For any kid growing up in the 70s, The Brady Bunch was mandatory viewing. The hit show ran for five seasons, from 1969 to 1974, and followed the everyday antics of a blended family of eight, garnering a legion of fans all over the world. Enter Tina Trahan, art collector, historic home enthusiast – and perhaps the biggest Brady fan of all. She's revealed herself to be the newest owner of the famous Brady Bunch house. However, while Tina may have gotten the house for a bargain, she may also have gotten a lot more than she bargained for with this period property. Will the iconic home turn out to be a real estate steal or an investment nightmare? Click or scroll to find out…
The all-American sitcom was set largely in the Brady family home, a mid-century ranch-style house that would have been very familiar to viewers from their own suburban neighbourhoods. While the exterior shots used a real house in the Studio City area of Los Angeles, the interior shots were filmed on Stage 5 of Paramount Pictures Studios, so the building’s interiors didn’t match the colourful living areas and bedrooms that viewers came to associate with the Bradys.
This all changed in 2018 when the lifestyle channel HGTV bought the home for $3.5 million (£2.8m) for their 2019 show, A Very Brady Renovation, in which the original Brady kids joined the Property Brothers stars, twins Jonathan and Drew Scott (far right) to recreate the iconic Brady Bunch interiors installed within the original house they used for shots of the exterior.
It was this newly minted version of the home that long-time Brady fan Tina Trahan had to have. Trahan, 53, is a former Chicago socialite and VIP party planner once described as a ‘social linchpin' by golf legend Tiger Woods. Avid art collector Tina (pictured, with her husband, former HBO chief Chris Albrecht) has both the means and the savvy to spot a steal. Together, the pair have a penchant for acquiring and offloading luxury homes, including a sprawling L.A. estate, which they acquired for $16 million (£13.1m) only to relist for $18 million (£14.7m), and the 40,000-square-foot mega-mansion ‘Stone Manor’ on the shores of Lake Geneva, which Trahan bought for $16 million ($13.1m) in 2020.
The five-bed, five-bath home dates to 1959, and now offers a total of 5,100 square feet of living space, 2,000 of which was added by HGTV during their $1.9 million renovation. While the home may not have been a stroke of financial genius, at least it was a bargain. In the nearly 50 years since The Brady Bunch was cancelled, the iconic home has sold three times. HGTV listed the ranch in May of 2023 for $5.5 million (£4.4m), but it ultimately sold to Tina for just $3.2 million (£2.6m) – 42% less than the asking price, and 9% less than HGTV paid for it pre-renovations in 2018.
More than 28 million viewers tuned in to watch the Property Brothers and the Brady gang recreate the show’s iconic backdrops, including the distinctive burnt orange and avocado green kitchen, the colourfully papered kids’ rooms, and of course, the floating central staircase. The renovation project took roughly 9,000 hours of work over a six-month period but resulted in a detail-perfect final product down to identical furnishings, replicated sculptures, and a recreated two-sided fireplace. As the Brady Bunch house is the second-most photographed home in the US after the White House, there was certainly plenty of source material from which to work!
While the renovation certainly seemingly resulted in the complete Brady residence in all its former glory, there were still some surprises in store for new owner Tina. While Ms Trahan’s plans for the property are not yet known, it has been reported she may be planning to use the home for fundraising and charity events. Realistically, the house won’t be good for much else, as Tina has since revealed that none of the appliances work. “It’s almost like a life-size dollhouse,” Tina told The Wall Street Journal. She has even joked that the purchase was possibly “the worst investment ever."
As far as Tina is concerned, the house makes a fabulous collector’s piece. “No one is going in there to make pork chops and applesauce in that kitchen," she told The Wall Street Journal. "Anything you might do to make the house liveable would take away from what I consider artwork.” And, as with any great work of art, her ultimate goal in acquiring the house was happiness. “It brings so much joy, and it makes so many people happy, just like ‘The Brady Bunch’ did,” she said.
"Never will I ever touch one thing [in the house]," she said in an exclusive interview with People.com. "I was telling someone, 'If you [even] bring a flat-screen TV into the house, it's no longer The Brady Bunch. "There's a lot of value in this for a lot of people that care about it. And HGTV put in a lot of time, effort, and money into the house to make it the way it is and… I find that incredibly valuable."
Loved this? Read on to discover more superfans who've recreated their obsessions in their homes
Take a sneak peek inside the homes of superfans who have taken their passions to a whole new level by transforming their homes into shrines that pay homage to their favourite TV, movie and comic franchises. From hot pink Barbie dreamhouses to custom-made Trekkie-inspired interiors, you won’t believe your eyes.
A Batman superfan has spent £1.5 million ($2m) installing an extravagant home cinema inspired by the lair of Gotham City’s crime-fighting hero. Measuring a whopping 12,000 square feet, it was developed by Canadian company Elite Home Theater Seating and includes an array of Gothic-style features, including ornate winged gargoyles, as well as bat computers and glowing bat symbols.
