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Diane Keaton was best known for her legendary acting career, which spanned six decades in film, television and theater, but the late Hollywood icon also had a successful sideline as a house flipper.
Over the past forty years, Keaton has, who died on October 11, at the age of 79, bought, renovated and sold a variety of homes and built a reputation as a respected restorer of historic homes, some of which had notable architectural pedigrees.
“I follow my impulses, just like I did with acting,” Keaton said of her approach to home design in a 2017 interview with Architectural Digest.
Keaton has received praise for her skills in restoration and home design from the real estate community, and her work has been profiled in top industry outlets, including Architectural Digest, which have highlighted her aesthetic sensibilities, her instincts as a renovator and restorer, and her dedication to preserving the authenticity of historic homes.
Diane Keaton had a successful career as an actress and house flipper. (Andy Stavros/Douglas Elliman Real Estate; Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
In March, Broker wrote that the Oscar winner had “developed a keen talent for flipping houses, especially when it came to the restoration of neglected or abandoned properties.”
Here’s a look at some of Keaton’s most prominent renovation projects.
Samuel-Novarro House in Los Feliz (LA), California
In 1988, Keaton purchased the historic Samuel-Novarro House in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles. Built in 1928 by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s son, Lloyd Wright, the house is an example of the Mayan Revival style – a combination of decorative concrete blocks, dramatic geometry, and an indoor/outdoor aesthetic.
Exterior view of the Samuel-Navarro House in Los Feliz, designed by Lloyd Wright and restored by Diane Keaton after she purchased it in 1988. (Andrew Pielage photography)
The monumental residence was in a deteriorating condition by the time Keaton purchased it, with problems requiring significant repairs and restoration.
When she acquired the house, Keaton made extensive renovations and restorations to modernize it while maintaining its architectural character. Five years later she sold the house.
Interior view of the Samuel-Navarro House in Los Feliz, which Diane Keaton restored in the late 1980s while retaining Lloyd Wright’s geometric design. (Andrew Pielage photography)
Years later, renovation contractor Justin Krzyston of Stonehurst Construction undertook further restoration, addressing outdated finishes and structural issues and repairing original details.
“I was able to meet Diane Keaton – who lived here in the early 1990s and did one of the first renovations – and she gave me some great advice on how to approach the restoration 20 years later,” Krzyston said. Architectural summary in 2016. “She told me to take it slow, not treat it like any other renovation and not change more than necessary; keep the integrity of the house and as Wright intended it.”
The dining area in the Lloyd Wright-designed Samuel-Navarro House in Los Feliz. (Andrew Pielage photography)
The property is often cited as one of her first ‘design-driven’ somersaults and is often referenced in articles as emblematic of her aesthetic sensibility. Keaton’s restoration of the house established her reputation as a serious conservationist.
It is also known that Keaton was involved in the conservation of Ennis House, also designed by Lloyd Wright. She served on the board of the Ennis House Foundation, was active in fundraising and advocated for its restoration.
Spanish Colonial Revival in Beverly Hills, California
In 2007, Keaton purchased an 8,434-square-foot, seven-bedroom, nine-bathroom Spanish Colonial Revival home for $8.1 million.
While living there, she undertook a restoration with designer Stephen Shadley. Her work was reviewed by Architectural Digest in 2008 and revisited by the outlet in a profile published on October 13 after her death. According to the outlet, she initially purchased the property in the early 2000s, but later backed out due to concerns about the renovations required.
“My feeling is that you find an authentic house and try to restore it authentically,” Keaton said during a tour of the house in 1999.
“I wanted a Spanish Colonial because I am in love with California and our history. My fantasy would be to continue buying homes representative of California architecture and restoring them,” she said.
In 2009, she listed the house for $12.995 million, and it was purchased by the producer of “American Horror Story.” Ryan Murphy for $10 million.
Shaw’s Cove House in Laguna Beach, California
Ocean view of the historic Shaw’s Cove home in Laguna Beach, which Diane Keaton purchased in 2004 and spent two years restoring before selling in 2006. (Andy Stavros/Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
Keaton purchased a historic Spanish Mediterranean oceanfront home known as Shaw’s Cove in 2004 for $7.5 million, listed by Andy Stavros of Douglas Elliman Real Estate.
