K
Big love & thank you for all your wonderful videos. I've learned so much over the last few months. Your channel is fantastic. Lots of love to you & your incredible family in these difficult times in LA. Kindest regards.
Not a big fan of this one. Not because of flaws per se…$108M on a Historical mansion just to have Zero privacy Random people walking up to the property not to mention a Tsunami away from total loss
Is it just me or did this entire tour of the home make anyone else feel extremely claustrophobic? There were so many narrow spaces and halls and rooms where the ceiling seemed like Enes almost had to duck.
Just a random idea for future videos. I would be very interested if Arvin would critique luxury Mansions/Appartments from movies. I would be very interested if the ones shown in movies just look impressive or if they really are expensive. Just came to my mind. XD
Trust me, there are a lot of billionaires who would drool when they see this house. I know some people who LOVE the exaggerated over-the-top look. They also love the expensive price. It gives them a sense of ~luxury~ and self-assurance. They won’t feel satisfied with a basic beach shack or a 40 million dollar Californian beach house that doesn’t stand out. They literally built similar properties in the middle of the desert and they don’t even look as good as this house yet many people consider them to be ╭─.★..─╮ *vey luxurious* ╰─..★.─╯ I do agree with all your points, but not everyone cares for those details. They’ll also call the police whenever they see someone surfing in their “private” beach.
Welcome back, Arvin; hoping your extended family is recovering from their loss. 🙏 With how much they're trying to sell the Versailles look, you're 100% spot on about how little it looks like it. I keep remembering the Asian aunty from Crazy Rich Asians saying how she was inspired by the Palace of Versailles. Saying a home is "inspired by (insert famous building or European country/city)" has pretty much become my tell that the owner or designer does not know how to design a structure. This just looks desperate to mimic something, but just doesn't work All your comments are spot on. Thank you again for such a informative video.
When I watched that video a while back, I just laughed.... LOL... Every time he said stamped stone or something like that... Unless it is carved stone, it is well crafted concrete. I haven't heard it yet in this video as you review it, but because of the silly price and calling what I believe to be concrete stone, I had to laugh at this sand castle in my own backyard.
Arvin, totally agree with you about retaining the original main house. That's a beautiful clean sympathetic architecture, and was unique to California and absolutely deserves to be preserved. It's American history and it's American architecture , of equal merit anything in Europe. I'm British, and we have a system here called Listed Buildings which prevents the destruction of buildings which are of architectural or historical importance. They needn't necessarily be huge mansions but sometimes quite ordinary properties. It helps preserve our cultural heritage.
And a strong winter king tidal wave comes in and what happens to the front of the beach? If you live next to the ocean, all door hinges and window frames rust within a few years
It's sad to think the owner spends most of his time in an almost windowless family room away from the ocean. My grandparents were into a similar style and they also did not use about 70% of their house because it was "for decoration." It really is not comfortable to live in, although I will say it looks better in person than on camera (when the materials are real), but nonetheless it's not usable.
Come on, Arvin, please! Versailles has been built by Louis XIV, not XV. But apart from that, I luuve your videos ☺️ BTW, next time you critic a mansion in France, I’d love to help you out with your French inserts (I live a couple of miles away from the mansion in Excevenex / Leman lake you recently critiqued). I’ll do it for free of course 😉
As one of the many who enjoy the scenery, surf and sunsets at this truly beautiful beach the property is a total eyesore! Beyond ridiculous, it is a monument to bad taste and lack of respect for the environment, aesthetics, and the low-key, mellow local culture of La Jolla. People were aghast when this was built and it doesn’t get any prettier as the years go by. Arvin, thank you for calling this out for what it is. Love your takes on properties, keep up the good work!
Arvin's channel is what put me onto the whole cabin design style. I never gave it much of a second thought before but after seeing how it can be implemented so elegantly to enrich a space, I can't get enough of it now.
Hi Arvin, missed your videos. Hope you are fine. Just a small detail, in the intro you said Versailles is a Louis xv palace, actually it is Luis xiv the sun king who started the construction on the site of his father hunting lodge.
Timothy Corrigan was the interior designer - probably the best French style interior designer in the world. You should check out the chateauxs that Timothy has renovated in France.
I saw this awhile back and thought I can’t wait for Arvin to critique this. Some beautiful treatments, but odd choices for locating activities and rooms. And I agree, I don’t like the showroom-style interior design of the guest residence areas. I prefer a more laid back decor. The tv behind the painting is really gimmick heavy, and a poor location for viewing and maintaining a tv. “Precast Stone” is just a fancy way of saying concrete? It’s like a mini Hearst Castle wannabe. There is no space that feels remotely homey besides the strangely arranged family room. Who wants to be in a guest suite off a gym? I would want a spa/steam-room/massage/salon studio there. The boathouse bar was a nice beach touch, but definitely doesn’t match the style of the rest of the estate. The real beach access is only at low tide.
Great video, Arvin. Did you notice that it also shares a portion of that VERY old sea wall with a neighboring property - a property that has its own deck area falling into the sea. Also, a likely reason the realtor discussed the exorbitant pricing in terms of replacement cost is because he knows very well that any new owner would need to spend additional tens of millions immediately on foundation and sea wall restoration and repair. The most probable reason why that cliff wall looks so terrible? Why spend money on a fancy skirt, when it's all going to have to be opened up for knee and hip replacement surgery ASAP. ;) In any case, spend all that money and STILL cross your fingers that the dinning room and main house doesn't fall into the sea within the next 10 years. No Thanks. Cheers!
