Jennifer Garner owns a stunning farmhouse in the hills of Los Angeles that she built after she and Ben Affleck finalized their divorce in 2018 — the same spot the actor sought reprieve amid his divorce from Jennifer Lopez.
The “Argo” star, 52, was seen arriving at the $7.9 million abode in July after his ex reportedly encouraged him to “work on his marriage” with Lopez, 55, before they ultimately called it quits.
Garner, 52, seems to love opening the home up to family and friends, as throughout Tuesday’s video with Architectural Digest, she spoke frequently about her kids and their friends using the space.
“A special feature, especially in the summer, is having [the living room] doors all the way wide open,” she said as the video showed the wall of glass in the living room seamlessly slide away to reveal a deck and pool.
“The only problem is if my kids are having their class pool party here .. it’s very hard to keep wet kids out of the house. I have to really just stand guard,” she smiled.
She also enthusiastically brought up her kids piling into one of the four built-in bunk beds in the slumber party room to watch a movie together.
“I love having a spot that is just, where kids can be kids,” she noted.
The custom home features a living room (seen here) with a glass wall that opens up to an outdoor deck and pool.Architectural Digest
Garner, who is photographed with fruits in her kitchen, built the house following her 2018 divorce from Affleck.Instagram/@jennifer.garner
Garner said she keeps her kids’ favorite toys from childhood in the room so little children who visit feel welcome — but she said she catches her offspring taking the toys out every so often.
The “13 Going on 30” star shares her three children — Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12 — with Affleck.
Building her home post-divorce wasn’t the original plan, but after years of failing to find what felt like her forever spot, she took matters into her own hands.
“I wanted it to feel old and cool and historic, but I also wanted to make it work for a big family with a lot of things going on,” Garner explained to AD.Instagram/@jennifer.garner
One of her favorite spots is her orchard, which grows cherries, apples and more. She can be seen smiling with a freshly picked apple above.Instagram/@jennifer.garnerOnce she bought her plot of land, she hired the husband-and-wife architect and interior designer team Steve and Brooke Giannetti to help her make her dreams of owning a “new, warm, family home” into reality. Designer Laura Putnam also contributed to the project.
“I wanted it to feel old and cool and historic, but I also wanted to make it work for a big family with a lot of things going on,” Garner explained to AD.
The “Alias” actress said she described to Steve what she wanted and he drew up a near-perfect watercolor of her vision.
Garner, who is pictured in her ensuite, incorporated several fun custom designs into her warm residence.Instagram/@jennifer.garner
Some of the farmhouse’s features include a Harry Potter office for her son, a saltwater aquarium and stained glass for a reading nook.Instagram/@jennifer.garner
“We so didn’t change much,” she recalled. “I never even made a Pinterest board. I never even showed him pictures from a magazine.”
“I just told him what I wanted and he did it… but it turns out I’m really, really happy.”
The house is full of fun custom features in addition to the slumber party room, including a Harry Potter-themed hideaway for Samuel, a saltwater aquarium and a reading nook with a pair of stained-glass windows.
The “Juno” star also has a slumber party room with four built-in bunk beds in her home.TheImageDirect.com
She said her kids frequently spend time in there together.TheImageDirect.com
While showing off the cozy reading spot, she fondly remembered a “magical night” during which all her kids “piled in” with her and they read childhood stories. “That’s really all I could hope for,” she commented.
Garner also finds enjoyment in her backyard orchard, which grows peaches, cherries, apples and much more with a sustainable greywater system that filters water from the home’s washing machine and dishwasher.
Meanwhile, her “vegetable house” grows kale, thyme, tomatoes, green beans and more.
Garner finished off her house tour by revealing why she wanted to show off her home despite being a “private person.”
“I’ve never built anything all by myself before and I am so proud of it,” she gushed.
“I am filled with gratitude every time I walk into my house,” she added. “That I get to live here. That I’m so lucky to have my kids here. So, it’s unlike me, and yet, I’m so happy to have shared it with you.”
