UPDATE: Palm Beach lakeside home of Bob Vila, America's TV handyman, fetches $33 million
Television handyman Bob Vila of "This Old House" fame and his wife, Diana Barrett, have parted with their lakefront Palm Beach estate for $33 million, the price recorded with the deed.
On the market with different agencies since late 2023, the estate at 690 Island Drive on Everglades Island had recently seen a $4 million price reduction to $35.9 million.
A trust was on the buyer's side of the transaction, the deed recorded June 17 shows. Palm Beach attorney Scott W. Hoffman of the Alley, Maass, Rogers & Lindsay law firm serves trustee of the trust. Because of privacy rules governing trusts, no information about anyone else connected to the trust was immediately available in public records.
The seven-bedroom house was built in 1949 but remodeled and expanded by Vila and Barrett. The house has 7,621 square feet of living space, inside and out, and the interior space totals about 6,300 square feet.
Plans for the property under the new ownership are not yet known, including whether the house will be razed and replaced with a new one.
The deed lists Vila and Barrett's mailing address as a house at 260 N. Woods Road on Palm Beach's North End. The multiple listing service shows that four-bedroom house on a third of an acre has been under contract, having been listed at $12.9 million last fall.
On the east side of Everglades Island, the house Vila and Barrett just sold on Island Drive measures four-fifths of an acre with about 175 feet of frontage on the Intracoastal Waterway, a dock and a boat lift. The rear of the house looks directly across the lakeside pool patio to the Lake Worth Lagoon and the rest of Palm Beach.
The house had been in Barrett's family since the mid-1970s. She had owed it in her name since 2005, when she paid $6.1 million for it, property records show.
'When (Diana) bought the house, we were living in Massachusetts and had a beach house in Boca Grande, Florida, but Diana and I visited it frequently,' Vila told the Palm Beach Daily News for an April 2024 article about the property.
The estate has several areas designed for outdoor living, including a red-brick loggia. Large expanses of windows and glass pocket doors also capture water views.
Vila, a former chairman of the Palm Beach Architectural Commission, starred in the home-improvement shows 'This Old House' and 'Restore America with Bob Vila.' He also has his own website, BobVila.com. His wife's professional resume includes teaching business and public health at Harvard University.
The sale closed June 12, according to the multiple listing service.
Broker Christian Angle of Christian Angle Real Estate handled both sides of the sale, the MLS shows. He had held the listing since September 2024, when he priced it at $39.5 million.
Angle, Vila and Barrett could not immediately be reached for comment.
The house has been on the market since November 2023, when it was first listed at $52.9 million by one of Vila and Barrett's children, real estate agent Chris Vila of PB Realty Advisors. Brown Harris Stevens agents Liza Pulitzer, Whitney McGurk and Blair Kirwan later co-listed the property PB Realty Advisors. Angle then took over the listing alone.
The homeowners reduced the price several times since the property was first listed.
The house has not been for sale in nearly 50 years when it was put on the market in 2023, according to the original sales listing. It had been in Barrett's family before she bought it from the estate of her late mother, Gioconda King. King, who died in 2004, was the widow of investment banker Joseph King and had owned the house since 1975.
'It's a lovely mixture of Old Florida with a real family legacy — but brought up to 2024 standards,' Barrett told the Palm Beach Daily News last year.
Vila and Barrett's improvement projects to the property were detailed and extensive, Vila told the Palm Beach Daily News for the same article.
'The house had to be completely renovated,' Vila said. 'It was lovely to look at, beautifully decorated and filled with antiques. But when you take everything out, if you are a builder, you say to yourself, 'There are problems.' The electric (system) and plumbing were antiquated, and the roof needed to be replaced.'
With a fireplace, the living room connects to an expansive poolside loggia that is completely enclosed with glass windows and doors.
The layout also includes a water-view main bedroom suite, a dining room and a library. A newer wing includes the kitchen, a pantry, a breakfast-and-family room, a laundry area, the two-car garage and a guesthouse addition.
