Did you happen to see Oprah’s interview with Elizabeth Edwards last week? It made me sad, but I won’t get into that here. What made me happy was getting such a great tour of their ranch near Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
I had been dying to get a look inside it since seeing aerial photos of it during the presidential campaign. Elizabeth says she found the 100-acre property, which is bordered by pine trees, on the Internet, and she immediately knew it was where she wanted to build their dream home. It was completed in 2006.
The house has over 28,000 square feet and includes a regulation-sized basketball court. I wish we had gotten a better look at the kitchen. It looks like it has a bit of a “Something’s Gotta Give” vibe based on this photo of Oprah with their daughter Emma Claire (similar white cabinets, black soapstone countertops, drawer pulls):
The dining room:
I liked how comfortable and unpretentious the house looks. My favorite space was the playroom:
A cheerful Homework Station for the kids:
The porch has a gorgeous view of the property:
12/10 UPDATE: I featured more photos of the house here.
Go to the Oprah Show website to see the entire slideshow of the house that includes photos of the basketball court and gift-wrapping room.
To see more “famous houses” I’ve featured, click here.
{ 40 comments }
oh my goodness. i would never leave that porch. except to go to the kitchen. and maybe the bathroom.
A gift wrapping room?! This is what my good ole’ NC tax dollars are going to?! LOL – Just kidding! I would L.O.V.E. to have a gift wrapping room!! How much fun would THAT be?!?! I’m going to go check out the rest of these pics!
~angela @ peonypatch
Oh me, my heart breaks. She has a lot of grace doesn’t she?
I did watch that interview – and now I don’t feel quite as bad for wishing them to move the camera just a smidge off of Oprah or Elizabeth so I could get a better view of the living room…okay, I do feel bad. It’s a beautiful home, though. And she does have a lot of class and grace.
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Well I didn’t see the interview, but I do feel compassion for her, of course. However, I don’t see why anyone needs such a massive house and I think a gift wrapping room is ridiculous! But the kitchen is lovely and that wall of books in the playroom is fantastic!
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The Oprah show is 2 years behind here in Finland:-( but I SO HAPPY you showed the house because it is lovely. It is surprising that such a huge house can look so cozy and warm. Thank you…
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The interview made me cringe, I only watched the very beginning…had to walk away because it was all so personal and Oprah gave me the creeps with her prying questions. I wanted to see the house so bad, but not bad enough to watch.
Thanks for the glimpse inside.
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her house reflects her grace, intelligence, and strength. I think it was a lovely home. I do have to say – in their defense – that politicians are expected to have nice homes, because they’re expected to entertain a lot of people who themselves are accustomed to a certain standard of living. I almost want to defend Elizabeth and her lovely home because I think she deserves it. I don’t watch Oprah often but I made a point of recording it on the DVR because I wanted to watch…and it didn’t disappoint. The house or the interview-ee. (Btw, is it just me, or is Oprah finally looking old? I don’t mean that in a bad way – for heaven’s sakes, she’s 60+!)
Courtney @ nesting instincts’s last blog post..let’s keep this one on the down-low, shall we?
I was going to ask if you could feature this house, and you beat me to it!
Thanks for sharing, If you find anymore please post.
28,000 square feet?! Wowee!
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Yeh. The house is nice. Kind of a dark cloud over it as my heart breaks for her though.
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Ok…lots of mixed feelings in all those comments. I have to say I love the house but it is over the top. Someone who prides himself on a working class spokesman. The hyporcracy is what kills me…enough of that..
I will have to look at the interview as I don’t watch Oprah any longer. Attended one of her shows and was so let down by her attitude off camera. They pick only pretty people to sit in front after watching you on camera as you wait in the holding area before the show. I don’t know if this is indicative of my looks but we were in the way back
I still keep thinking…28,000 square feet and can’t get my hands around it. The largest in our neighborhood is 10,000 and that is obscene.
Janet
ps loaded post today
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This is a beautiful home but not a happy home. At least it’s big enough for them to avoid one another. Maybe that was part of the plan. Sad.
I am not one to want such a huge home. I would love to have the land though.
I was more interested in the home itself when I saw snippets on TV than what was being discussed. I’m now off to the link you provided to see more!
Jeanette’s last blog post..Ten Seconds metal art…
I don’t watch Oprah, but love this home. I can’t get over it being 28,000 square feet! I have a friend with a 15,000 sq. ft house. I can’t imagine adding another 13,000 to it!! HOLY MOLY. These rooms looks so small… what is in the rest of the home?
Sorry to have been MIA for a while. Hope all is well with you:-)
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I’m assuming a good deal of the square footage is because of the gymnasium. There is also an indoor dog run for their pets that leads from the house to the basketball court. -Julia
Does anybody knows, how much is in square mts? Thanks for share, for those who don´t live in USA and can´t see tv, this is a great,great post
Isn’t that the coolest house??? Loved it.
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I am not quite sure why everyone thinks people (wives) are fair game when their husbands are unfaithful. Ok… it was her decision to do the interview… it’s all so sad; and whats even sadder is that the media think we all WANT to know. Im like several of your commenters… i didnt watch, couldnt.
Thanks for the house tour though, cuz you are wonderful at it!
Claudia
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I saw “As Good As It Gets” but don’t remember the home. I don’t know why that is.
I started watching the interview but stopped just simply because it was disturbing. Very sad for the couple, especially if they are truly trying to make their marriage work! I noticed many got into the Edwards personal interview with Oprah more than the home. Interesting but not surprising. (By the way, I believe Oprah is about 55 years old.) Goodness I would not want anyone to add another five years on me!
