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A Jennifer Coolidge whistlestop tour of historic, architectural Aotearoa
Jennifer Coolidge is filming Minecraft in NZ; Trade Me's some maximalist homes for the real estate-savvy star.
AI summary
Actress Jennifer Coolidge, currently in NZ, is a known real estate enthusiast with a love for historic, architectural homes and a maximalist style. Trade Me has curated a virtual property tour for the star, showcasing unique listings across Aotearoa.
Highlights include a turn-of-the-century Hamilton villa, a Napier Art Deco beauty, a Mt Victoria home with gothic windows, and historic mansions in Oamaru and Dunedin, all selected to match her distinctive taste.
Who could have missed the news that the fabulous comedic actress Jennifer Coolidge was in town last week, visiting a vintage clothing store, Dead Man Vintage, in Auckland and lighting up the city as ever with her fun vibe.
Born in Boston and raised in Norwell Massachusetts – Coolidge worked as a waitress with Sandra Bullock in her early days and was named as one of the 2023 TIME 100 most influential people of 2023.
You’ll know her from White Lotus, Promising Young Woman, Legally Blonde, American Pie and Best in Show. And she was a standout in A Minecraft Movie, which is why she is in the country to film the sequel with stars including Jack Black and Jason Momoa.
We hear at Trade Me that the movie star is actually a real estate guru extraordinaire in the States with a love for doing up historical and architectural homes.
In 2005, she fell for an 1860s historical home in New Orleans’ Lower Garden district and gave it a massive makeover. She now holds an annual Halloween party there for her friends which is always a gothic, horror showstopper. She loaned her home as a set for Sofia Coppola’s southern gothic thriller, The Beguiled in 2017.
Properties fit for a modern comedy Queen
At Trade Me, we harbour hopes that she might buy a property in Aotearoa as her career goes from strength to strength and she spends some time here.
Our research tells us she loves colour and whimsy in her homes –her style has been described as maximalist. And we know she likes properties with strong historical or architectural and cultural significance.
So we’re taking this fabulous movie star on a tour of the country, where she can do some vintage clothes shopping and see the best of NZ’s architecture over the last century or more, cherry picked from our current listings.
Not for Jennifer the typical contemporary Kiwi home, her LA home is described as modern design with cosy touches - she is one to appreciate an older home with good architectural bones and a story.
Wonderful Waikato whares: Whimsical, world-class worthy homes
Overlooking Hamilton Lake and privately positioned next to reserve grounds, what's not to love
Said to be in Huntly at the moment for filming, to those in the know, nearby Cambridge has some great shopping for antiques and vintage clothes, so Jennifer should definitely go there first for lunch and check out Retro Rummage before taking a look at a couple of properties in Hamilton.
This lakeside turn of the century villa in Hamilton exuding history and elegance will likely catch her eye and she could buy neighbouring properties as well to preserve her privacy which Jennifer is very conscious of.
The actress may also have a soft spot for this charming Chartwell home, reminiscent of those Massachusetts houses where she grew up. This stunning property is a generous 450 sq m so is ideal for those larger gatherings Jennifer is known for.
Hawke’s Bay: High-drama heritage and Art Deco haute-couture
Meanwhile for a woman who loves her vintage clothing and history, Napier is an absolute must-visit for Jennifer while she is in Aotearoa. You can just see her celebrating Winter Deco weekend in July.
And you could easily see her holding soirées at this converted 1935 warehouse in vibrant Ahuriri.
There is no doubt that the movie star would definitely gravitate towards this Bluff Hill beauty where the previous owners have not been afraid of adding some colour.
Named Waimarie, the late 1880s house is one of Napier’s most historically significant family homes –and in the 1930s it was given a new look by architect Louis Hay with some key Art Deco features, for instance, Tiffany and Charles Rennie Mackintosh-inspired lead lighting.
Welcome to Waimarie, one of Napier's most historically significant family homes.
Wellington’s Grand Designs: Historic charm and Pōneke style
Completed in 2021, Waraki is a world class Passive House
It doesn’t always have to be historical for this real estate-savvy Hollywood actress. We feel sure that Jennifer would be tempted by this contemporary architectural home outside of Greytown.
A passive house, designed by GreenHaus Architects, it is called Waraki, meaning dawn chorus or morning song. The estate is craftmanship meets artistry, its agents say, which we think is very much Jennifer’s language.
The capital is naturally eagerly awaiting a visit from this Hollywood star, and Cuba Street will be her kind of place, ideal for people watching, eating out and shopping. No doubt she will make a beeline for premier designer and vintage consignment shop, Hunters and Collectors.
As for house shopping, Wellington has a stellar property for sale at the moment that would tick a lot of Jennifer’s boxes.
This Mt Victoria home with a rich history dating back to the 1860s boasts recycled gothic windows, sure to appeal to the actress.
And a lot of the hard work has been done – we realise Jennifer might not be able to be here all the time -so let’s make it easy for her.
Otago’s Gothic Grandeur: Victorian villas and limestone luxury could be just the ticket
Totara House the ultimate opportunity to own a prominent historic Oamaru stone country manor
Now you may expect Jennifer to go to Queenstown, a favourite hotspot of Jason Momoa’s while she is in the motu, but we think she’ll have other ideas.
Oamuru would be more her kind of place, abounding with historical homes close to the charming town centre.
Totara House with its creamy Oamaru stone is sure to attract Jennifer’s attention - this manor built in 1868, with a plethora of heritage features and its setting in secluded grounds.
There is an embarrassment of riches in Oamaru when it comes to beautiful older mansions– this historic home on Arthur Street in Holmes Hill was designed by renowned Oamaru architect J.M.Forrester, and is a must-see when Jennifer comes to visit.
And to finish off this tour of the motu, Jennifer she can’t come all this way without coming to the most gothic town in New Zealand, Dunedin.
Mahara in Roslyn, is one of a pair of elegant timber mansions in Dunedin designed by E.W.Walden in 1905. Jennifer will enjoy the sweeping staircase which leads to an extraordinary stained-glass window designed by Robert Fraser.
And if it’s the sea that Jennifer is yearning for as a Boston-born movie star, this landmark of Dunedin history in Saint Leonards, Dunedin, has to inspire a visit.
Aorangi is a large grand residence with expansive verandas and five guest suites, but has a cosy theatre lounge which would appeal to our Hollywood star, no doubt. It also has a guest house handy for when her friends come to stay.
How is she going to decide? It’s hard to know. But Jennifer’s going to be a very busy woman between filming that sequel to A Minecraft Story.
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