If I had unlimited money I would buy that monstrosity just to tear it down and rebuild the original house. This is what more money than sense looks like.
I agree with your comments, but this house is SO MUCH nicer than your usual white box, glass, and steel mansions. The "over the top decorations and detail are still WAY more warm comfortable and inviting than some the like The One. Nice job on the video.
Arvin, normally I agree with many of your takes, but this one I have to push back on. Please do not take this the wrong way. You repeatedly critique how the house looks nothing like Versaille when the house was only "inspired" by Versaille. It was never meant to be a carbon copy of it, and is nowhere near in the same price bracket as a multi-billion dollar castle, that again, it was only inspired by. Also, in regards to the guest house, you repeatedly critique it as far as how terrible of a pool house it would be when it is not a pool house. It is a guest house. In this instance, you project something it is not and critique why it is a bad example of something it already isn't. You also talk about how horribly designed this house is and how the people in this area are looking for a stereotypical-looking beach house, which I could not disagree with more. The people in this price bracket are not looking to buy houses that just look like everyone else's. They want to stand out. They want a unique property. They want a one-of-one. I may be wrong with this, but it seems like many of the takes you make in regards to this property are innately negative or demeaning simply because this property does not match your taste, which is totally fine. But I think it does match the taste (albeit, maybe not the budget) of a substantial amount of people, especially those that can afford to purchase it. Especially when you consider how beautifully the house was put together and how consistently and elegantly each of the rooms were styled as well as the unique materials/designs that were used throughout the property - which to your credit, you do acknowledge multiple times throughout the video. The one area we do definitively agree on is in regards to the price. For the lot/house size and location, the asking price is far excessive of what it will eventually sell for, regardless of how unique the property is. I hope this comment does not come across the wrong way as I do enjoy your videos. I also understand that many of these comments you make are subjective to your own opinion and tastes, but it could be beneficial to take a step back and consider some of these properties from a more objective and detached point of video, and not diminish an aspect of a property simply because it isn't what you would have in your own home. These are just some thoughts to consider going forward. Wish you all the best.
Theoretically if I had 108 million dollars to spend on a beach side mansion it would be all windows those giant windows that slide away and open the whole living space to the outside. I am not sure how many people with this type of money are excited to live in a place that feels dark and gloomy, I guess if you really love sudo French Architecture, I am sure those people are few and far between.
The owner, a tech billionaire from TX, has a net worth of about $1.3 billion. Maybe he could just donate this for use as a homeless shelter? Arvin, do an Elon residence or two.
I liked the orientation. North-West for the summer is ideal. During the summer you want to hide from the sun, the terrace doesn't get too hot and at the afternoon you can see the sunset. North west orientation provides you the ideal lighting. Don't forget that this is mostly a summer house.
Enes gesturing at the painting in front of the bed: We have a really cool surprise. Me who knows that enes reveals a tv hidden by either a paiting or a mirror in front of a bed in every video, "yeah its a tv, i knew that since i first saw that painting".
I'm fully nailing the flaws when he gives you 3 seconds to spot them. I'm always so proud of myself as well. 😂 I've definitely picked up a few tips from these videos.
Great to see a new video, I (we) know it's been a tough few weeks. Also, the TH-cam award over your shoulder is magnificent. Congrats again! I love that you'll start out with an overall critique like "this is the wrong kind of house for La Jolla" (I agree) but then turn around and say "within this style of home, they have totally nailed it here, here, here...". It makes your overall critique so much more authoritative. Also I spotted the flaw this time, I must be learning! 😂
Holy crap, you're back! Were you able to get some self care in? Like, the proper, kind, not just convalescing while legit sick? Also. I'm not sure I want an elevator anywhere near the publicly accessible beach level. Like, I'm sure the door to the outside isn't vulnerable to simple bypass, but even if the elevator is key card controlled, fire code has required every new install to use the same feo key to put it into independent service since 2008. It's great that the pool is totally private, but, uhh, unless unless there's a proper high security door that has to be blasted off that beach side elevator just isn't coming across as a plus to me Also. Something you said (... Effectively, "They have such a detailed fantasy house in their head that when they build it, they're the only ones who can live it in because no one else wants to live that way") caused me to take a project I've been working on for about 3 years and go back to just the footprint. Thanks for that. Really.
🙏 I know your life has been deeply affected by the LA fires. I am on Maui Island so our pain and loss is overwhelming also. Bless you and yours. With that said, man I've missed your channel. We love you, get better.
Glad to see you back, Arvin. Hope everything is working out for your family, after what happened. I am really surprised La Jolla council allowed this construction. It is so out of place amongst the relaxed beachside vibe of the place. Also such a large heavy construction on a steep buff subject to erosion.
missed some opportunities the elevator that leads to the primary suite and literally is accessable by climibing that small wall from the beach and the two ugly houses on the left and right :).
This is more inspired by homes along the French Riviera, especially a lot of the positive and negatives you pointed out. It really has nothing to do with Versailles. It’s just a weird amalgamation of styles and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. But yes, the overall layout, lack of green spaces, low ceilings, etc are not worth the price.
