Notorious Spelling Estate Known As 'The Manor' On The Market Yet Again

Depending on your point of view, it is either one of the grandest or one of the tackiest mansions in Los Angeles. But no matter what your thoughts about the home itself are, there is no doubt that The Manor, the 56,500-square-foot behemoth (about 1,500 square feet bigger than the White House) with 14 bedrooms and 27 bathrooms in Holmby Hills, has provided the real estate world in Los Angeles plenty of drama since it was built in 1991. The home is back in the spotlight this week as its current owner, 25 year-old British heiress Petra Ecclestone (who bought the home in 2011 for $85 million), is showing the house privately at an asking price of $150 million.

Built for super-producer Aaron Spelling and his wife Candy, the house became a source of amusement for Angelenos as it became famous for its THREE gift wrapping rooms, doll museum, and guest rooms bigger than most 2 bedroom apartments. At the time of its construction, the project spawned a controversy over its massive size and ostentatious architecture, with the L.A. Times asking, "What's bigger than a football field, smaller than Hearst Castle, has a bowling alley and an entire floor of closets, and is making some people very annoyed? Aaron and Candy Spelling's mansion in Holmby Hills". It is worth mentioning here that the property also contains 16 carports.

Aaron Spelling died in 2006, and two years later Candy listed the 123-room (!) home for $150 million but had no takers at that price. It finally sold to Eccleson (who now goes by her married name, Petra Stunt) in 2011. She completely overhauled the house, bringing in dark velvet, crystals, a custom coat of arms created by her decorator, and a Marc Quinn sculpture of twin Pamela Andersons in bikinis. There is also a nightclub in the basement, a giant fish tank filled with rare puffer fish, and a spa with a massage parlor, three hair stations, and two mani-pedi chairs (in the room that used to house Spelling's infamous doll collection). So, it seems, Petra has her own "unique" design and decorating tastes as well. 

Curbed LA reports that Petra may be willing to negotiate as long as the price stays above the $102 million price that Fleur De Lys, the L.A. mansion that set the record for highest home sale ever in Los Angeles county, sold for in March.