A Look Inside Lauren Bacall’s Incredible $26 Million Central Park Apartment
Lauren Bacall was an actress that was famous during a defining era for Hollywood. The triple-threat was known for her distinctive voice, her signature looks and her timeless style. She was even named the 20th greatest female star of Classic Hollywood Cinema by the American Film Institute.
The three-time author won countless awards throughout her career from Tony Awards to a SAG Award to Golden Globes. She was a Hollywood icon who oozed glamor and she certainly has the apartment to prove it...
It's The Most Expensive Real Estate In New York
What makes The Dakota apartments such a sought after piece of real estate in Manhattan? Completed in 1884, the apartment building that stands tall at 1 West 72nd Street has a perfect view of Central Park and is a U.S. National Historic Landmark.
Celebrities such as Judy Garland, Truman Capote, and Joe Namath have all called the Dakota home, but the building is also known for its exclusivity. Billy Joel, Madonna, and Gene Simmons' applications for the apartments have all been denied previously.
Lauren Bacall's $26 Million Central Park Apartment
Lauren Bacall lived in the Dakota from the time she was 36 until she passed in August 2014, just a few weeks before her 90th birthday. Her 9-bedroom apartment in the building sold for $21 million after her passing, despite being listed at an original asking price of $26 million.
Regardless of the price reduction, Bacall’s apartment was still one of the most expensive in that building to date. Composer Leonard Bernstein’s is one of the few to hit that price range as well; his 4-bedroom 4-bathroom sold for $21 million.
The Building Is Also A Prime Real Estate Spot
The name for this infamous building came from the fact that "it's far out in the Dakotas" in regard to its distance from some parts of Manhattan.
Developer Edward Clark and architect Henry Hardenbergh faced criticism when they were planning the building because apartment-style living was not the norm in New York City at the time. To counteract the naysayers they strived to have as many new-age features and the newest technology possible.
Final Interview With Vanity Fair
In 2011, Lauren Bacall gave an interview to Vanity Fair’s Matt Trynauer and it was one of the last interviews she ever did. Fittingly, the interview took place in Bacall’s Dakota building apartment with her papillon Sophie by her side.
Bacall spoke quite candidly during the interview and revealed a lot of intimate details about her life, including how Humphrey Bogart and his level of fame affected her and their children.
The Most Coveted Real Estate In New York City
Bacall's apartment was approximately 4,000 square feet which is bigger than the average person’s home in America. It had 3 park-facing bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, as well as five fireplaces, a 29-foot living room, a library with a park-facing Juliet balcony, and an extensive servants wing.
The master bedroom is an impressive 22 feet wide and opens into a private study, bathroom, and walk-in closet.
A Pop Of Color With Robin's Egg Blue
Continuing onto Bacall’s formal living room, she brings blue tones into this room as well. Painting the walls blue gives the room a pop of color and plays up the natural light coming through the large bay windows but she doesn’t stop there.
From her couches to her artwork to her knick-knacks on the fireplace, the blue theme is ever-present. Bacall was a big collector of animal sculptures on top of her other design trends, and this is evident when you look at this room..
Carved Fireplaces And Crown Moldings
Bacall’s blue room also centers around another one of the five original fireplaces in the apartment. Tenants of The Dakota are supposedly forbidden from throwing away the original fireplace mantels so you have to just work with it!
If you look at the pictures, it seems that all the fireplaces were decorated with the same blue animal sculptures for accents. Every one was a different animal but it served to tie all the rooms together.
A Baby Grand With Framed Figure Drawings
Her living room also features a piece of furniture every luxurious New York City apartment overlooking Central Park should have: a baby grand piano. The piano is a Mason & Hamlin, a New England-based piano company that has been around longer than The Dakota building.
The former model was a great supporter of the arts, though it looks like the piano wasn’t a part of many performances in it’s later used. Bacall instead used it as a display table for photos and mementos. A $7,000 display table, but still.
The Master Suite
Inside the master suite, there is a cozy corner set up featuring - you guessed it - more artwork! If you look up you can see that even the chandelier was a piece of art; no regular lamp shades here! The only seemingly modern piece of furniture is the lounge set up next to the working fireplace.
Bacall managed to walk the fine line between cozy and cluttered with her books and trinkets displayed on the bookshelf. She also displayed more of her china and artwork on the fireplace’s mantel.
