Celebrity Homes | Hollywood Nostalgia | October 2026
Some celebrity homes are designed to impress. Others are designed to tell a story.
For John Travolta and his late wife, Kelly Preston, their longtime Maine estate was never simply another glamorous Hollywood property. It was a place filled with family traditions, antique furnishings, colorful fabrics, and deeply personal memories.
With 42 rooms, a distinctive architectural history, and interiors that looked more like a whimsical country retreat than a modern celebrity mansion, the property became one of the couple’s most unusual homes.
Following Preston’s death in July 2020, Travolta eventually decided to part with the estate.
But photographs of its interiors reveal why this extraordinary house captured so much attention — and why its story remains inseparable from the woman who helped turn it into a home.
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A Mansion That Looked Nothing Like the Typical Hollywood Estate
Located on the private island of Islesboro, Maine, the expansive property was a world away from the glamorous surroundings associated with Beverly Hills.
The estate, known as Drexel Estate, was built in 1903 and featured approximately 10,830 square feet of living space.
With 42 rooms, 22 bedrooms, and an impressive collection of gathering spaces, it was originally conceived on a grand scale.
But its atmosphere was surprisingly intimate.
Instead of sleek marble surfaces, minimalist furnishings, and neutral interiors, visitors encountered colorful patterns, vintage pieces, and a distinctive blend of old-fashioned American country-house charm.
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How Kelly Preston Transformed the Historic Property
When Travolta and Preston acquired the home in 1991, the same year they married, the property already had a long history.
According to architectural coverage published by Architectural Digest, the couple worked with interior designer Christopher B. Boshears to transform the estate into a welcoming family retreat.
Preston’s decorating preferences played a major role in shaping its personality.
The interiors embraced floral prints, patterned wallpaper, traditional upholstered furniture, and an eclectic assortment of antiques.
Rather than erase the home’s original character, the renovation celebrated it.
The result was a house that felt layered, lived-in, and distinctly personal.
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Inside the Living Room: Floral Sofas, Antiques, and Family Photographs
The living room was a perfect example of the couple’s approach to decorating.
Instead of creating an intimidating formal space, they surrounded themselves with traditional furniture, carefully chosen fabrics, and meaningful personal possessions.
Photographs of the couple and their eldest son, Jett, were displayed among the furnishings.
The space combined comfort with elegance, reflecting the influence of English country-house interiors.
It was the sort of room where guests could settle into a comfortable chair, enjoy a conversation, or spend an entire afternoon with family.
For Travolta and Preston, that atmosphere was more important than following the latest design trends.
The Reception Hall: A Grand Space Designed for Gathering
One of the home’s most striking features was its enormous reception hall.
Travolta wanted the room to function as more than an impressive architectural statement. He imagined it as a place where relatives could eat, talk, play games, and relax together.
Designer Christopher B. Boshears responded by incorporating comfortable sofas, velvet club chairs, and flexible seating arrangements.
The goal was to make a very large space feel welcoming rather than overwhelming.
That philosophy extended throughout the estate, where the family emphasized hospitality and comfort.
The Children’s Rooms Were Like Something From a Fairy Tale
Perhaps the most imaginative part of the property was its attic.
Travolta and Preston transformed the upper level into a children’s fantasy world, complete with themed bedrooms, a playroom, a schoolroom, and a stage.
Among the themed spaces were a Princess Room, an Airplane Room, and a Peter Pan Room.
For a couple preparing to raise children, the project represented more than a decorative experiment.
They were creating a place where childhood could feel magical.
The design also reflected Travolta’s lifelong fascination with aviation, an interest that would later influence the couple’s famous Florida residence.
A Dining Room Made for Unforgettable Family Holidays
The mansion’s dining spaces were central to the couple’s original vision.
When they purchased the property, their dream was to bring their extended families together under one roof for Christmas.
That first holiday was particularly meaningful because relatives from both sides were gathering in the newly renovated house.
The couple rushed to complete the interiors before everyone arrived.
Travolta later recalled the frantic preparations, which included arranging furniture, installing fixtures, and getting the fireplaces ready.
Their efforts were rewarded when the family finally gathered for the holiday.
The mansion had fulfilled its original purpose.
The Exterior: A Historic Estate Surrounded by Maine’s Natural Beauty
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Beyond its distinctive interiors, the estate offered an extraordinary setting.
The property occupied nearly 50 acres on Islesboro, an island in Penobscot Bay.
Its grounds included extensive greenery, waterfront views, and access to a private dock.
The main residence combined traditional Shingle Style architecture with Tudor Revival elements, including distinctive windows and an elaborate entrance.
The home had originally been designed by the prominent architectural firm Peabody and Stearns.