Outdoor-living areas also include a patio at the home's entry and an open-air brick loggia and pool patio shared by the family room and guesthouse. To the south of the family room is another patio and a slat house for growing orchids.
Barrett had the house listed as her primary home in Palm Beach County property records.
Island Drive runs the length of Everglades Island, an island three-quarters of a mile long in Palm Beach's Estate Section. The island is connected to the rest of Palm Beach by a short bridge to Island Road.
The house on North Woods Road that Vila and Barrett listed as their mailing address on the newly recorded Island Drive deed was built in 1977, records show. With a two-car garage and a poolside outdoor loggia, the one-story house has 4,184 square feet of living space, inside and out.
The MLS shows agent Jim McCann of Premier Estate Properties listed the house on North Woods Road for sale in mid-November. At one point, McCann had the Woods Road house and a vacant lot next door listed at $22.9 million. McCann declined to comment.
The Woods Road house last changed hands in October 2020 for $6.28 million, courthouse records show. At that time, it was bought by the 260N Property Limited Partnership of Toronto, which in March 2022 added the adjacent vacant lot through a purchase recorded at $9.25 million.
In November 2024, Vila and his wife sold, for $13.375 million, a 1940s-era Palm Beach house at 345 Pendleton Lane in Midtown. The couple had bought the Pendleton Lane house for a recorded $12.5 million in December 2023 and then carried out a modest renovation, inside and out, according to building records.
(This story was updated to add new information.)
(Portions of this story appeared previously in the Palm Beach Daily News. This is a developing story. Check back for any updates.)
Darrell Hofheinz is a USA TODAY Network of Florida journalist who writes about Palm Beach real estate in his weekly 'Beyond the Hedges' column. He welcomes tips about real estate news on the island. Email dhofheinz@pbdailynews.com, call 561-820-3831 or tweet @PBDN_Hofheinz.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach home of TV handyman Bob Vila sells for $33 million
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fast Company
22 minutes ago
- Fast Company
Kirkland's Home is closing dozens of stores in new rebrand, adding to list of retailers shutting locations in 2025
Dozens of Kirkland's Home stores will close as part of the retailer's recently announced rebranding efforts. Some existing stores will be converted to Bed Bath & Beyond Home stores as part of the transformation, the company said this week. Kirkland's will streamline its footprint by closing at least two dozen of its 313 existing Kirkland's Home stores. The company will launch its first Bed Bath & Beyond Home store in Brentwood, Tennessee, in August 2025, with five stores to follow. Pending the initial market launch, the retailer intends to open approximately 75 additional stores through 2026. The Tennessee-based retailer also plans to open its first physical Overstock store location in Nashville, with about 30 additional stores to open after the initial launch. These plans align with Kirkland's broader goal to be a multi-brand retail operator. 'By consolidating real estate and leveraging underperforming store closures to reduce excess inventory, we believe we will drive faster inventory turn and maximize return on assets,' the retailer said in a press release. 'Following the consolidation, we expect to move forward with approximately 290 of our current store locations as the foundational footprint for Kirkland's Home, Bed Bath & Beyond Home, and Overstock.' Fast Company contacted the brand to request a list of locations that will close. We will update this story if we receive a reply. Kirkland's Home rebrand reflects a broader transformation Kirkland's corporate name will officially change to The Brand House Collective pending shareholder approval at the company's next annual meeting on July 24, 2025. Its ticker symbol will also change from 'KIRK' to 'TBHC,' pending approval next month. Kirkland's CEO, Amy Sullivan, explained the intention behind the rebrand in the company news release: 'We're aligning our identity with our vision to become a multi-brand merchandising, supply chain and retail operator—and backing it with decisive actions to strengthen our foundation: reducing excess inventory, closing underperforming locations, optimizing real estate assets, and enhancing talent across the organization.' Amy Sullivan will lead as the CEO and chief merchant and creative officer of The Brand House Collective. The company announced the following additions to its corporate team: Chief Operating Officer Jamie Schisler will oversee operations. VP General Merchandising Manager of Bed Bath & Beyond Home Kerri Dlugokinski will lead all merchandising efforts. VP of Supply Chain Courtenay Adolf is responsible for global sourcing, transportation, and distribution centers. The retailer also announced changes to its board of directors. Effective June 24, 2025, appointees Eric Schwartzman, Neely Tamminga, Tamara Ward, and Steve Woodward will serve as board members. In October 2024, Kirkland's announced a strategic partnership with Beyond, Inc., which owns brands Bed Bath & Beyond, Overstock, and buybuy Baby.