The Pink Master Bedroom
Like the rest of her apartment, Lauren’s Pretty In Pink-esque master bedroom was littered with artwork. Considering that the rest of her apartment is styled with more subtle tones such as blues, browns, and white, it’s interesting that she chose to accent with pink tones.
The most notable feature of Bacall’s master bedroom is the completely unobstructed view of Central Park. That’s what makes this such a highly coveted apartment.
Yellow Walls In The Guest Bedroom
Another room that strays away from the subtle tones that seem to tie the rest of the apartment together is the guest bedroom. The bright yellow walls are hard to miss but Bacall also uses the blues in the carpet and bedspread to make the room flow into the others.
The piece of art hanging above the bed dates back to Spain in the 1920s and was painted by artist Andrew Segovia. The piece sold for $18,750 at auction and was considered to be the focal point of the guest room.
Bacall's Dining Room, With French-Inspired Design
Bacall was very partial to French-inspired design which seems evident in her furniture choices. Much of her furniture was in the style of Louis XIII.
The massive 24-foot by 19-foot dining room brings these elements together. Bacall opted for rusty reds and deep blues to play off the Bell Epoque french wall hanging, which she considered to be the star of the room. The blue and red tones play well with all the wood in the room as well.
Bacall's Pricey Pelican Picture
Though some of the furniture was worth a pretty penny, the most expensive part of her apartment (other than, you know, the apartment that costs $21 million) was the artwork.
Bacall’s “American White Pelican by James Audubon sold for $173,000 at auction. You can buy a 3 bedroom house in Kansas City or Dallas for less than that. Imagine having something that valuable hanging casually in your guest bedroom or dining room…
The Fine China Isn't For Dining
On top of the Bell Epoque wall hanging - which sold for $7,000 at auction - Lauren had a number of other French wall-hangings in the dining room.
To go alongside the wall hangings, Bacall had an extensive collection of expensive china bowls, plates, and other pieces which she hung on the walls as art pieces, rather than using them for actual dining.
How Much Does "Priceless" Cost?
Another piece of priceless artwork (which really just means wildly expensive in the art world) that was part of Bacall’s collection was Albert Edward York’s Landscape with Trees; and A Country Fence.
When the piece was put up for auction at Bonham’s with The Lauren Bacall Collection it was auctioned off for $161,000. Again, imagine having something worth that much money hanging in your apartment for you to just walk by everyday.
Bogart Statue
Bacall had a career that spanned over the course of 70 years, but many still focus on her work with her late husband.
It’s no surprise based on their happy marriage (more to come on that) and successful work-life that Bacall had a bronze statue of “Bogie” as part of her art collection. The statue depicts Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine, his character in Casablanca which was released in 1942. Although there’s a small German notation on the statue, it’s unknown who the artist for this piece was. It was valued at $800 and sold for an undisclosed amount at auction.
The Pricey Apartment Has Some Tragic History Too
The Dakota is also where John Lennon and Yoko Ono lived from 1973 until December 8,1980 when Lennon was assassinated on the street outside of the apartment building.
Yoko Ono still lives in their apartment to this day and has previously claimed to have seen John’s ghost. She said in an interview with the New York Post’s Page Six that she saw Lennon’s ghost sitting at his white piano and he told her “Don’t be afraid. I am still with you.”
Unique George III Style Dresser Sold For $6,875
Though her favorite design style was French, she had a number of pieces from other time periods and countries that added to her art collection.
One particularly notable piece was her George III oak Welsh dresser, which she used to display her collection of antique collectible china. The style for most George III pieces comes straight from the U.K. but is also based off of Rococo so basically, they are a French-style piece. The dresser was auctioned off for $6,875.
More Gallery Walls In The Master Suite
Surrounding the fireplace are walls that Bacall used to display sketches and paintings, creating a gallery inside the master suite. The walls of her apartment were 13 feet high so the question is what came first, the chicken or the egg?
Did the actress start collecting art and buy an apartment with 13-foot high walls so she could display it, or did she collect so much art because she had space on her walls to fill?
Antiques Corner In The Master Suite
An additional area of the (massive) master bedroom is the corner that has an ornate mirror, antique dresser, and desk, which are surrounded by yet another wall of paintings, sketches, and other art.
The mirror, dresser and secretary desk are all in the French style Bacall loved and the pieces complement the wood floor that runs throughout the suite. The Louis XV provincial bureau and the Regence Provincial Walnut Commode were sold at auction for $5000 and $3750, respectively.
