Sydney Sweeney bought a $6.2 million 1930s Bel-Air estate on 1.25 acres; she wanted to restore its overgrown garden without erasing its old Hollywood character |
A vine-covered mansion in Bel-Air might seem like an obvious candidate for a complete renovation, particularly when its new owner is a Hollywood actor with the means to start afresh. Sydney Sweeney had a different approach when she bought a property dating back to the 1930s in 2023. Rather than stripping away its aged features to create a freshly remodelled luxury home, she wanted to retain the qualities that gave it a connection to an earlier period of Hollywood. According to Architectural Digest, the estate, set on 1.25 acres, came with an overgrown garden, persistent vines and a house in poor condition. Sweeney saw the work ahead as a chance to restore the property without making its history disappear.
Sydney Sweeney paid $6.2 million for a historic Bel-Air estate
Sweeney paid $6.2 million for the Bel-Air estate in 2023, adding a substantial renovation project to a property portfolio that already included her first home in Los Angeles. The mansion was built in the 1930s and had a connection to Hollywood’s Golden Age through its former association with the family of screenwriter and director Delmer Daves, known for films including 3:10 to Yuma.The two-storey residence covers approximately 4,477 square feet and has five bedrooms and four bathrooms. The grounds extend across 1.25 acres, giving the house considerably more outdoor space than a typical city property. A separate guesthouse and swimming pool are also part of the estate.As reported by Architectural Digest, the property had last changed hands in 1984 before Sweeney’s purchase. She reportedly secured it after competing with other interested buyers. Its condition, however, meant that moving straight in was not an option.
An overgrown garden and a plan to preserve Hollywood history
When Sweeney showed Glamour around the house in October 2024, the grounds looked far removed from the carefully maintained gardens commonly associated with expensive Los Angeles estates. Vines covered parts of the building, while the garden had become overgrown. The house itself was in such poor condition that it could not be occupied during the renovation.For Sweeney, the answer was not to remove every trace of age and replace it with contemporary finishes. She explained that she wanted the work to respect what was already there, rather than leave visitors wondering when the original house had been remodelled. She said,”We’ll fix it up as much as we can without hurting any of it.”She also made clear that the finished property should retain a sense of continuity with its past. “I want it to feel timeless, like it is.”Her comments set out the distinction between restoring an older building and remaking it entirely. The estate needed substantial attention, but its aged appearance and historic details were not simply problems to be eliminated. The garden’s untamed state was part of the wider picture of a house that had spent decades accumulating its own character.
Sydney Sweeney wanted the estate’s Hollywood history to stay intact
Sweeney’s interest in the property’s history extended beyond its exterior. Before she completed the purchase, she was filming ‘Anyone But You’ in Australia, so her mother went to the estate sale on her behalf. Sweeney asked her to buy the contents of the former owner’s office, hoping the material could remain associated with the house.The collection included Hollywood memorabilia and signed items connected to celebrated figures from the film industry. During the Glamour visit, Sweeney discussed discovering pieces associated with actors such as Cary Grant and Clark Gable. These objects offered a tangible link to an earlier generation of Hollywood, complementing the property’s own history.That approach also helps explain why she did not want a renovation that made the building feel entirely new. The aim was to improve the house while retaining the details and associations that made it different from a recently constructed luxury residence.The condition of the property meant that preservation would not be a matter of leaving everything untouched. Repairs were necessary, and the estate would have to be made suitable for modern use. Sweeney’s stated preference was to carry out that work without losing the qualities that had attracted her to the house in the first place.
Inside Sydney Sweeney’s first Los Angeles home in Westwood
While the Bel-Air mansion remained uninhabitable, Sweeney continued to stay at the Tudor-style house she bought in 2021 for approximately $3 million. Located in Westwood, the property was built in 1933 and measures around 3,200 square feet, as reported. It has five bedrooms, four bathrooms, vaulted wooden-beam ceilings and original brick fireplaces.Sweeney has given the house the affectionate nickname “Snow White’s château”. Its character differs from that of the Bel-Air estate, but both properties have older architectural features that distinguish them from more contemporary homes.The Westwood purchase also marked a personal milestone for the actor. In an interview with The Associated Press in 2021, she spoke about the significance of finally owning a home after her family’s financial difficulties during her early years in Los Angeles.By the time she bought the Bel-Air property, Sweeney had established herself through roles in Euphoria, The White Lotus and The Handmaid’s Tale, alongside her work in films. Her growing career had given her the means to purchase a more expensive estate, but the way she discussed its renovation suggested that the decision was not based on size or price alone.
Why preserving the old Hollywood feel matters
Sweeney’s Bel-Air project sits at the intersection of property investment and historic preservation. Older homes in Los Angeles can be renovated in ways that retain their original architectural features, or altered so extensively that much of their previous identity disappears. Her public comments indicated a preference for the former, even though the house required significant work.The overgrown garden, vines and deteriorated interiors presented practical challenges, but they also formed part of the estate’s appearance when she bought it. The task was to decide what needed repairing and what deserved to remain. Sweeney did not describe a plan to preserve every feature exactly as it was; instead, she spoke about improving the house without damaging its existing character.As of her October 2024 Glamour profile, the mansion was still undergoing the process of being made liveable. The finished result had yet to be revealed in that account, so the full extent of the restoration and any changes to the grounds remained unclear.
