Skip to main content

Forget Being the Prince of Bel Air, Live Like the King at UNICA

Unica
Tyler Hogan for Compass

If you thought the Fresh Prince had some sweet digs when he relocated from West Philly to Bel Air, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Unica puts all other homes in the exclusive neighborhood to shame. Now it’s on the market and one lucky buyer will get to live life as the unofficial king.

The newly constructed Unica was designed to outshine all of the other homes in the prominent East Gate Bel Air neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. Every luxury amenity that can be packed into one home is found at this extravagant retreat. A gated drive winds its way up to the grand entrance which features a 30-foot tall black basalt waterfall and is protected by “porte cochere.” There is also an option to park your luxury ride in the 20-stall auto gallery. 

Everywhere you turn, Unica speaks to high-end living. Contemporary Spanish mission meets white-on-white minimalism for an ultra sleek design worthy of the $100 million price tag. Black accents add sharp contrast to the white walls while gentle archways complement the strong lines of the furnishings. No expense was spared by developers Ty Cueva & Dean Hallo. The black marble for the kitchen was shipped in from Italy, appliances are La Cornue, the lighting is Circadian Rhythm, and the wine cellar holds up to 1,200 bottles, while the tasting room boasts its own fireplace.

Luxury homes like this always seem to come with the same lavish amenities and Unica is no exception, however even these are over the top. The outdoor swimming pool isn’t just any old pool. It offers views of LA from underneath the water thanks to a glass wall. There is an indoor basketball court with an NBA-regulation 3-point line. Want to host your own soiree rather than a pickup game? No problem — the basketball court converts to a full ballroom complete with Samsung wall video board. In the mood for a movie? You’ll have to choose between the indoor theater that seats 36, or the outside video board located next to the pool. 

While most multi-million-dollar homes feature a spa, Unica has an entire wellness floor. This space includes a steam room, oak sauna, gym, kitchenette, and an ice bath. Don’t forget to take a plunge in the 75-foot, salt water lap pool. All of this is certainly better than any world-class spa, but none of it compares to the solid white jade soaking tub in one of the two master suites. The “Hers” suite was done in soothing whites with the soaking tub set in the middle of the circular bathroom, the gorgeous hardwood flooring laid to create a sunburst pattern underneath. This may be the “Hers” tub, but you would be remiss not to sneak a soak in this tub once in a while. 

For the “His” master suite, the theme is dark and moody. A large shower with bench was finished in black slate and glass and is complemented by an equally moody walk-in closet made from dark stained wood. 

Around every corner there is something new and luxurious to discover about this opulent retreat. Spreading out over 41,000 square feet plus a bonus flex space of 6,000 square feet, Unica puts Uncle Phil’s house to shame. 

UNICA is listed at $100,000,000 with Sally Forster Jones and Anita Stephan of Compass, David Kramer of Hilton & Hyland, and Ty Cueva of Westside Property Group. The property was developed by Ty Cueva & Dean Hallo.

Kelsey Machado
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kelsey is a professional interior designer with over a decade of experience in the design field. With a passion for…
Reacher season 3: Everything we know so far
Get up to date on Reacher season 3!
Alan Ritchson in Reacher.

The era of Jack Ryan may be over, but Reacher is carrying on as one of the best shows on Amazon Prime Video. This action thriller is based upon Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels, which previously featured Tom Cruise in the leading role of two different movies. But for Prime Video, Alan Ritchson has stepped into the role of Jack Reacher, a former member of the United States Army Military Police Corps who drifts from town to town and takes justice into his own hands when the local law enforcement isn't enough.

Prime Video didn't waste any time before renewing Reacher for a third season last year. And while new episodes are still several months away, we're sharing everything we know about Reacher season 3.
Which Reacher novel will season 3 be based on?

Read more
The 11 best superhero movies of all time
Here's a short list to start your superhero movie binge
Tom Hardy and Christian Bale in The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Need a break from real life? Here's a list of the best superhero films to binge. Choosing the best superhero films of all time is no easy task. Ask any fan of superheroes, whether it's the comics or films, and you're guaranteed to get a different list every time. Share your list with others, and the responses will include either nods of agreement, raised eyebrows, or blunt responses that you're dead wrong.
In compiling the list of best superhero films of all time, I tried to keep viewers of all ages and devotion to superhero cinema in mind. My original plan was to include Deadpool on the list until I realized there's an entire generation of movie fans still not allowed to watch the film because of its R-rating. The LEGO Batman Movie also appeared in my initial top choices, but the film felt out of place compared to the other films. (I still recommend LEGO Batman to everyone because it's darn hilarious.) Full disclosure: This list might change as we add and subtract films as they premiere and earn their spot on the list.
After much internal debate, I finally drilled down 11 superhero movie choices for both Marvel and D.C. with personal reasons for each selection. While thousands of fans likely won't agree with this list, few will argue that all these films are fantastic and worth multiple viewings. That said, here's my list of the best superhero movies of all time and where to watch them. Many are available on Disney Plus and Amazon Prime for your viewing for your convenience. Spoilers ahead.

11. Black Panther (2018)

Read more
How long should you let new cigars rest in a humidor?
Cigar humidor

Looking at those beautiful, oily cigars you've just unboxed or unwrapped, the calling to light up is real. I get it. I always want to smoke my cigars right away, too. But you shouldn't. Mail day is always exciting after you've ordered a slew of new cigars. When they arrive, the real fun begins. You'll probably need to organize your humidor to make the new sticks fit or arrange them for optimal humidification. As you're handling them, it's difficult to resist the temptation to crack open the cellophane or boxes and smoke one right away. While you can do that in most cases, I would recommend against it. Depending on where those cigars came from, where you live, and how they traveled, they might need a little time to rest in a humidor. They'll need to replenish some humidity and moisture or dry out a little.
How long should you let your new cigars rest?

When you put cigars in a humidor, especially one that's filled, they'll soak up and release humidity over time until they reach the average RH (relative humidity) that you have set inside your humidor. If you have a device like a that does this automatically, it will produce moisture and humidity to keep the levels optimal. You can also achieve the same thing with in smaller humidors, which release and soak up the humidity to match the levels on the label. Boveda packs come in a range of RH levels, from the low to mid-60s to the mid-70s.

Read more