Divine Wood Furnishings
The unique wood furnishings in her apartment, both decorative and functional, are one of the themes throughout the rooms. The interior of the New York City apartment wasn't flashy and glamorous, as many might expect of a Hollywood star.
Instead, the hand-carved wooden benches, dressers, and bureaus provide a sense of coziness and the feeling that the apartment is lived in and loved, not just staged and to be admired from afar.
100 Feet Of Unobstructed Central Park
As said before, part of the reason Lauren Bacall's apartment sold for such a high price is because of its unobstructed views of Central Park. In NYC, the view is everything, and Bacall’s apartment had approximately 100 feet of Central Park frontage. That’s virtually unheard of, which is why it cost someone $21 million.
In an interview with French Vogue in 1978, Lauren talked about her apartment and its scenic views saying, “Outside that window lies Central park; my relief from the city, an important reason to live there.”
"Her Girls"
On top of the original Audubon print, the actress’ home featured 3 bronze sculptures by Robert Graham which fetched more than $30,000 when they were auctioned off.
Bacall was introduced to Graham through a mutual friend, his wife Anjelica Houston, and she purchased the sculptures directly from him. Bacall kept the bronzed nude women in her foyer for years and reportedly referred to them as “her girls.”
$1,875 For A Set of Louis VIII Chairs
In terms of furniture, Bacall had numerous pieces of furniture on display beyond the French-style dresser and desk in her master suite. Bacall had a set of antique Louis XIII Walnut Fauteuils that were auctioned off for $1875.
The chairs were displayed in her living room and were supposedly in excellent condition before they were auctioned off so it seems like maybe this was a “look but don’t touch” feature in her home. The chairs were considered to be the epitome of French design.
Louis Vuitton Luggage
Louis Vuitton (considered to be artwork by many) was a must-have for celebrities of yesteryear and is still a sought after item for today’s celebrities.
In modern-day Hollywood, you can see celebs like Kim Kardashian or Angelina Jolie toting around the monogrammed canvas suitcases. A single duffle or suitcase could set you back anywhere from $2000 - $4000, but because Bacall’s collection was vintage it was worth much more. Bacall’s set of Louis Vuitton luggage sold for $37,500 at auction.
Lauren Bacall's Director's Chair
On top of the extravagant artwork and furniture that filled her home, Bacall also had memories from her time as an actress in the Golden Age of Hollywood. In one of her last interviews before her death, Lauren described her apartment as a “map of memories” of times passed.
Bacall had her personal director’s chair in her apartment as a memento of her time on screen. After her passing, the chair was sold to the highest bidder for $4,750.
$2,000 Turkish Carpet
Lauren Bacall's collection of vintage home-wares didn't go cheaply. Despite the used condition, her Turkish carpet still sold at auction for $2,250. Turkish carpets are consistently luxurious items and have a storied history – some feature dragons and phoenixes whereas others have ornate, geometric patterns.
There's no one culture that can claim these carpets (despite the name) as they are actually derived from the multi-ethnic, multi-religious traditions of the former Ottoman Empire, who controlled a geographic region of Asia minor. These carpets have been found everywhere from Siberia to Egypt to Transylvania.
Roses Adorned Her Gate A Day After She Passed
The exterior of Bacall’s building stands tall on the corner of Central Park West and West 72nd Street, and on the day of her passing the building was flocked by fans.
In the days after her death was announced to the world, fans decorated the gates outside of the building with roses, as well as leaving gifts in order to pay their respects to one of the last actresses from the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Hollywood Walk Of Fame
While some grieving fans flocked to The Dakota after Bacall’s passing hit the news, others chose to pay their respects at the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Lauren Bacall was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 8, 1960. Her star can be found at 1724 Vine Street. When she passed in August 2014, fans adorned her star with flowers, stuffed animals, and some even left unlit cigarettes as a tribute to the late star.
Lots Of Jewelry
As did many women of her time, Lauren Bacall had an extensive collection of jewelry. Bonham’s Madison Avenue Galleries in New York was responsible for her estate after Lauren’s passing and there were reportedly 32 lots of jewelry alone.
The auction laster a record-breaking 20 hours over the span of two days and her lots of jewelry were responsible for bringing in $503,625, which was far more than they initially estimated. The original estimate was based solely on value but Bonham expected the jewelry to sell for more because of Bacall’s fame.
Award-Winning Earrings
One of the most notable and valuable pieces in the collection was a pair of Schlumberger gem set and 18-karat gold ear clips. Each clip was designed as a gold latticework plaque and featured emeralds, sapphires and amethysts.
