007’s Heavenly Abodes

With the commencement of the latest Bond film, and Daniel Craig's final outing as 007, we took the time to ponder on the previous typecasts for the role. The resplendent destinations iconic to a film of its calibre remain one of the highlights of the franchise.

First on the list is the current 00, Daniel Craig

James Bond star Daniel Craig and his Oscar-winning actress wife Rachel Weisz have swapped London for New York. The A-list couple lived in Queen’s Park since they married in 2011, but fell in love with a delightful Brooklyn brownstone sold by British novelist Martin Amis. Built in 1901, the house was on the market for £4.9 million and offers all the Brooklyn character that Craig and Weisz were seeking. The 6,600sq foot property is spread across four floors, and has a stunning panoramic views of Manhattan. Craig and Weisz are in glitzy company. British actress Emily Blunt lives just round the corner, while Hollywood favourites Olivia Wilde and Michelle Williams have also invested in the neighbourhood. Boasting six bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms, the property features high ceilings as well as an elevator, a garden, a patio, and a roof deck. But despite the home's luxurious trappings, the celebrity couple had to commit to a significant amount of refurbishing. In 2016, a chimney set the ceiling's wood beams on fire. Consequently, the building now has a brand spanking new roof.

Second is the man who started it all, Mr Sean Connery.

Knight Frank is marketing the property. “One of the wonderful things about the French Riviera is the sense of stardust – a favourite haunt of royal families as well the likes of Coco Chanel, Pablo Picasso, Grace Kelly and Sir Sean Connery,” says Edward de Mallet Morgan, the firm’s super-prime sales partner. “Knight Frank is delighted to be selling Sean Connery’s former residence, a beautifully located waterfront home, Villa Le Roc Fleuri on the Cap de Nice. Within easy reach of Nice, Cap Ferrat and Monaco, this c.1,000 square metre Belle Epoque styled villa, is perched on a hillside amongst an oasis of beautiful, newly renovated terraced gardens running down to the sea, with an indoor swimming pool, outdoor salt water swimming pool, two independent guest villas and jaw dropping views along the glittering Cote D’Azur.”

Next up we have, Pierce Brosnan.

Pierce Brosnan, best known for his role as James Bond, has continued his luxury lifestyle many years after he chose to move on from the iconic role. Brosnan owns a stunning 117-foot oceanfront estate in Malibu, designed in an exotic Thia-inspired. The estate benefits from a mix of ocean and beach views and has a spacious feel with clean lines and tasteful design. The luscious estate recently went on the market for $100 million.

Brosnan is likely to have formulated the design ideas for his Asian inspired deign from his many travels with wife, Kelly Shaye Smith. The couple encapsulate the regions design aesthetic of elevating architecture, both inside and out, to create a truly beautiful and luxurious home. It was in 2000 that Brosnan and Smith purchased the 13,000 square-foot property, and over the next ten years the couple perfected their Malibu beach house, naming the compound “Orchid House”. The estate is comprised of five bedrooms, fourteen baths, dining with fireplace, a gourmet kitchen also with fireplace, butler’s pantry, and custom wine storage.  The home theatre has a bar and tiered seating.  Another wing contains a large, mirrored gym, sauna, steam room, Japanese style soaking tub and cold plunge.  The upper-level master suite has his-and-her baths, dressing rooms and two more fireplaces.  It also has a large deck for ocean viewing.  Outside is a large open deck for entertaining along with a separate living and dining area with wind breaks if needed.  The pool in front of the two-story guest house is salt water, the landscaping has palm trees and perfumed tropical flowers and a path to the wide beach.

Malibu has been a celebrity real estate destination since the beginning of filmdom.  It is where many well know figures go to decompress in the camaraderie of their peers, feel the sun on their backs and the sand between their toes.  The new owner of this glamorous beach retreat will be joining the ranks of Lady Gaga, Julia Roberts, Steven Spielberg and Courteney Cox.