I can't believe that the community actually allowed this monstrosity to be built. If you don't mind your neighbors snickering behind your back as you're out for lunch or dinner, by all means, buy it.
This home is the result of someone who visited Europe once, and they want to bring their experience back to the US. I see it all the time... someone from Queens or New Jersey who has visited Tuscany, so they build a McMansion with all sorts of gaudy onyx, porcelain fountains, and ornate brass. It's always cheesy and NEVER works. It's like a Las Vegas version of Versailles or Tuscany. This is such dishonest, immature, juvenile amusement park architecture that only a lottery winner could love. edit: OMG, I just saw the dining room. Liberace is dead. There's no one who wants this. This home is so unappealing and unlivable. The original home was so charming. This is a $100m teardown.
Before watching this tour I was expecting the interior to be the kind of cheap / tacky fake Versailles style you can see in some houses. I must admit, even though it's far from my favorite style, the execution and quality are amazing. From the sea, it's more of an eyesore than anything else.
100 percent agree with all you said . Great review. Caves don't seem safe ... Cliffs all around area fall all the time, so internal voids can very easily collapse.
Hi Arvin. Could you clarify a criticism of this house? Normally, from the videos I have watched, you state that so many homes use the same designs, interior, materials, etc in the bathrooms. And that bathrooms are where you should see different designs. However, in this video, you mentioned that you didn't like aspects of the primary bathroom and would have preferred they matched to those from the guest house. Is that because the guest house did such a great job on those bathrooms, and so it would be more of a cohesive theme rather than being redundant "getting a good deal and buying in bulk"? Again, Big fan of your content and insights. I learn so much from you. I'm genuinely curious. Thanks!
Umm, at the end, when you point to the other video, saying "this house is even way crazier architecturally speaking", it links to the burned down Pacific Palisades houses...
Honestly this house just makes me mad. Like when I saw the beach house grand room wtf were they thinking. In a surf/beach town why would anyone ever want the most grand structure ever. Like just do a bright beach structure with like beach accessories
This type of interior style or architecture doesn't even make me want to sit in a chair. I mean, everything looks like a work of art-it should be roped off with a barrier. I don't feel like I'm at home; I feel like I'm in a museum. Especially at the beach!
Glad you are back Arvin! 💌Enes should only point out furniture, etc, that come with the house! It is so annoyinngg when he points out dumb everyday items that don't add value! Anyone interested in that kinda stuff can't afford the house it's in🙄
my balcony identifies as a private beach.
😂😂😂🇬🇧
That’s the California way man…lol😅
Also, my beach-front house in San Diego identifies as the Palace of Versailles.
I am a slob, my carpeted hallway identifies as a private beach…
The Chateau de Versailles identifies as a La Jolla style kickback vacation home on the beach, translocated to South Dakota.
As a Frenchman, I can say this without damnation from the PC crowd.
Red Wine, Baguettes and non-pasteurized Brie for all!
“Even castles made of sand, fall into the sea, eventually”
-Jimi Hendrix
😂😂😂
But do they burn? 🤔If so do sandcastle turn to glass after getting burn?
That house is close to falling into the water, no way man.
I’m a long time Realtor, 33 years, in San Diego. Over the years I have sold a number of homes in La Jolla, as well as most beach areas of San Diego including ocean front. I’m here to say that price is a freaking joke. Don’t even get me started on the house because it’s a joke too. I’ll just say “you nailed it!”
i'm curious what do you think its worth / what do you think it sells for? what's the highest resale in san diego?
IMHO, its market value is in the 30’s, but this is primarily based on land value.
Suckers born everyday lol
@@guitar911rock it is an ocean front double lot, so maybe the 50 mil range. It is after all only a 2 bedroom house, one of which is in the basement, with a 3 bedroom pool house. Highest ever closing in San Diego county that I am aware of was 44.1 mil for a Del Mar home in 2023.
@@Mark-yo5ue very possibly so.
The dog was absolutely the most funny add on to this video. I'm still cracking up! 🐶 Great video as always🐕🐕🐕
Thanks for calling this house out. That wall is indeed an eye sore and I couldn't believe how cheap and dirty it makes everything look. Run down waterpark vibes for sure.
And such a huge missed opportunity to cover it with greenery and at least get a teensy hint of the 2,000 acres of garden at Versailles.
Glad you're back Arvin, I was tired of critiquing my neighbor's houses
😂 Thanks for making me laugh 💕🇦🇺💕
"It's so ornate and heavy, that doesn't allow you to really relax" You couldn't have summarized this property better than that.
But the main thing I hate about this home is how dark it is, and all the "grandma" furniture, I don't care how expensive it is. This house does not belong in the beach.
And it MUST be sold furnished…imagine buying someone else’s vision and their furniture???
And if you've got kids the only place they can bunk down is the "pool house" - I hope they like onyx.
@@davidc5191 Yes, and God forbid you have a family pet…
I have lived in the area for years. There used to be several "antique" (decore) stores in the Village of LJ. You know, the kind with the really tacky, usually very large metal or marble, over-the-top gawdy decor. We would walk by with our ice cream cones in hand on a summer evening and play a game - if you were forced to buy and then display one of those tacky items in your house, which would it be? The furnishings in this house reminded me of that game - but like they really went through with it! 😂
@@davidc5191 😂😂😂
I love when Arvin "talks" to Enes in the videos 🤣
He doesn't always respond ... but i know deep down, he hears me
@@ArvinHaddadOfficial I would have loved to see a video done by the two of you together, though for some reason I doubt he'd like that... :D
i stay for the humor even if i hate the house
@@ArvinHaddadOfficialhave you heard from Enes? Is he safe?????