Comprising 12 seats and a 180-degree movie screen, occupants can enjoy films surrounded by an array of impressive Batman memorabilia, including batsuits and a Batmobile. There’s even a mock secret exit tunnel!
The cinema is accessed via a stainless steel lift in a separate study, which is cleverly concealed behind a set of bookshelves. A real fingerprint is also required to gain access to Bruce Wayne’s replica lair.
"The Batman-themed custom home theater was actually a design concept we did free of charge for one of our previous clients, mainly just for fun. Personally, I’m a huge Batman fan and with a background in CG animation, we were able to finish up the design within a couple of weeks," Elite Home Theater Seating's CEO, Bobby Bala, explained.
Superfan Azusa Sakamoto has taken her love of Barbie to a whole new level, transforming her LA apartment into a hot pink shrine dedicated to the fashion doll. Since she was a child, Sakamoto has been obsessed with the franchise and has dedicated her time to amassing an enormous collection of items featuring the magenta Barbie logo. The nail technician even dresses like Barbie, donning hot pink clothes and dazzling Barbie regalia every time she leaves the house.
In addition to her collection of 160 dolls, some of which are special edition, Sakamoto’s apartment has been decorated in Barbie’s signature hot pink hue. Wall art, duvets, cushions and even window blinds feature the iconic Barbie logo.
Sakamoto’s kitchen is also decked out in full Barbie insignia, housing everything from Barbie teacups to matching blush-coloured drinking glasses. Sakamoto admits that she’s spent more than £56,000 ($70k) on her obsession with the iconic fashion doll.
Even Sakamoto’s kitchen appliances are embossed with the hot pink Barbie logo. The nail technician also incorporates her love of Barbie into her work and has an extensive range of bespoke Barbie nail tips to coordinate with her Barbie-themed outfits.
With magnificent evening views overlooking Walt Disney World’s fireworks displays, this house boasts plenty of Disney magic on the inside, too. It has been adorned from top to bottom in Disney-themed decorations by its die-hard superfan owners. Unsurprisingly, this zone is known as ‘The Villain Room’. It has been decked out with an array of iconic murals depicting some of Disney’s most notorious characters, from Captain Hook to Maleficent.
There’s plenty of Disney memorabilia to marvel at in the property’s games room, too. In addition to Disney teddies, models, wall art and light fixtures, Mickey silhouettes have even been etched into the zone’s hardwood floors.
Decorated in bright green and purple, this bedroom pays homage to another of Disney’s most memorable characters – Goofy. You can see the dog’s friendly face depicted on teddies, wall art and even cushions.
Even the landing oozes Disney magic, largely thanks to the hovering figure of Aladdin’s Genie that hangs from the ceiling. Mickey Mouse flags and a flying Goofy puppet are also proudly displayed.
Ahoy, there! Indulge your passion for Pirates of the Caribbean by renting out this themed property in California. Tucked away in the lush green surroundings of Topanga Canyon, this hidden treasure trove of a pad can be rented out from £72 ($90) per night via Airbnb. Featuring one bedroom and one bathroom, this enthralling holiday house is decked out in an array of nautical regalia.
Kick back and relax in this hammock, surrounded by jaw-dropping pirate-inspired decorations. You may not be surprised to learn that this holiday home can also be hired out as a movie filming location.
The property is divided up into a network of private nooks and crannies, ideal for relaxing – just don’t be alarmed by the creepy wooden statues peering out at you from shadowy corners.
You can even channel your inner mermaid by taking a long hot soak in this ocean-inspired outdoor bathtub. Decorated in an array of coloured shells and fairy lights, this is a perfect place to get some downtime from your duties manning the helm of the ship.
Calling all Harry Potter buffs – this charming flat provides the perfect setting for you to host your very own Hogwarts-themed sleepovers. Situated in Edinburgh, the birthplace of JK Rowling’s beloved novels, this alluring apartment is filled with Potter-themed furniture and goodies. Set up for a game of wizarding chess in the lounge, which boasts the same cosy appeal as the Gryffindor common room, the property is the work of Harry Potter superfan Yue Gao.
As a global phenomena, there are quite a few Harry Potter superfans who've turned their homes into Hogwarts out there, but this décor manages to be elegant as well. Featuring a handsome four-poster bed draped in the gold and scarlet colours of Gryffindor house, it's not difficult to fall under this apartment’s magical spell. Timber panelling and antique-style furniture enhance the regal feel of the space.
It took Yue Gao seven months to complete her enchanting Potter-themed apartment, amassing items from all over the world, plus some trinkets that once belonged to JK Rowling herself. This hallway pays homage to the iconic Hogwarts Express steam train and has been decorated to mimic one of its traditional carriages.