After all I have read here I wish I had stayed and suffered the interview just to see the home. I just didn’t know of it’s fame..I don’t follow famous homes. A cottage is more my speed.
This is a most interesting post though. It has sort of peaked my interest in famous homes…
I also want to just touch on the subject of “gift wrapping rooms.” The reason being, when one is famous, or popular and has many friends and functions to go to..etc..a gift wrapping room might be nice to have..unless you are not like me and don’t make a mess when wrapping gifts. I do. I have paper and scraps of this and that..everywhere. My brother had a gift wrapping room in his humble home..and his home was sweet but humble! One side of the room was outfitted with different bins that tipped out for wrapping paper and a work bench on top and on the wall were racks with long dowels filled with many, many rolls of different beautiful ribbons. There were many drawers, all labeled with different gift embellishments. My brother and his wife went to all sorts of outlets for different gift wraps..and it eventually became a hobby. Their Christmas gifts..were a thing of beauty. The entire family hated to open as they didn’t want to ruin. They had an active social life, had many friends. They were known for the lovliness of their gifts. My brother built the entire room himself. He is a talented wood craftsman.
Sorry…this is so long. I’m done…just a few thoughts on this fantastic post. Interesting comments too! Hope I get another chance to see the home. I enjoyed my visit today! VERY much.
~smiles~
Mona
Wait…wait…no wonder I didn’t remember the house..I had the WRONG movie. I DID see that home..and looked at it more than the movie…it was fantastic! I wrote in my comment about “Somethings Gotta Give” and thought I had the wrong home and erased it.
FANTASTIC home..the beach…GORGEOUS! I misread somehow..or forgot what I had just read! I am so sorry. That home was just beyond compare.
I saw the Oprah show and completely fell in love with that porch… oh, I could linger there for days. The whole house was beautiful. I loved the mix of colours and patterns throughout.
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28,000 sq feet??? Jeez! Aside from that excess, I can’t really say I like the decor (just not my style), except for maybe the porch, which I think is really beautiful. For anyone who hasn’t been there, Chapel Hill is gorgeous. ….. and very expensive…
gosh, I don’t know the last time I watched Oprah…and i used to be such a devoted viewer. But I miss the fun episodes, while talk of an affair doesn’t seem fun, the house tour does!
angela | the painted house’s last blog post..The Cottage Tour: Exterior
What a beautiful home. Cheerful and bright, and so well appointed. Thank you for sharing these photographs, Julia. ~Arleen
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I may never grow up. I would love to have a DEN that looks like that PLAYROOM! How fun!!!
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Beautiful, but excessive house. There’s no way on earth a family of five needs that much square footage — even with a gymnasium and a gift wrap room. Just…no. I cannot imagine that it’s in any way environmentally sound.
I wanted to watch it, but couldn’t because now every time I see John Edwards’ face my eyes start to glaze over and my head begins to tilt awkwardly on its axis as the brain inside fills to capacity with not-so-nice thoughts.
SO…thank you for sharing the home photos. Nice to know he’s able to sleep with himself at night there (whoops…there’s a little dig…sorry ’bout that.
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I wish the whole show had been a house tour! I keep straining to see the furniture layout in the interview space, since our kitchen/eating area/sitting area are open in the same way as theirs. I don’t like the idea of writing a book and doing interviews about a private family matter — especially when you have young children! Why relive it all? Anyway, loved seeing the house.
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It’s so bright and cheerful! I missed this Oprah. I feel sorry for Elizabeth ..she has been through so much, but she handles it all with grace doesn’t she? On strong woman!
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LOVELY.
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I really loved their house too! is was so much prettier than I expected from the outside! just gorgeous. But the interview was sad – she should get a divorce!!!! imo. He doesn’t deserve her!!!!
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It did look like a wonderful house. But am I the only one, I just know I can’t be, about Elizabeths comment about life after death? She said “if, if there is a eternal life….” I really need to go get the magazine to quote her correctly. IF? She is not sure about salvation and eternal life with our Father! I want to write to her, I know God has put this on my heart. I want her to know it is not an “if”, it’s a real choice we make here whether we accept and believe Him, or not. Until you know Him, it will be an “if”, when you believe Him, Your if will become a “when” And that is a win-win!
Not sure if any of you saw yesterday but Nate Berkus toured Elizabeth Edwards house on his show. Gorgeous. I have a question for you all…does anyone know what the ‘quote’ is she painted on the wall in her kitchen? they never zoomed in and Im dying to know….thanks in advance…
I tracked down the quote and the link to the Nate Berkus interview. You can also see more photos of the house in my updated post here:
http://hookedonhouses.net/2010/12/08/elizabeth-edwards-home-in-chapel-hill-north-carolina/
“I liked how comfortable and unpretentious the house looks.” How on earth could a 28,000 sq ft house NOT look pretentious?
Does this look uncomfortable and pretentious to you? It didn’t to me, despite its square footage. -Julia
Not pretenti0us to me either, Julie. I think it’s beautiful; and just wish Mrs. Edwards had not been ill and could have lived to enjoy it. Thanks, I love your site.
.-= Sally´s last blog ..The barefoot contessa =-.
Sorry – Julia!
I think that house is big , beautiful, and expenseive. But Senenator Edwards worked for what he has got just like every other American Citizen in this country. What is wrong with having a big and beaufiful house to live in?
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