Geraldine Gilliland, a chef and cookbook author, has formally turned over the keys to her Malibu mountain home to its new owner, more than a year after putting it up for sale at $18 million. Drederick Irving, father of Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving, paid $10.7 million for the property, which was $7.4 million less than the original asking price, according to public records.
Since its purchase by Gilliland, the owner of Santa Monica’s Lula Cocina Mexicana restaurant, who has since increased her land holdings, the 40-acre property, known as “Rancho Chiquita,” has been used as a wedding and party venue, as well as a filming location for “The Voice” and a non-profit dog rescue. Today, the gated compound consists of a hacienda-style main house and a detached residence, all of which are located on a 225-acre plot with beach and mountain vistas.
The stucco and terracotta-roofed main house has almost 6,700 square feet of two-story living area with wood-beam ceilings, Saltillo tile and parquet floors, arched entrances, and clerestory windows throughout. The main level features a living room with a fireplace, a formal dining room with its own fireplace, a gourmet kitchen with granite countertops, an eat-in island with built-in wine storage, high-end stainless appliances, a walk-in pantry, and a breakfast alcove.
All of the bedrooms are located in two distinct wings of the house: one with an ocean-view master retreat with a custom fireplace, private patio, spacious cedar-lined walk-in closet, separate fireside sitting room, loft space, and luxe bath that opens to a terrace with a spa, and the other with two main-level bedrooms with access to an outdoor palapa and a lower-level staff/guest suite with two bedrooms, an office, living room, and kitchen.
The palatial grounds include a pool and spa with an infinity edge, a kitchen and bar, and several spots perfect for al fresco resting and entertaining, including a grassy area that can seat up to 250 guests. In addition to a three-car garage and parking for at least 20 vehicles, the property has a separate gated service entry that leads to a huge motor court and an event staging area.