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
How Is Carnival Corporation's Stock Performance Compared to Other Travel Services Stocks?
With a market cap of $27.5 billion, Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL) is the world's largest cruise company, providing leisure travel experiences across North America, Australia, Europe, and other international markets. Operating under well-known brands such as Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, and Cunard, the company carries nearly half of global cruise guests. Companies valued at $10 billion or more are generally classified as 'large-cap' stocks, and Carnival Corporation fits this criterion perfectly, exceeding the mark. It also operates port destinations, hotels, railcars, and motorcoaches to support its cruise and tour offerings. Dear Tesla Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for June 30 3 ETFs with Dividend Yields of 12% or Higher for Your Income Portfolio Nvidia Is Quickly Approaching a New Record High. Is It Too Late to Buy NVDA Stock? Tired of missing midday reversals? The FREE Barchart Brief newsletter keeps you in the know. Sign up now! Shares of the Miami, Florida-based company have decreased 16.9% from its 52-week high of $28.72. Shares of Carnival Corporation have increased 12.5% over the past three months, outpacing the Direxion Daily Travel & Vacation Bull 2X Shares' (OOTO) 1.9% rise over the same time frame. Longer term, CCL stock is down 4.3% on a YTD basis, a less pronounced decline than OOTO's 19.3% drop. Moreover, shares of the cruise operator have surged 48.5% over the past 52 weeks, compared to OOTO's 8.9% return over the same time frame. The stock has risen above its 50-day moving average since early May. Despite reporting better-than-expected Q1 2025 adjusted EPS of $0.13 and revenue of $5.8 billion, shares of CCL fell 1.2% on Mar. 21. While operating income nearly doubled year-over-year to $543 million and adjusted EBITDA rose 38.3% to $1.2 billion, the company still holds $27 billion in debt, only slightly down from $27.5 billion the prior quarter. In comparison, rival Booking Holdings Inc. (BKNG) has lagged behind CCL stock over the past 52 weeks, increasing over 34% over the past 52 weeks. However, BKNG stock has gained 7.2% on a YTD basis, outpacing CCL's performance. Due to the stock's outperformance over the past year, analysts are bullish about its prospects. The stock has a consensus rating of 'Strong Buy' from the 25 analysts covering the stock, and as of writing, CCL is trading below the mean price target of $28.42. On the date of publication, Sohini Mondal did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on
Forbes
24 minutes ago
- Forbes
Strengthen Your Executive Presence And Influence With These Questions
Exuding executive presence involves an interplay between internal confidence and outward ... More self-mastery and expression Over the years, one theme has surfaced time and again in my work with high-achieving professionals—especially those navigating mid- to senior-level roles. No matter how accomplished they are, many wrestle with a persistent question: Do I truly have what it takes—including strong executive presence—to lead at the highest levels? This question came up in a recent coaching session with a talented professional—let's call her Rebecca. Despite a strong track record, consistent praise from senior leaders, and years of excellent performance reviews, she found herself feeling out of place when presenting to executives. She feared being caught off guard. Her heart would race, her breath would shorten, and her confidence would falter—all before she'd even entered the room. When I asked if she'd ever actually been unable to answer a question or failed to present her data clearly, she said no. In fact, she'd received positive feedback every time. Rebecca's experience is far more common than we realize. Despite external success, many professionals carry self-doubt and even 'imposter syndrome' that shows up at the very moment they most need to project confidence. I've seen this pattern in thousands of individuals I've worked with over the past two decades. And it's often tied to what I call the 7 common 'power and confidence gaps'—persistent internal obstacles that undermine how we see ourselves and how we show up in the workplace (and in our personal lives). Executive Presence: A Widely Used Term Few Can Define A quick Google search of the term 'executive presence' yields over 50 million results. Clearly, it's a hot topic—but ask five people to define it, and you'll likely get five very different