The Palm Beach estate that was at one time the Florida retreat of John Lennon and Yoko Ono sold this fall for $36 million.
The closing price was far under the $47.5 million ask the property was tagged with when it surfaced on the open market in the spring of this year, but greatly exceeded the last recorded closing for the house—$23 million—which was recorded in 2016. As for the Lennon-Ono collective…they paid $775K for the property, a stout sum in 1980. Ono sold the home in 1986 for $3.2 million.
The Addison Mizner-designed mansion is titled El Solano. It was built as a personal project and finished in 1919. Many of its original details remain to surprise and charm; Ono renovated the home, one would expect with an eye cast firmly toward its historical relevance and period beauty.
The 10,600 sq. ft. home’s interiors offer a feast for the eyes for lovers of prewar craftsmanship, and something of a cross-cultural pastiche as well. Influences from Europe, Asia and the Middle East can be seen; the stenciled ceilings are strikingly realized, as are the original tile and hardwood floors. The formal dining room and great room are opulent.
The grounds are as engaging as the main house. The property’s 1.5 acres includes 170 feet of beach frontage, and a complex of terraces, loggias and covered and uncovered patios stands between the villa and the lawns, tropical gardens, and ocean; a tennis court, pool and pool house with guest accommodations complete this extraordinary estate in Palm Beach.