The entertainment value of Arvin vs Enes on the same tour would be epic
"Why do they have a Hamas tunnel?" Spit out coffee moment, Arvin. You really are a genius!
Came here to say the same thing 😂
Absolutely disgusting he made a pro Hamas comment. I have sent this video to my local ADL chapter and CC’ed TH-cam. Any content that makes light of HAMAS is EVIL!!! Arvin hates Israel!!
Making fun of Israel is funny to you guys? Pro HAMAS is anti WHITE
@@AriankaDebuhsy What are you talking about?! He was clearly making fun of Hamas here. Their tunnels suck (and most have been blown up by now besides).
That made me giggle. I love the things he says, he cracks me up.
Glad to see you’re back, Arvin. 🙏
thanks pal... its good to be back
I’m just about to start the video-but first and foremost-just wanted to say that it’s nice to see Arvin posting again. We’ve been thinking about and praying for you and your family. I truly had a smile when I saw that you posted something.
I only consider it "beach access" if I have sand for sunbathing, leading towards the deeper end, not jumping off a stone wall straight into the cold ocean. And yes, that is my opinion while living in a tiny one-bedroom apartment :D
Not going to mention the mirror on the ceiling in the primary bedroom? That's a big selling point!
Wow, I missed that. Might explain why there are no other family bedrooms on that floor, heh!
This home looks so depressing…it’s like I don’t want to touch a single thing in it everything looks ridiculously expensive, ornate, and way too formal. It looks like a showing home like it should be a history museum or formal event space. The architecture looks so out of place for the beach…this looks like a property that should be propped on the plains with an estate or an estate that’s a bit of a drive from the beach with lots of flat land or approaching a hillside. I can’t imagine any person in the world wanting a property like this right next to the beach I’d be extremely surprised if this ever sells, the new owner would get tired of the elegance after 1 month. Way too uncomfortable if you want to do a tear down it’d be extremely expensive not worth the cost.
@@LowValueManexacto
It’ll sell, for 60-70%
Arvin, 100% agree with your final thoughts. I live in Thailand and I see these overly ornate very custom homes on large plots that fit the current owners style, layout, fit, finishes, etc. when they go to sell these places they expect a buyer will spend the money and appreciate the property. Not the case at all. This is why we can’t find a ready built home here and will just buy raw land and build our own home with a design that will stand the test of time and appeal to the next owner whether it be my children or someone else. Thanks for your analysis. It’s very helpful and is thought provoking!
OMG he’s back. How are you Arvin?
sorry guys .....i was very sick... im still sick just trying to get better...
Glad you are better.
@@ArvinHaddadOfficial I was thinking you and your family were dealing with the fires. Hope all of you are well 😊
@@ArvinHaddadOfficial Hopefully you aren't sick from the toxins in the fire.
@@ArvinHaddadOfficial I am a super fan of your videos, will contact you when I become rich and ready to buy / design my dream house/compound (although you will have to endure my architect wife haha)
The ocean side of this property is not even vaguely based on Versaille. Its Italianate design is straight out of the Med. The agent that made up this fantasy is counting on the part of the market I like to call "The undereducated super wealthy". They couldn't tell the difference between a French palace, and a French Fry. There is no beach there. None. Big lies to support a price that the actual property doesnt support. Way too much furniture everywhere. Too busy, and not particularly well designed interior. BUSY with way too many furnishings. Take a third of the furnishings out and let the space breathe, drop the faux French references, and call this what it is: An Italianate seaside villa. A LARGE and lovely Italianate seaside villa. Not Paris, the Mediterranean. Also, if this interests you, set aside about a million for structural, and foundational inspection of these buildings.
Speaking of foundational inspection, the hallway to the elevator off the lower patio sure looked like it had some water intrusion on the walls. 🎯
What bothers me most about water seeping ot of the cliff, is that it means the house isn't on completely stable land, and that the mass of it is compacting the soil & squeezing the water out. Even if you could force it to compress evenly, straight down, there are two possibilities:
It suddenly squeezes all the remaining ground out (like squeezing the marshmallow out of a s'more) and suddenly drops to beach level, or;
It shears off if the more stable land behind the house. Both of those create damage. Now lets move into reality, which means uneven compression, and the above options become much worse with the house tearing itself apart in successive stages. Either way it's just not pretty.
I'd stay far away from it for those reasons. Having an expert architectural engineer look at the house as it is now and compare it to the drawings from the initial build might help.
I'm also wondering about cracks between horizontal and vetical planes in the house. There's functionally no way to tell from a video. Having said that, if something like that is visible in the video, think how much more noticeable & potentially dangerous it will be in person. There are reasons why other nearby houses are structurally smaller.
