When Barbara Harris first met Cary Grant in the 1970s, the Hollywood legend was already deep into remodeling his Beverly Hills residence.
Although the couple married in 1981, Harris — who was then working in public relations in London — had minimal involvement in the home’s redesign.
“The design was already in process,” Harris, now 74, told the Wall Street Journal in an interview.
The two shared the estate until Grant’s death in 1986, at which point she inherited the property.
More than three decades later, she and her current husband, real-estate investor David Jaynes, have transformed the site entirely, replacing the original circa-1940s structure with a sprawling contemporary residence.
The newly built home is now listed for $77.5 million, according to the Journal.
Located on roughly 2.9 acres in the heart of Beverly Hills, the six-bedroom estate spans approximately 15,700 square feet and is designed to capture sweeping views from downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Ocean.
Jaynes said the couple prioritized ceiling height and floor-to-ceiling glass to open up the interiors. “We didn’t want anything to clash with the beauty of the view,” Harris said.
The couple’s design sensibility took cues from their favorite hospitality brand, the ultra-luxury Aman, which portrayed privacy, simplicity and quality.
Materials such as rift-sawn white oak, cream-colored stone and soft neutral fabrics were used throughout.
The estate includes 12 bathrooms — two in the primary suite alone — as well as a lower-level theater, a first-floor wine room with stainless steel walls and custom oak cabinetry, and expansive terraces that wrap around both levels of the home.
A tennis court, a swimming pool and manicured gardens featuring white and cream-colored roses round out the outdoor amenities.
The landscape overhaul was extensive.
Apart from a handful of old stone pine trees, nearly all of the original foliage was replaced.
“The property was so outdated,” Harris recalled. “Cary, even when he finished, he said, ‘I should have knocked the whole thing down.’”
The Jayneses ultimately did just that — starting construction on the new home in 2014 and completing it around 2022.
“It’s very serene and peaceful down there,” Harris said of the new garden, which includes more than 100 newly planted trees and 500 shrubs.
In a nod to the property’s storied past, Harris recalled throwing a surprise party for Grant during the original home’s renovation.
Harris recalled when guests like Frank Sinatra and Gregory Peck crawled through a window to get in the house.
“We were really happy here,” she said.
Now approaching her 75th birthday, Harris said the timing felt right to make a move.
“It doesn’t mean I won’t miss the house, but I’m happy to move to a smaller place,” she said.
Aaron Kirman of Christie’s International Real Estate Southern California, who holds the listing with colleagues Josh Morrow and Rosh Vinyua, said despite broader market uncertainty, ultra-luxury properties in Los Angeles are still commanding strong interest.
“I think people recognize that they’re getting pretty good deals in markets that are challenging,” he told the Journal.
Kirman is also co-listing the home with Denise Moreno and Gordon MacGeachy of Hilton Hilton.
Grant, who was born in England, purchased the property in 1946 for approximately $46,000, according to Harris, now Barbara Jaynes.
Known for his roles in classics like “His Girl Friday” and several Alfred Hitchcock films, the actor’s connection to the home remains a key part of its enduring appeal.