No room dedicated to the Hogwarts Express could be considered complete without Platform 9 3/4, so this corner of the bedroom has been designed to evoke that magical gateway, complete with vintage clock and an optical illusion of a luggage trolley disappearing into the wall!
Singapore-based Absolook Interior Design has transformed this apartment into an Avengers-themed extravaganza. So, occupants can feel safe in the knowledge that when they go to sleep at night, all their favourite comic book heroes will be watching over them. In addition to a colourful wall mural depicting the franchise’s most beloved personalities, a floor-to-ceiling Avengers logo forms a striking focal point.
In the living room, the wall-mounted television is set within an impressive wall mural of the Avengers logo, which is backlit for dramatic effect. Chic, contemporary furnishings complement wall art depicting The Hulk, Iron Man and Captain America.
Occupants can whip up a meal in the sleek galley-style kitchen, where the acid green units match the furious Hulk fresco that’s painted on the wall.
The bedroom is all about Iron Man. An enormous painting of the action hero towers above the bed, which looks onto a wall-mounted television set within the Iron Man logo.
Don’t be deceived by the traditional Mediterranean elegance this property exudes from the outside. Set within the grounds of a Boca Raton country club, the dwelling boasts an impressive array of amenities – including its own basketball court. However, once you step inside the awe-inspiring Star Trek-themed wing, you’re sure to be transported to a galaxy far, far away.
Financier and producer Marc Bell is the brains behind this stunning recreation of the Starship USS Enterprise. Sound effects have even been incorporated to mimic the authentic sound of the opening and closing of the doors.
The home theatre is one of the property’s highlights and is packed with Star Trek memorabilia – it even features an imposing life-size Borg model. The ceiling has been adorned with hundreds of stars to make it look like the real thing.
The 2,000-square-foot ballroom was given a complete overhaul by Bell. It now accommodates an impressive Star Trek-themed arcade, complete with a foosball table, pool table and air hockey. However, if you get bored in here, you can always head to the dwelling’s Call of Duty-themed room.
When a huge mansion in the salubrious Hidden Hills neighbourhood of California hit the market, listing agents The Agency were surprised to find that beyond the amazing pool and gorgeous interiors its luxury features extended a little beyond the ordinary. Down in the 5000-square-foot basement, possibly the world’s greatest Star Wars collection outside of George Lucas’ vaults was waiting…The 18,183-square-foot house was on the market for an eye-watering £21.3 million ($26.5m) so this Star Wars collector obviously had ample resources to devote to their incredible set-up. In addition to huge amounts of memorabilia and official merchandise, there were life-size figures and arcade games, a pool and foosball table.
At the centre of the main room theirs a custom-built circular display cabinet showing different types of Stormtrooper helmets. Any Star Wars enthusiast would be beside themselves to see the 74-Z speeder bike model just casually displayed there, too. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better you reach the incredible bar, staffed by characters from the cantina scene. Inset into fine wooden cabinetry, model busts stand guard on either side of a fine bourbon collection. Although perfect down to every last hair and antennae, these are not actually real props from the movie but new works by artists made to a higher spec and commissioned by the current owner.
As you explore the main room you discover this tricked-out gaming section with a dual-screen set-up, VR helmets and comfy chairs for serious sessions on the PS4. Through the glass doors, you can see Han Solo trapped in carbonite, guarded closely by three bounty hunter models. Suspended from the ceiling is an amazing large-scale model of a T-65 X-Wing. Luke, is that you in there?
The icing on the cake is this incredible Star Wars home cinema. From the lighting to the model of Chewbacca in the corner, this set-up is every fan’s fantasy. Take one of the recliners at the front there and relax or try one of the four seats in hydraulic lifts for a high-octane multisensory experience. It just doesn’t get better than this!
This picture-perfect hobbit hole in Orondo, Washington looks like it fell straight out of Middle Earth. Perched on the banks of the Columbia River gorge and surrounded by spectacular scenery, the cosy cottage boasts a circular green door, a quaint wattle fence, and a colourful assortment of planters that would have made Tolkien himself proud!
The charming earth-sheltered home is the creation of Airbnb host Kristie, and allows guests to escape into a 288-square-foot dwelling kitted out with all things hobbit-inspired. The main living area includes a quaint features such as a drinking fountain fashioned out of a rain barrel, and a handmade chessboard in case anyone fancies a game in the evening.
Through another rounded doorway, the home’s bedroom is the perfect place to end the day, equipped with a handmade chandelier, a fireplace, and beautiful views out over the orchard. Other architectural features include cable spool with custom metalwork by a local designer, and rounded barrel ceilings throughout the home.
If the home's charming interiors weren't enough to sell you, its remote location in this bucolic hillside certainly should! Surrounded by lush sloping hills and boasting spectacular views, this Hobbit-inspired hideaway provides the perfect escape for fantasy fanatics.
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