Style wise I've always preferred Georgian, Federal, or even old Dutch (an unknown style here). Their extravagances were tempered. I hate pseudo French. Many people also call it European, but it isn't. It's tacky & tasteless. The flourishes in French royal architecture matched the scale and design features (gold leaf, mirrors, chandeliers everywhere, and gems for accents). When you lift the heavy stuff & add it to something on a much smaller scale & design, it just weighs everything down. Inside I do like some of the simpler wood paneled areas, but generally not the pseudo French/European mish-mash.
I live in LJ, my Grandmother used to live right up the street from this house so I've been by it tons of times. The house next to it is an eye sore. It's going to be underwater in winter when we get big swells and high tide. The beach isn't private, tons of tourists there all the time (it's out of the way but still tons of people) and kayak tours go right by there ALL day EVERY day.
I've just started to rewatch your videos because I was missing your content so much, glad you're back and in a good spirit ♥
I've been struggling for decades trying to explain why I dislike an excess of throw pillows, and this video summed it up perfectly. It makes me not want to sit down.
I think they're called throw pillows because you have to try and find somewhere to throw them before you can sit down comfortably. I also agreed with the comments about the low ceilings in the main house sitting areas. First impression for me was that ceiling style just made them look even lower and more oppressive. Also my personal wish for 2025. Stop putting TVs above fireplaces, especially when the fireplaces will likely never be used.
@@brolohalflemming7042yeah. Most interior designers say that also, to not put tv above the fireplace.. its so unpractical to watch it. Unless you put like a painting. But then just put a real painting instead:)
The living room furniture is too bulky and opaque which blocks the sight line from the entry and makes the ceiling appear lower.
I can’t help but think that this a perfect example of a designer playing to the vanity of the owner, ‘You too can be The Sun King’!
Welcome back, Arvin!
Hope you and your family going through this fire disaster well! Many blessings and love to see your content is back!
Thanks Arvin, you had me cracking up throughout this video!!
My big complaint with this property has to do with the marble floors in the guest house, because if anyone is even slightly wet coming in from the pool, those floors are going to a a non-stop safety hazard.
Thank you for correcting the falsehood around Ultra-High Net Worth individuals and their use of dedicated, private staffing. There is an over-abundance of videos like Enes that leave everyone with the impression that people in this economic class behave like this.
ya like you suddenly become another person the moment a few zeros are added to your bank account
I live 4 houses down from this place and it really is nuts. I have to say, despite the French influence, it really does look like it a sandcastle built right on the beach. More of a sand castle than Versailles.
Who owns it? Please spill the tea.
@@Cherrysmith2809 Darwin Deason
How is it even possible to live 4 houses down?
They live 4 houses down the street. That's how I would describe my house to a neighbor.
@@guitar911rockahhh..... My money was on some Putin gangster oligarch.
Damned, I predicted that Arvin would comment about the two urinals side by side.
“Why do you have two urinals next to each other? So you could pee together with your friends?”
When I watched Enes' video about that house a few weeks ago, all I could think was: money can't buy class.
Or taste!
This house is definitely 'classy', everything is high end. It's just not tasteful at all.
Absolutely! Good toilets don't buy class either! 😂😂😂
Entirely agree. I thought exactly the same.
Good to see you back and posting again Arvin. It's been rough with no videos for a while... but being sick and with the terrible, tragic fires down in LA, I'm sure it's been much rougher for you. Cool house to come back on though... can say it's my style (either), but it really is interesting. It really makes you think philosophically about what a cost-is-no-object house can and should be.
happy to see you back posting! thank you Arvin
It gives me anxiety. It’s so busy.
💯
"They're just like the rest of us; they pick their nose..."
hehehe
That kitchen is indistinguishable from a million builder-grade kitchens in $500k homes across the country. Actually, most kitchen's in $500k homes are more functional than this.
When I saw the sink, dishwasher, refrigerator, I thought that was right out of any starter townhouse/condo in America. Shocking that it is main kitchen of this house. Would have expected it in some small guest bungalow.
And most kitchens are better looking and don't look like they are from 70s.
Now Arvin you know darn well if Enes had bought lobsters and thrown them in that cave you would have said "Come on Enes what did you do...go down to Albertson and drop those in before filming? 😂😂😂"
Either Enes has grown to seven feet tall or those doors and ceilings are ridiculously low.
You could see him actually lowering his head when he walked around. Not nice!
That brown painted concrete “bluff” looks like a cheap jungle themed waterpark slide
Perfect description.
Yes, I couldn't have said it better. You're awesome.
i have to agree well said
It is just off putting enough
I was thinking we were at the zebra enclosure at the zoo.
It's great to see you back, posting Arvn; we missed ya.
I'm just glad that he wasn't impacted more by these fires.
i love you guys .. and i love making videos ... so cant stop ..wont stop
Hope your family is doing ok after so much loss
Hey Arvin, I'm still so sorry to see how devastated it must have been for your wonderful Aunt & many of your relatives & friends to have to lose their homes the way they did last week. I sincerely hope your Aunty manages to get back on her feet as quickly as possible though this utterly dreadful tragedy. Big love & kindest regards to you all. It's great to see you back on the channel again so quickly. All the very best to you Arvin, Richard U.K
Big love & thank you for all your wonderful videos. I've learned so much over the last few months. Your channel is fantastic. Lots of love to you & your incredible family in these difficult times in LA. Kindest regards.
