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Lily Collins' Real Estate Empire: From Surrey Cottage to Beverly Hills Mansion

  //house-home.news-articles.net/content/2026/01/0 .. rom-surrey-cottage-to-beverly-hills-mansion.html
  Published in House and Home on Wednesday, January 7th 2026 at 2:37 GMT by London Evening Standard
      Locales: UNITED STATES, DENMARK, UNITED KINGDOM

From Emily in Paris to Property Mogul: A Look at Lily Collins' Impressive Real Estate Portfolio

Lily Collins, best known for her starring role in the Netflix hit Emily in Paris, isn’t just a celebrated actress; she's quietly building a formidable real estate portfolio spanning continents. A recent article in the Evening Standard details the actress’s diverse property holdings, revealing a sophisticated eye for design and a savvy approach to investment. From a charming Surrey cottage to a Beverly Hills mansion and a stylish Copenhagen apartment, Collins’ homes reflect her personal evolution and global lifestyle. This article summarizes the key details of her properties, their styles, and the broader context of her approach to home ownership.

Collins’ journey into property ownership began relatively early, reflecting a desire for independence and a space to call her own. Her first major purchase, in 2016, was a Spanish-style house in Los Angeles’ Los Feliz neighborhood. While the Standard article doesn’t delve deeply into this property, it serves as a foundational piece in understanding her tastes – a preference for classic architecture with potential for personalization. This house, later sold for a profit in 2020, demonstrated a keen understanding of the LA real estate market.

However, it's her Surrey cottage that truly captures the essence of Collins’ current aesthetic. Purchased in 2019 for £4.65 million, the Grade II listed property in the Surrey countryside became the focus of a remarkable renovation, documented extensively in Architectural Digest (linked within the Standard article). This project wasn’t simply a refurbishment, but a complete reimagining. Collins, alongside her husband Charlie McDowell (a film director) and interior designer Rory Stuart, embarked on a two-year project to transform the rather dated house into a haven of "English Country meets California cool."

The Surrey home is distinctly characterized by its eclectic and cozy aesthetic. Collins actively participated in sourcing antiques and vintage pieces, particularly from Kempton Park Racecourse Market. The design emphasizes warm colors, floral patterns, comfortable textures, and a deliberate attempt to create a lived-in, rather than a showroom, feel. The interiors feature exposed beams, roaring fireplaces, and a curated collection of art and personal mementos. Crucially, the renovation prioritised sustainability, with a focus on repurposing materials and incorporating eco-friendly solutions. The garden, too, was a key element, with a flourishing vegetable patch and an emphasis on attracting wildlife. This property represents a significant departure from the often-minimalist aesthetic favoured by many Hollywood stars, reflecting Collins' own unique style.

Beyond the UK, Collins maintains a foothold in Beverly Hills, purchasing a modern farmhouse-style home for around £12.7 million in 2021. This property contrasts sharply with the Surrey cottage. Described as "utterly chic," the Beverly Hills house is minimalist, bright and airy, with clean lines and a focus on indoor-outdoor living. It boasts a large garden, a swimming pool, and state-of-the-art technology, aligning with the typical luxurious lifestyle associated with the area. This purchase suggests a desire for a comfortable base in the US, catering to her work demands and offering a more contemporary aesthetic than her Surrey retreat.

Adding to her global portfolio, Collins also owns an apartment in Copenhagen, Denmark. Details are scarce in the Standard article, but it’s reported she purchased the property in 2022. This acquisition suggests a deeper personal connection to Copenhagen, potentially related to her family heritage (her mother is British but has Danish ancestry) or a growing interest in Scandinavian design. It’s likely the apartment reflects the minimalist and functional aesthetic synonymous with Danish interiors.

What's striking about Collins' property choices isn’t just the geographical spread or the price tags, but the diversity of styles. She isn't adhering to a single design philosophy. The Surrey cottage demonstrates a love of traditional English charm, the Beverly Hills home embraces modern luxury, and the Copenhagen apartment likely embodies Scandinavian simplicity. This suggests she views her homes not just as investments, but as expressions of different facets of her personality and lifestyle, adapted to the specific location and context.

Furthermore, Collins' hands-on approach to renovation and interior design suggests a genuine passion for the process. She isn't simply buying properties and leaving the design to professionals; she’s actively involved in shaping each space to reflect her taste and values. This level of involvement, coupled with her demonstrated market awareness, indicates a long-term strategy that goes beyond mere celebrity indulgence and positions her as a discerning and thoughtful property investor.