It didn’t take too long for Larry King to sell his Beverly Hills villa. The Peabody Award-winning journalist and ace interviewer put the place up for sale in early autumn of last year, and saw it into the sunset in the second week of the New Year.

The Italianate property begins with an ornate gated entrance; the main home begins with an inviting porch entryway. A guest/pool house nestled in the back follows the motif, and a Roman-style pool puts the finishing touch on the illusion. It’s all painstakingly accomplished, a charming fantasy that offers breathing room and significant restorative potential.

The foyer presents a classic mirror-image double staircase, the symmetry bisected by a large crystal chandelier. As the 11,000 square-footer develops, the details accumulate: Venetian plaster; Italian limestone; artisanal tile. Warm tones predominate, with semi-gloss plank hardwood receiving judicious perimeter inlay, and wainscoting augmenting the traditionally formal feel. In the shared spaces, the ceilings frequently get their due as individual statements—a coffered job in the library, varied tray executions elsewhere.

The seven bedrooms and nine baths in the home culminate in a master suite that is as luxurious as expected. The bedroom expands to include a sitting room with fireplace, and opens to a terrace through multiple sets of French doors; the bath’s crown jewel is a step-up soaking tub surrounded by glass.

King owned the property for over twelve years. He purchased it in 2007, for $11.75 million, according to public records.