Its historic character gave the property an identity that was quite different from the modern mansions often associated with Hollywood celebrities.
Mansion Global
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The Family Memories That Made the House Irreplaceable
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The Maine estate was connected to decades of family memories.
Travolta and Preston married in 1991 and welcomed three children during their marriage: Jett, Ella Bleu, and Benjamin.
Their eldest son, Jett, died in January 2009 at the age of 16 after suffering a seizure during a family vacation in the Bahamas.
The loss devastated the family.
In the years that followed, Travolta and Preston continued raising Ella and Benjamin while honoring Jett’s memory.
The photographs displayed in their Maine residence reflected the family’s history, including moments from happier years.
Those personal touches distinguished the property from an ordinary luxury home.
It was a place that had witnessed celebrations, childhood experiences, and the passage of time.
Kelly Preston’s Death Changed Everything
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On July 12, 2020, Kelly Preston died at the age of 57 following a two-year battle with breast cancer.
The actress had kept much of her illness private.
Her death brought an end to nearly three decades of marriage, leaving Travolta and their children to navigate life without her.
For fans who had followed their relationship, the news was heartbreaking.
The couple had appeared together at countless premieres and public events, often speaking warmly about their family life.
But their partnership extended well beyond Hollywood.
They had built homes together, raised children, and created family traditions that were deeply meaningful to both of them.
The Maine estate represented one of their earliest and most ambitious shared projects.
Why John Travolta Put the $5 Million Mansion on the Market
![John Travolta Lists Elegant Country Manor for $5 Million [Pics]](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/P4oDFD0F0kfmuB8zS6yMuW-04fMSFg9iCSYQ1pteAgI81vNrTdtvCNV35whSI3Y0cWb5YoG2uvKf0ojzeiQyB9IEc-Vg6oHENZYnXnk3wvan5i96Y7g7l6pY7SEIsnFy7QZUm9uLhYPEyhMI5I3gWg_figa5GKDr7NuApJBPAb8?purpose=inline)
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In February 2021, approximately seven months after Preston’s death, Travolta listed the Maine property for $5 million.
The listing attracted widespread media attention because of the home’s unusual size, historic architecture, and distinctive decorating style.
Reports described the estate as having more than 10,000 square feet of interior space and over 20 bedrooms.
The original $5 million figure was the asking price, not a confirmed sale price.
Although the timing followed Preston’s death, Travolta did not publicly establish that grief was the specific reason for listing the property. It would therefore be inaccurate to present that explanation as a confirmed fact.
What is certain is that the estate held decades of memories from the couple’s life together.
Realtor
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A Second Home Showed the Couple’s Completely Different Style
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Interestingly, the Maine mansion was not the only extraordinary residence the couple created.
Their Florida home reflected a completely different aesthetic.
Designed around Travolta’s passion for flying, the property featured midcentury-inspired architecture and direct access to aircraft taxiways.
Large windows, open spaces, and aviation-inspired design elements made it one of Hollywood’s most recognizable private residences.
Where the Maine estate celebrated traditional country-house charm, the Florida property embraced a sleek, futuristic vision.
The contrast revealed just how creatively adventurous Travolta and Preston were when it came to designing their homes.
Architectural Digest
More Than a Mansion: The Home That Captured a Marriage
Looking back at photographs of the Maine estate, the most remarkable details are not necessarily its enormous size or multimillion-dollar asking price.
They are the smaller things.
The floral upholstery. The family photographs. The antique furniture. The imaginative children’s rooms. The gathering spaces created for relatives who traveled from different places to celebrate together.
Every room reflected the couple’s belief that a house should be comfortable enough for everyday family life, even when it was grand enough to accommodate dozens of guests.
The estate’s unconventional appearance may have surprised people expecting a sleek Hollywood mansion.
But that was precisely what made it special.
John Travolta and Kelly Preston had created something that reflected their personalities rather than the expectations of celebrity culture.
And while the property’s future may change with time, the photographs preserve a beautiful glimpse of the life they built together.
Sometimes the most extraordinary celebrity homes aren’t the ones with the most expensive furniture.
They’re the ones that feel unmistakably personal.
Sources: Architectural Digest (1999 feature, republished 2016); Architectural Digest (2004 Florida home feature); Realtor.com (February 2021); Mansion Global (February 2021); Bangor Daily News (March 2022); Fox Business (February 2021).
Photo note: The original Architectural Digest Maine home tour contains nine archival photographs documenting distinct rooms and the exterior. The images above are visual lookups; for publication, confirm that each depicts the actual property and that you have the appropriate image rights.
For more celebrity family updates, take a look at Bruce Springsteen’s growing family and Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber’s quiet moment in Malibu. You can also see why Meghan’s latest charity sweatshirt photo has people talking.