Exterior view of the Spanish Mediterranean-style Shaw’s Cove home in Laguna Beach, which Diane Keaton bought in 2004 and restored before selling in 2006. (Andy Stavros/Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
According to Ocean magazine, the actress restored the house over two years, retaining the original decorative Spanish tiles, ironwork, wooden beams, carved doors, stucco and terraces. The outlet also noted that she changed the windows to maximize views and openness inside and out.
Interior view of the Shaw’s Cove home in Laguna Beach, where Diane Keaton preserved the original wood beams and tiles and updated the space to maximize the ocean views. (Andy Stavros/Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
The master bedroom was “modernized with a nod to heritage, but reimagined and equipped for today,” according to Starts at 60.
The master bedroom of the Shaw’s Cove home in Laguna Beach has been updated by Diane Keaton with a modern design that maintains the classic character of the property. (Andy Stavros/Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
In 2006, she sold the house for $12.75 million, which was one of her most profitable transactions.
Newman Residence in Pacific Palisades (LA), California
Aerial view of the Lloyd Wright-designed Newman Residence in Pacific Palisades, which Diane Keaton purchased in 2007 and restored before selling in 2010. (Tara Herman/Engelstudio)
In 2007, Keaton purchased the Newman Residence in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles for $9.1 million.
Exterior view of the Lloyd Wright-designed Newman Residence in Pacific Palisades, which Diane Keaton purchased in 2007 for $9.1 million. (Tara Herman/Engel Studio)
The house was designed in 1950 by Lloyd Wright (son of Frank Lloyd Wright) for composer Alfred Newman.
Front of the Lloyd Wright-designed Newman Residence in Pacific Palisades, which Diane Keaton restored after purchasing it in 2007. (Tara Herman/Engel Studio)
Her restoration included updating the kitchen, restoring original woodwork and built-in furnishings, and converting part of the second floor into a loft/master suite with glass walls to bring in light and canyon views.
Interior view of the Newman Residence in Pacific Palisades, highlighting Diane Keaton’s restoration of the home’s original woodwork and open design. (Tara Herman/Engel Studio)
The Newman Residence was later sold in 2010 for $10.75 million.
Barrio Viejo house in Tucson, Arizona
Keaton’s best-known project outside California was her home in the Barrio Viego neighborhood of Tucson, Arizona.
The “Godfather” star bought an 1880s Sonoran-style adobe rowhouse for $1.5 million in 2018.
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Diane Keaton’s best-known project outside California was her home in Tucson, Arizona. (Raymond Hall/GC Images / Getty Images)
Keaton completed a high-touch renovation emphasizing historic materials and sold the home in 2020 for approximately $2.6 million.
During a 2018 appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Keaton discussed her project in Tucson, to Kimmel she felt the city was ‘undervalued’.
“I’m going to redo and repair the adobe,” she said at the time. “I just love Tucson.”
“House that Pinterest Built” in Brentwood (LA), California
Keaton’s “Pinterest House” is her most famous renovation. The actress documented her efforts in her best-selling book “House That Pinterest Built.”
The house was the result of a multi-year, complete gut renovation that she undertook around 2011. She described it as her “dream home,” drawing on decades of collected visual inspiration, including tear sheets, magazines and later Pinterest, to design the home.
Built largely from reclaimed brick, steel and industrial windows, the house combines an industrial sensibility with a warm, tactile aesthetic. Keaton prioritized light, openness and material authenticity through the use of raw textures, exposed structure and glazing. She also famously noted that she doesn’t use curtains.
Diane Keaton died on October 11. She was 79. (Amy Sussman/Getty Images/Getty Images)
“I’ve always been interested in houses and the concept of home, but the problem is I never really land and stay. There’s something wrong… But something is right, because I love it,” she said Wine spectator.
“I really started to love the stone and its textures… they weren’t perfect,” she continued.
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“My favorite room in my house is that damn kitchen,” Keaton added.
The house became her primary residence for approximately eight years until her death.
People reported that Keaton surprised many when she put the house on the market, which hit the market in March for $25 million.
