Calvin Klein is in contract to buy a home high up in the Hollywood Hills and sell his storied Miami mansion, Page Six can reveal. But the designer won’t sell to “just anyone.”
Klein, who’s known for his meticulously chic renovations, exclusively told us of his new property: “It’s a glass box up in the hills. I’m not going to say this is my dream house, but it’s a place I can have a lot of fun in and that I can escape to.” Sources said it was listed at about $30 million.
The design legend explained he’s been spending “more time out west” and was staying with Vera Wang at her Trousdale Estates home while working on a book. “I never saw LA that way. I’m a sucker for views,” he said. And, “Not to compare apples to oranges, but Miami Beach is a resort. LA is where people work, not only in the entertainment business, but all different walks — the social media world — it’s a new experience.”
His ex-wife Kelly, who “knows me better than anyone,” helped him find the newly built LA home. “She said, ‘We can fix this up. You can live there for a few years, and see if you like it.’ ” Then again, “I say that every time! I start by saying, ‘This is going to be a temporary thing.’ But there’s a reason I named my first fragrance ‘Obsession.’ ”
Klein also owns a Perry Street penthouse and a newly built $75 million Southampton estate.
He’ll sell his Spanish-style Miami home, but: “It may sound crazy, but I wouldn’t sell it to just anyone. It would break my heart. I hate to use the word ‘unique,’ but I have never seen another house like it . . . I want to sell it to someone who appreciates the aesthetic.” He picked out each bamboo tree on the grounds and brought in top artisans from Italy and Morocco.
Klein “had a blast in Miami, but I can only last so long just doing one thing. Life is an adventure. It’s the ride. It’s not how much money you make, it’s the ride and adventure of living.”
Bruce Weber shot Klein’s Miami home for Vanity Fair in 2008, but don’t expect Klein to open his new Hamptons place. He felt “invaded” when the New York Times sneaked pictures of it. “I like to have some privacy,” Klein said.