Grande Move

Ariana Grande Sells Historic Tudor-Style Montecito Home for $9.1 Million. The house is constructed from the fusion of two 18th-century English barns

Since acquiring her first property in 2018, Ariana Grande has become quite the real estate mogul. Building on her new reputation, the songstress who opted to rent instead of buy earlier in her career—has just sold the Tudor-style home she acquired for $6.8 million from Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi in 2020, according to Dirt. Records show that the “34+35” singer flipped the home to an unknown buyer in an off-market deal worth $9.1 million.

Known as the Porter House, the 5,500-square-foot Montecito residence has a pretty unique past, it began life as two separate barns built in the 1700s in Surrey, England. Some two hundred years later in the 1980s, the structures were carefully shipped to California then combined in Montecito to form a single house. An orangery—a glass-enclosed space meant to house weather-sensitive plants and fruit trees—connects the home’s two distinct components.

Amply surrounded by a variety of tall trees, the property’s unevenly cut stone pavers cover a circular motor court in front of the home's wood-beamed facade, giving off an enchanted look that seems like something straight from a medieval fairytale. Elsewhere on the grounds, the stone pavers meander through the trees and gardens designed by landscape architect Tom Nielsen, creating several idyllic pathways.

Inside, a perfect blend of the historic and contemporary can be seen. The well-preserved wood beams that shape the lofted ceilings blend seamlessly with modern furniture and lighting. Large windows and folding glass doors allow plenty of sunlight to bounce off of chalk-white walls. A mix of gray stone and wooden planks cover the floors. Exposed-brick fireplaces enhance the main living area, the primary bedroom, and a spacious living area off the primary bedroom which opens up to a generous outdoor space. The house boasts two kitchens (one that features a thoroughly trendy glass door), two bedrooms, two full and two half bathrooms, and a gym. Last year, Grande held her nuptials to real estate agent Dalton Gomez, at the home.

According to records, the Grammy award winner still owns two homes in the Hollywood Hills; one is a cottage in the Bird Streets neighbourhood, and the other previously belonged to Cameron Diaz.

The spendy buyer is Michael Kives, who may not be a household name but has long been a member of Hollywood’s elite. He’s also the founder of K5 Global, a venture capital outfit that describes itself as a “media and financial services advisory and consulting firm.” In addition to his new Montecito digs, Kives and wife Lydia also own a $12 million home in Beverly Hills.

Kives now holds keys to one of the more unique and storied properties in Montecito.  No word yet about whether Grande plans to purchase another Montecito home, but she still owns two expensive properties in the Hollywood Hills: one a $9 million estate in the Bird Streets neighbourhood, and the other a more modest cottage bought earlier this year from Cameron Diaz. She also once owned a Paul McClean-designed mansion that was sold last year for $14 million to talent agent Nancy Josephson and film producer Larry Sanitsky.