I love it when he swears. Nice little treat. 😊
Not a big fan of this one. Not because of flaws per se…$108M on a Historical mansion just to have Zero privacy Random people walking up to the property not to mention a Tsunami away from total loss
Is it just me or did this entire tour of the home make anyone else feel extremely claustrophobic? There were so many narrow spaces and halls and rooms where the ceiling seemed like Enes almost had to duck.
Just a random idea for future videos. I would be very interested if Arvin would critique luxury Mansions/Appartments from movies. I would be very interested if the ones shown in movies just look impressive or if they really are expensive. Just came to my mind. XD
I'd like to see him critique GTA5 houses as well; can also have him playing the game and critiquing while he's playing
Trust me, there are a lot of billionaires who would drool when they see this house. I know some people who LOVE the exaggerated over-the-top look. They also love the expensive price. It gives them a sense of ~luxury~ and self-assurance. They won’t feel satisfied with a basic beach shack or a 40 million dollar Californian beach house that doesn’t stand out.
They literally built similar properties in the middle of the desert and they don’t even look as good as this house yet many people consider them to be
╭─.★..─╮ *vey luxurious* ╰─..★.─╯
I do agree with all your points, but not everyone cares for those details. They’ll also call the police whenever they see someone surfing in their “private” beach.
Welcome back, Arvin; hoping your extended family is recovering from their loss. 🙏
With how much they're trying to sell the Versailles look, you're 100% spot on about how little it looks like it. I keep remembering the Asian aunty from Crazy Rich Asians saying how she was inspired by the Palace of Versailles. Saying a home is "inspired by (insert famous building or European country/city)" has pretty much become my tell that the owner or designer does not know how to design a structure. This just looks desperate to mimic something, but just doesn't work
All your comments are spot on. Thank you again for such a informative video.
When I watched that video a while back, I just laughed.... LOL... Every time he said stamped stone or something like that... Unless it is carved stone, it is well crafted concrete. I haven't heard it yet in this video as you review it, but because of the silly price and calling what I believe to be concrete stone, I had to laugh at this sand castle in my own backyard.
Precast stone is what he said.... That is called concrete castings!!! LOL 🤣🤣🤣
Arvin, totally agree with you about retaining the original main house. That's a beautiful clean sympathetic architecture, and was unique to California and absolutely deserves to be preserved. It's American history and it's American architecture , of equal merit anything in Europe. I'm British, and we have a system here called Listed Buildings which prevents the destruction of buildings which are of architectural or historical importance. They needn't necessarily be huge mansions but sometimes quite ordinary properties. It helps preserve our cultural heritage.
And a strong winter king tidal wave comes in and what happens to the front of the beach? If you live next to the ocean, all door hinges and window frames rust within a few years
Arvin excellent commentary, we thank enes for his production but we ultimately only watch Arvin’s videos. Keep it up and fans want more
I saw this video post from Enes and thought, "that's an odd looking house - let's wait and see what Arvin's take on it is..."
It's sad to think the owner spends most of his time in an almost windowless family room away from the ocean. My grandparents were into a similar style and they also did not use about 70% of their house because it was "for decoration." It really is not comfortable to live in, although I will say it looks better in person than on camera (when the materials are real), but nonetheless it's not usable.
He’s back! Welcome back Arvin
Come on, Arvin, please! Versailles has been built by Louis XIV, not XV. But apart from that, I luuve your videos ☺️ BTW, next time you critic a mansion in France, I’d love to help you out with your French inserts (I live a couple of miles away from the mansion in Excevenex / Leman lake you recently critiqued). I’ll do it for free of course 😉
Being from the (Indian) sub-continent to me this house looks much more like a classical Indian Mughal era castle than a French chateau.
It's not, this is just american kitch.
It's missing the domes to be Mugual, but yea the arch width is closer to India style than French.
As one of the many who enjoy the scenery, surf and sunsets at this truly beautiful beach the property is a total eyesore! Beyond ridiculous, it is a monument to bad taste and lack of respect for the environment, aesthetics, and the low-key, mellow local culture of La Jolla. People were aghast when this was built and it doesn’t get any prettier as the years go by. Arvin, thank you for calling this out for what it is. Love your takes on properties, keep up the good work!
If this house were a person, it would wear diapers and spend its time playing bingo in a retirement home for billionaires.
Arvin's channel is what put me onto the whole cabin design style. I never gave it much of a second thought before but after seeing how it can be implemented so elegantly to enrich a space, I can't get enough of it now.
Hi Arvin, missed your videos. Hope you are fine. Just a small detail, in the intro you said Versailles is a Louis xv palace, actually it is Luis xiv the sun king who started the construction on the site of his father hunting lodge.
15:48 SOON as I saw the remote come into the frame, I started laughing b/c I knew what came next. These architects are insufferable. 🤣
Feels more like a hotel than a residence.
Oooh, boy! I've been waiting for this. Thanks!!
Hope you feel better, Mr Haddad
Timothy Corrigan was the interior designer - probably the best French style interior designer in the world. You should check out the chateauxs that Timothy has renovated in France.
Gave him 9.5
Na. Should check Jacques Garcia : he is the real deal .
Well I'm sure Timmy is laughing all the way to the bank
It’s all an American vision of the French.
@@伊藤勇-z5lCatroux, Pinto, Grange.