answers. When I asked Rebecca what 'executive presence' meant to her, she said, 'Some people just walk into the room and everyone pays attention. They speak with ease. They seem like they belong.' Her impression wasn't based on specific behaviors—it was based on energy, confidence, and perception. The problem? If we can't define executive presence, we can't develop it intentionally. From my experience in both corporate leadership and coaching, I define executive presence as a powerful combination of inner confidence and outward expression—how you carry your knowledge, how you engage with others, and how you project credibility and calm under pressure. While executive presence can look different depending on industry and role, here are the foundational traits I see across leaders who command a room and inspire confidence: Confidence – Speaking and acting in ways that convey belief in your value, ideas, and – Trusting your expertise and owning your space as a decision-maker and thought communication – Using language that is clear, collaborative, and inclusive—without diminishing your contribution – Being willing to offer new ideas, challenge the norm, and take creative under stress – Managing your emotional responses, even in high-stakes mindset – Seeing yourself not only as a contributor but as someone who uplifts and advances mastery – Handling feedback, resistance, and interpersonal conflict with resilience and clarity. Back to Rebecca—what we uncovered wasn't a lack of skill, but a deeper fear: 'Do I deserve to be here?' She recalled seeing one female executive in a recent meeting who seemed to exude presence. 'She didn't say that much,' Rebecca told me, 'but she seemed completely at ease. Everyone deferred to her. It was like she didn't have to prove anything.' This perception wasn't just about how that leader showed up—it was about how Rebecca saw herself in comparison. Too often, high performers internalize subtle workplace messages that suggest they're 'not quite ready,' even when they're delivering exceptional work. Ambiguous feedback, bias, and lack of mentorship can deepen this feeling. Over time, these conditions lead to a persistent sense of being on the outside looking in—even when you're already at the table. And in some organizations, this perception isn't an illusion—there may be real barriers preventing your growth or recognition. In those cases, it's worth asking: Is this culture one that supports and elevates the kind of leader I aspire to be? If you've ever wondered whether you truly have the presence and credibility to lead, these questions can help you assess your current strengths and illuminate areas for growth: 1. Do I have deep knowledge and mastery of my area of responsibility? Can I speak to the key drivers, risks, and opportunities within my domain with clarity and insight? 2. Am I trusted to make strategic contributions that shape outcomes and drive progress? Do others rely on me for perspective, influence, and initiative? 3. Do I actively share ideas, offer solutions, and challenge outdated thinking—even when it feels uncomfortable? 4. Do I receive feedback that affirms my impact and the value I bring to teams and leadership discussions? Is this feedback consistent with my own self-perception—or is there a disconnect? 5. When under pressure or in high-stakes environments, do I stay grounded and communicate with poise? 6. Do I believe I belong in rooms where decisions are made—and act accordingly? 7. If I doubt myself, is that based only on internal fears and outdated beliefs, or in actual performance gaps? If you can answer 'yes' to most of these questions, it's time to release the doubt and step fully into your influence. Your presence isn't about being perfect—it's about being present, prepared, and aligned with your values. If you answered 'no' to any, that's not a failure. It's a roadmap. These are the areas where you can grow—through mentorship, coaching, skill-building, or new experiences. Executive presence isn't reserved for the few—it's developed over time through self-awareness, intentional practice, and a deep commitment to personal leadership. And if you're doing the work but are still being overlooked or undervalued, it may be time to find an organization that recognizes your contributions and invests in your future. In the end, executive presence is not just how others see you. It's how you see yourself—and how powerfully and self-assuredly you choose to show up, speak up, and lead. Kathy Caprino is a career and leadership coach, author, executive trainer and podcaster supporting professional advancement and success.