Bacall famously wore the earrings while accepting her Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 1997. That is believed to be part of the reason the clips sold for $52,000 despite only being valued at $12,000.
Personalized Tiffany Necklace
Amongst the lots of jewelry that were up for bidding at the auction was Lauren Bacall’s personalized 14karat gold Tiffany necklace.
The hearts on the necklace read “To my own beautiful star from her proud director Ron.” It’s believed to have been a gift from director Ron Field and was likely given to Lauren after both Fields and Bacall won Tony Awards for the 1970’s musical Applause. The necklace was valued at $9,000 but due to its significance, it sold for more than six times that.
Lauren Bacall's Most Valuable Piece Of Jewelry
Bacall owned a number of Jean Schlumberger pieces, including this enamel and 18-karat gold bracelet that was sold for $35,000 during Bacall’s estate auction. It was considered to be one of the most valuable and exquisite pieces in her collection.
Susan Abeles, the head of the jewelry department for Bonhams, described Lauren Bacall’s style as, “unmistakably her own - and it continues to influence design and fashion to this day. Her jewelry collection represents a woman who knew her own style - one who wore the jewelry rather than the jewelry wearing her.”
Bogie And Bacall
Lauren Bacall met her first husband Humphrey Bogart on the set of her debut 1944 movie To Have and Have Not when she starred alongside him. Just a year after her film debut she became Humphrey’s fourth wife, in 1945.
The couple starred in a few films together while married, and their marriage was considered to be a relatively happy one, without many issues. They shared two children and were married for just shy of 12 years before Humphrey’s passing in January 1957.
Cancelled Engagement To Frank Sinatra
After Bogart’s passing, Lauren quickly got into a relationship with famous actor and singer Frank Sinatra. The whirlwind romance led Sinatra to propose to the actress, but when rumors of the engagement were leaked to the press, the crooner got cold feet and called off the engagement.
Bacall wrote about her romance with Sinatra in her memoir years later. In it she wrote that getting engaged so soon after Bogart’s death, “there was no way I could be thinking straight. Even then it might’ve worked if Frank had been more sure of himself… but he wasn’t.”
Romantically Involved With Robards
Following close on the heels of her cancelled engagement to Sinatra, Lauren became romantically involved with another one of America’s leading men: Jason Robards.
The exact timeline for the progression of the relationship is unknown and as are much of the specifics about their marriage but one thing that is known is that Robards and Bacall’s marriage was not exactly smooth sailing. It was Bacall’s second marriage and Robard’s third but they almost didn’t get married at all…
Robards Were Denied A Marriage License
After Robards proposed, Lauren and Jason planned to marry in a ceremony in Vienna, Austria on June 16, 1961. A wrench was thrown into their plans though when the Austrian authorities refused to grant the couple a marriage license, for unknown reasons.
Following this denial, the couple went to Las Vegas to get married but were again denied a marriage license, for reasons unbeknownst to the public. After a month of trying, in July 1961 the couple drove all the way to Ensenada, Mexico where they finally wed. The reason they chose Mexico is once again unknown, but surely there was a place in the U.S. that would’ve married them?
Robard's Drinking Led To Divorce
Unfortunately for the pair, it seems they should’ve taken the difficulty in getting a marriage license as a sign to turn back and not get married.
Bacall filed for divorce in 1969 after 8 years of marriage and she later revealed in her memoir that the divorce was due, at least in part, to Robard’s struggle with alcoholism. During their marriage, Lauren gave birth to one child, Sam Robards, who went on to become an actor just like his parents.
Remembering Lauren Bacall
From 1944 to 2014 Lauren Bacall played over 70 roles with her final being Family Guy in 2014. She entertained audiences through magazines, TV, movies and the theatre.
Owner of one of New York City’s most envied pieces of real estate, wife to multiple famed Hollywood men, the multi-talented and timeless Lauren Bacall was and is considered to be one of the great actresses of Hollywood’s Golden Age, and of Hollywood in general.
The Original Dakota Building
The Dakota building originally was built with 65 unique apartments with anywhere from 4 to 20 rooms in each. The building features an in-house powerplant that’s responsible for all the electricity in the building and the Dakota has central heating, which was very forward at the time it was built.
The building used to have a servants quarter, playroom, gymnasium, and a dining hall, but most of these spaces have since been turned into apartments.