I saw this awhile back and thought I can’t wait for Arvin to critique this. Some beautiful treatments, but odd choices for locating activities and rooms. And I agree, I don’t like the showroom-style interior design of the guest residence areas. I prefer a more laid back decor. The tv behind the painting is really gimmick heavy, and a poor location for viewing and maintaining a tv. “Precast Stone” is just a fancy way of saying concrete? It’s like a mini Hearst Castle wannabe. There is no space that feels remotely homey besides the strangely arranged family room. Who wants to be in a guest suite off a gym? I would want a spa/steam-room/massage/salon studio there. The boathouse bar was a nice beach touch, but definitely doesn’t match the style of the rest of the estate. The real beach access is only at low tide.
Great video, Arvin. Did you notice that it also shares a portion of that VERY old sea wall with a neighboring property - a property that has its own deck area falling into the sea. Also, a likely reason the realtor discussed the exorbitant pricing in terms of replacement cost is because he knows very well that any new owner would need to spend additional tens of millions immediately on foundation and sea wall restoration and repair. The most probable reason why that cliff wall looks so terrible? Why spend money on a fancy skirt, when it's all going to have to be opened up for knee and hip replacement surgery ASAP. ;) In any case, spend all that money and STILL cross your fingers that the dinning room and main house doesn't fall into the sea within the next 10 years.
No Thanks. Cheers!
If I had unlimited money I would buy that monstrosity just to tear it down and rebuild the original house. This is what more money than sense looks like.
I agree with your comments, but this house is SO MUCH nicer than your usual white box, glass, and steel mansions. The "over the top decorations and detail are still WAY more warm comfortable and inviting than some the like The One. Nice job on the video.
I hope you and family are ok!
Glad to see you back!
Best wishes
Arvin, normally I agree with many of your takes, but this one I have to push back on. Please do not take this the wrong way. You repeatedly critique how the house looks nothing like Versaille when the house was only "inspired" by Versaille. It was never meant to be a carbon copy of it, and is nowhere near in the same price bracket as a multi-billion dollar castle, that again, it was only inspired by. Also, in regards to the guest house, you repeatedly critique it as far as how terrible of a pool house it would be when it is not a pool house. It is a guest house. In this instance, you project something it is not and critique why it is a bad example of something it already isn't. You also talk about how horribly designed this house is and how the people in this area are looking for a stereotypical-looking beach house, which I could not disagree with more. The people in this price bracket are not looking to buy houses that just look like everyone else's. They want to stand out. They want a unique property. They want a one-of-one. I may be wrong with this, but it seems like many of the takes you make in regards to this property are innately negative or demeaning simply because this property does not match your taste, which is totally fine. But I think it does match the taste (albeit, maybe not the budget) of a substantial amount of people, especially those that can afford to purchase it. Especially when you consider how beautifully the house was put together and how consistently and elegantly each of the rooms were styled as well as the unique materials/designs that were used throughout the property - which to your credit, you do acknowledge multiple times throughout the video. The one area we do definitively agree on is in regards to the price. For the lot/house size and location, the asking price is far excessive of what it will eventually sell for, regardless of how unique the property is. I hope this comment does not come across the wrong way as I do enjoy your videos. I also understand that many of these comments you make are subjective to your own opinion and tastes, but it could be beneficial to take a step back and consider some of these properties from a more objective and detached point of video, and not diminish an aspect of a property simply because it isn't what you would have in your own home. These are just some thoughts to consider going forward. Wish you all the best.
Theoretically if I had 108 million dollars to spend on a beach side mansion it would be all windows those giant windows that slide away and open the whole living space to the outside. I am not sure how many people with this type of money are excited to live in a place that feels dark and gloomy, I guess if you really love sudo French Architecture, I am sure those people are few and far between.
The owner, a tech billionaire from TX, has a net worth of about $1.3 billion. Maybe he could just donate this for use as a homeless shelter?
Arvin, do an Elon residence or two.
I liked the orientation. North-West for the summer is ideal. During the summer you want to hide from the sun, the terrace doesn't get too hot and at the afternoon you can see the sunset. North west orientation provides you the ideal lighting. Don't forget that this is mostly a summer house.
It is still dark AF. You‘ll get a winter depression in the middle of June!
Enes gesturing at the painting in front of the bed: We have a really cool surprise. Me who knows that enes reveals a tv hidden by either a paiting or a mirror in front of a bed in every video, "yeah its a tv, i knew that since i first saw that painting".
I'm fully nailing the flaws when he gives you 3 seconds to spot them. I'm always so proud of myself as well. 😂 I've definitely picked up a few tips from these videos.
Arvin the King of Snark is back! 🎉 So glad you are feeling much better and live more decades to critique people's dream homes. 😂😂😂
Great to see a new video, I (we) know it's been a tough few weeks. Also, the TH-cam award over your shoulder is magnificent. Congrats again!
I love that you'll start out with an overall critique like "this is the wrong kind of house for La Jolla" (I agree) but then turn around and say "within this style of home, they have totally nailed it here, here, here...". It makes your overall critique so much more authoritative.
Also I spotted the flaw this time, I must be learning! 😂
Holy crap, you're back! Were you able to get some self care in? Like, the proper, kind, not just convalescing while legit sick?
