LOS ANGELES-BASED ARTIST AND DESIGNER ELICIA CASTALDI AT HOME WITH HUSBAND DAVID KOKAKIS AT THEIR STUNNING VILLA IN PALM SPRINGS
HELLO! UK|September 04, 2023
Elicia and husband David, a senior executive at Universal Music, pose on the giant chessboard in their garden (above left) and with their 1967 Corvette Stingray convertible in Sunfire Yellow (right) a wedding gift from Elicia's father.
VICTORIA DE ALCAHUD
LOS ANGELES-BASED ARTIST AND DESIGNER ELICIA CASTALDI AT HOME WITH HUSBAND DAVID KOKAKIS AT THEIR STUNNING VILLA IN PALM SPRINGS

Their house in Palm Springs was built in 1958 during Hollywood's Golden Age and although the couple instantly fell in love with the property, it needed an 18-month renovation to transform the villa into their dream home. Its airy facade (above) boasts a number of windows looking out on to a tranquil swimming pool

Elicia Castaldi and her husband David Kokakis are a dynamic, successful couple in control of every detail in their impressive careers. But when it came to acquiring their perfect weekend home, the Los Angeles-based duo turned the choice over to chance.

During a trip to the exclusive desert resort of Palm Springs, Elicia, founder of artistic stationery brand Girl w/ Knife, and David, a top music executive, went to view an elegant but rundown 1950s villa.

Built in the Golden Age of Hollywood, it could well have been their dream come true, but could also have been beyond repair. They paused at the gate, gripped by the fear of disappointment, then took a bold decision. "If we see a hummingbird on the way in, we'll buy it," they agreed.

And right there, on the branch of a small tree, welcoming them, was not one, but two hummingbirds. That was six years ago and the couple haven't looked back.

"When we started our house search, we had two very clear requirements; we wanted a view of the mountains and we did not want to see power lines. It’s hard to get that combination, but we did,” Elicia says.'

As light floods into the pristine white villa, its interior a homage to classic Hollywood Regency style, it’s hard to imagine how it was back then. “It was in a deplorable state. The refurbishment was a joint effort and took us a year and a half,” she says.

Esta historia es de la edición September 04, 2023 de HELLO! UK.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición September 04, 2023 de HELLO! UK.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE HELLO! UKVer todo
DREAM ESCAPES
HELLO! UK

DREAM ESCAPES

Take in the beauty of Japan's former imperial capital, from its temples and tea houses to serene moments in nature

time-read
1 min  |
November 25, 2024
SPICE BOY
HELLO! UK

SPICE BOY

Brooklyn Peltz Beckham is among the stars fuelling the craze for hot sauces, from spicy peppers to hot honey

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 25, 2024
CILLIAN MURPHY
HELLO! UK

CILLIAN MURPHY

AFTER HIS OSCAR-WINNING TURN IN 'OPPENHEIMER' CILLIAN MURPHY BRINGS IT BACK HOME WITH POWERFUL NEW FILM SET IN IRELAND - AND DROPS 'PEAKY BLINDERS' MOVIE HINTS

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 25, 2024
MARKING REMEMBRANCE DAY - THE DUKE OF SUSSEX
HELLO! UK

MARKING REMEMBRANCE DAY - THE DUKE OF SUSSEX

PAYS HEARTFELT TRIBUTE AS HE MAKES SWEET GESTURE TO BEREAVED CHILDREN

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 25, 2024
THE ROYAL FAMILY PAY THEIR RESPECTS ON REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
HELLO! UK

THE ROYAL FAMILY PAY THEIR RESPECTS ON REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

HONOURING THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE WHILE SERVING THEIR COUNTRY

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 25, 2024
MAKING IT A RIGHT ROYAL NIGHT - 'GLADIATOR II'
HELLO! UK

MAKING IT A RIGHT ROYAL NIGHT - 'GLADIATOR II'

THE KING WALKS THE RED CARPET AT FILM'S STARRY WORLD PREMIERE

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 25, 2024
FRESH FROM THE 'WICKED' PREMIERE - ARIANA GRANDE
HELLO! UK

FRESH FROM THE 'WICKED' PREMIERE - ARIANA GRANDE

ON HER CLOSE BOND WITH 'WARMEST HUMAN' CYNTHIA ERIVO

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 25, 2024
AFTER REVEALING HER DECISION TO HAVE SURGERY FOR A BRAIN TUMOUR - DAVINA MCCALL CELEBRITY FRIENDS SEND MESSAGES OF SUPPORT AFTER SHOCK NEWS
HELLO! UK

AFTER REVEALING HER DECISION TO HAVE SURGERY FOR A BRAIN TUMOUR - DAVINA MCCALL CELEBRITY FRIENDS SEND MESSAGES OF SUPPORT AFTER SHOCK NEWS

Stars including Amanda Holden and Holly Willoughby have offered heartfelt support to Davina McCall after she revealed she was undergoing an operation to remove a brain tumour.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 25, 2024
THE KING AND QUEEN
HELLO! UK

THE KING AND QUEEN

AS DAMIAN LEWIS PRAISES CAMILLA'S RECENT T.V. TURN - THE KING AND QUEEN HOST STAR-STUDDED RECEPTION AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE FOR FAMOUS BIG AND SMALL-SCREEN FACES

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 25, 2024
CELINE DION AND JENNIFER LOPEZ - STEAL THE SHOW AT LAVISH FASHION EXTRAVAGANZA
HELLO! UK

CELINE DION AND JENNIFER LOPEZ - STEAL THE SHOW AT LAVISH FASHION EXTRAVAGANZA

HITTING ALL THE RIGHT NOTES

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 25, 2024