Marilyn Monroe in her Brentwood home.
According to the article, Marilyn bought the home in Brentwood, California because she was advised by her psychologist to "put down roots" after renting homes and moving from one to the next all her life. Sadly, this is also the home in which she passed away all too early at the young age of 36.
The above black-and-white photos of Marilyn in her home don't capture how much natural light there is throughout the space, nor how much square-footage the Hacienda-style home had. The few photos of the space in its original MM era convey that it might have been cluttered, and in some areas, almost bare. It was obvious from the collection of books in very room that she loved to read and it appears to have had some great areas in which she used to relax and soak up a good book.
The Hacienda style home was built in 1929, and the updated version includes terra cotta tile floors, vaulted ceilings, Moroccan-style doorways, picture windows, and beautifully landscaped grounds. The home's interior reminds me of the type you'd find in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and has tons of character and charm. Even though I always pictured the Marilyn that everyone knew on camera to live in a posh, chandelier-graced, velvet-upholstered-tufted-white-sofa style glam abode, I love the idea of her choosing to live in a cozy, charming, bohemian style home in sitting on the quiet neighborhood's cul de sac. Marilyn seemed to be seeking peace. And this home looks like it would feel peaceful.
The home has been updated and renovated since Marilyn lived in it, and I think the renovations were beautifully done. I would like to picture her living in the renovated space that you will see below, which is a seemingly perfect mixture of traditional and eclectic tastes. The variety of textiles and lighting add a lot of warmth and coziness throughout the space, while the cool white walls make the home appear more open and contrasts nicely with the terra cotta tile and vaulted wood ceilings.
The 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom, 2,624 square-foot Brentwood home was last listed for sale in 2010 by David Offer Real Estate. The property includes a pool, private courtyard, grassy yard, poolside game-room, and separate children's play house. The following photos are from the listing.
This is a photo of the kitchen at the time that Marilyn lived in the home. The rare photo was taken by her housekeeper and friend Eunice Murray in 1962.
