While David Arquette's acting career has been marked by kooky projects including the "Scream" franchise, "Eight Legged Freaks," and a stint as a professional wrestler, his career as a home restoration specialist is serious indeed, earning him esteem and kudos from designers, builders, and real estate pros alike.
His most recent project is an immaculately restored English Craftsman estate in the Hancock Park -- adjacent area known as Windsor Square, one of the oldest and most respected neighborhoods in Los Angeles.
Arquette bought the property in 2014 for $7.15 million. After working his restorative magic, he's now asking $8.5 million for the 9,708-square-foot home with seven bedrooms, six bathrooms, and two half-baths. Arquette was likely attracted to the historic property for its lovely bones -- it's been a notable dwelling since it was built in 1908. But when it comes to the renovation, previous owners did most of the heavy lifting. Literally.
Constructed by prominent architectural firm Hunt, Eager, & Burns, the mansion was originally located about two miles away, in a then-ritzy section of Wilshire Boulevard, which is now in the middle of Koreatown. The area had become rather commercialized by 1930, so a lawyer named Henry O'Melveny bought the house and had it dragged by horses to its current site, which remains a bastion of residential gentility. The residence has been known as the O'Melveny house ever since.
Arquette carefully restored the home to its past grandeur. He spruced up the rich wood paneling and freshened up the very formal rooms. Upgrades, rather than restoration, were necessary in the kitchen, which now incorporates modern, top-of-the-line appliances with traditional-looking cabinetry. And there are now his-and-her closets in the master bedroom, which is "a rare treat in historical homes," according to listing agent Jonah Wilson of Hilton & Hyland.
There's no word yet on what Arquette's next restoration project will be, but you can hear the busy actor voice Skully in the animated series "Jake and the Neverland Pirates" and Captain Barnabas in the upcoming "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters" TV movie.