The 40th president of the United States, Ronald Reagan, and his First Lady, Nancy Reagan, lived in a lovely ranch-style abode in Bel Air, California. The residential neighborhood on the Los Angeles Westside was a perfect place for the rich and famous, but Ronald and Nancy Reagan’s abode stood out from high-priced residences. Want to know why? Today, we’ll visit the stunning Bel-Air home that became a cozy nest for the former President and his wife and see whether their tastes were as conservative as they say.
Mr. and Mrs. Reagan moved to Bel Air in 1989, just after they left the White House. The couple found the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains very appealing for a new stage in their lives. But it wasn’t the only reason.
A group of their friends actually purchased the estate for the Reagans in 1986, about two years before the end of the President’s second term. They invested 2.5 million dollars in this ranch-style house. The Couple could lease the home with an option to buy. The Bel Air property was deeded over to a trust in Reagan’s name in 1989.
The neighborhood was favored by celebrity residents, including comedian Joan Rivers, actress Elizabeth Taylor, pianist Burt Bacharach, and singer Kenny Rogers. Just down the road sits Lionsgate, the estate that once belonged to Kenny Rogers.
Nancy Reagan’s superstitions regarding the number 666, also known as the number of the beast, caused her to ask the Government of Los Angeles to change the residence’s number from 666 to 668 St. Cloud Road, which they did.
Reagan’s lovely abode was built in 1954 in a midcentury-modern style. It sits on 1.29 acres of grounds and features 17 rooms across two floors. The house offers nearly seven thousand two hundred square feet of living space. It’s located atop a bougainvillea-lined driveway, just a short turn off Beverly Glen Drive. The house comprises three bedrooms and six bathrooms, all in a beautiful setting. It offers stunning views of downtown Los Angeles and Century City.
The exterior boasts a sprawling green lawn and mature landscaping. The home is surrounded by lush vegetation on all sides, which grants enhanced privacy to the homeowners. A sparkling swimming pool offers a perfect sun-soaked spot for entertaining. Nancy Reagan grew yellow orchids in the hothouse under the swimming pool.
When the couple lived in the White House, Nancy asked Los Angeles interior designer Ted Graber to design the family quarters. The First Lady liked the result of their collaboration so much that she asked Ted Graber to decorate their Bel Air abode, too. Graber was known for his ‘soft modern’ style—a mix of traditional and modern. However, the designer faced a certain struggle.
For more details, please check our video about Ronald and Nancy Reagan