Also. I'm not sure I want an elevator anywhere near the publicly accessible beach level. Like, I'm sure the door to the outside isn't vulnerable to simple bypass, but even if the elevator is key card controlled, fire code has required every new install to use the same feo key to put it into independent service since 2008. It's great that the pool is totally private, but, uhh, unless unless there's a proper high security door that has to be blasted off that beach side elevator just isn't coming across as a plus to me
Also. Something you said (... Effectively, "They have such a detailed fantasy house in their head that when they build it, they're the only ones who can live it in because no one else wants to live that way") caused me to take a project I've been working on for about 3 years and go back to just the footprint. Thanks for that. Really.
🙏 I know your life has been deeply affected by the LA fires. I am on Maui Island so our pain and loss is overwhelming also. Bless you and yours.
With that said, man I've missed your channel.
We love you, get better.
YAY! A new video dropped by Arvin, and it is great!
And funny, at least for me, I find-it not only very informative, but very funny as well.
Glad to see you back, Arvin. Hope everything is working out for your family, after what happened. I am really surprised La Jolla council allowed this construction. It is so out of place amongst the relaxed beachside vibe of the place. Also such a large heavy construction on a steep buff subject to erosion.
As a S.D. resident, I am equally mystified. I guess the billionaire who owns this white whale just bought the council off?
Welcome back! You never mentioned the house next door on the right from the drone view.
That house looks abandoned and falling into the ocean.
end of the video "this house is even way crazier architecturally speaking!" (pointing to LA fires video) lol
missed some opportunities the elevator that leads to the primary suite and literally is accessable by climibing that small wall from the beach and the two ugly houses on the left and right :).
It gives me more of a Caesar’s palace vibe than Versailles
This is more inspired by homes along the French Riviera, especially a lot of the positive and negatives you pointed out. It really has nothing to do with Versailles. It’s just a weird amalgamation of styles and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. But yes, the overall layout, lack of green spaces, low ceilings, etc are not worth the price.
I can't believe that the community actually allowed this monstrosity to be built. If you don't mind your neighbors snickering behind your back as you're out for lunch or dinner, by all means, buy it.
Who cares what other people think or say, especially if they're biased against you?
@@upstar21t cause their accurately laughing at a fool who got scammed
@@Anouyz Adults that gossip and mock strangers, meddling into their business, aren't worth caring about at all. It's actually very pathetic.
This home is the result of someone who visited Europe once, and they want to bring their experience back to the US. I see it all the time... someone from Queens or New Jersey who has visited Tuscany, so they build a McMansion with all sorts of gaudy onyx, porcelain fountains, and ornate brass. It's always cheesy and NEVER works. It's like a Las Vegas version of Versailles or Tuscany. This is such dishonest, immature, juvenile amusement park architecture that only a lottery winner could love.
edit: OMG, I just saw the dining room. Liberace is dead. There's no one who wants this. This home is so unappealing and unlivable. The original home was so charming. This is a $100m teardown.
Americans don't understand class or European style.
It’s got that “Say hello to my little friend!” vibe.
Before watching this tour I was expecting the interior to be the kind of cheap / tacky fake Versailles style you can see in some houses. I must admit, even though it's far from my favorite style, the execution and quality are amazing.
From the sea, it's more of an eyesore than anything else.
This is the Oligarchy Era, so the buyer pool has grown since this was built. Will be interesting to see who picks it up if the info leaks out.
Those “caves” are drainage tunnels whose original purpose was to drain water from the bluff, to decrease tendency to slide.
Glad you’re back! I hope everyone trying to rebuild watches your videos and builds back better!
100 percent agree with all you said . Great review. Caves don't seem safe ... Cliffs all around area fall all the time, so internal voids can very easily collapse.
Welcome back! You have been missed!!
Hi Arvin. Could you clarify a criticism of this house? Normally, from the videos I have watched, you state that so many homes use the same designs, interior, materials, etc in the bathrooms. And that bathrooms are where you should see different designs. However, in this video, you mentioned that you didn't like aspects of the primary bathroom and would have preferred they matched to those from the guest house. Is that because the guest house did such a great job on those bathrooms, and so it would be more of a cohesive theme rather than being redundant "getting a good deal and buying in bulk"? Again, Big fan of your content and insights. I learn so much from you. I'm genuinely curious. Thanks!
Maybe a hotelier can develop it as a campy rental for theme weddings. 😂😂😂🇬🇧
Fascinating review!
In the main house, were they limited by some need to retain parts of the original house framing?
That kitchen is pathetic!
Umm, at the end, when you point to the other video, saying "this house is even way crazier architecturally speaking", it links to the burned down Pacific Palisades houses...
Honestly this house just makes me mad. Like when I saw the beach house grand room wtf were they thinking. In a surf/beach town why would anyone ever want the most grand structure ever. Like just do a bright beach structure with like beach accessories
the goat back from a well deserved break
This type of interior style or architecture doesn't even make me want to sit in a chair. I mean, everything looks like a work of art-it should be roped off with a barrier. I don't feel like I'm at home; I feel like I'm in a museum. Especially at the beach!
This home is lovely but it belongs in Newport not la Jolla
Excellent observation. It would be lovely there.
Glad you are back Arvin! 💌Enes should only point out furniture, etc, that come with the house! It is so annoyinngg when he points out dumb everyday items that don't add value! Anyone interested in that kinda stuff can't afford the house it's in🙄