Inside Meghan Markle’s rented mansion with manicured grounds and huge kitchen where she films With Love Meghan
The '£5million' house can be seen throughout both series
Meghan Markle has being inviting Netflix viewers into her world with her cooking and lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, which first dropped in March.
This week, Meghan has returned to our screens with a second series of the show. This time around, the programme is offering a further look into her jaw-dropping rented mansion.
Rather than filming inside her own Montecito mansion, Meghan, 43, has opted to shoot the series at a ‘£5million ($8m)’ farmhouse.
According to the Daily Mail, the luxurious property is owned by local philanthropists Tom and Sherrie Cipolla.
Inside rented Netflix house Meghan Markle filmed With Love, Meghan at
This isn’t the first time the Duchess of Sussex has chosen to film in a borrowed location.
Hers and Prince Harry’s highly publicised 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey was also filmed at another residence.
The taping took place outdoors in a picturesque setting at the home of an unnamed friend of Winfrey’s.
Similarly, in their 2022 Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan, they conducted interviews inside a stunning $30 million estate rather than showcasing their own sprawling home.
For With Love, Meghan, the duchess chose a stunning farmhouse in Montecito.
The Cipolla farmhouse is set on five acres of avocado and lemon groves. The 4,500-square-foot property features four bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, and a stylish open floor plan.
But the heart of the home – and the show – is the kitchen. It is here where Meghan demonstrates her cooking and entertaining skills.
The high-end design includes Caesartone countertops, black walnut cutting boards priced at £60 ($75) each, and premium cookware.
Why Meghan didn’t film her cooking show in her Montecito home she shares with Prince Harry?
However, the decision to film in yet another high-end borrowed home has sparked backlash.
Some critics argue that Meghan’s effort to create a rustic, relatable aesthetic has backfired. Instead of feeling authentic, the ultra-luxurious setting has led to accusations of being out of touch with the average viewer.
I wanted to protect that safe haven.
“If this [Netflix series] was filmed at her own mansion, at least it would have come off more authentic,” an insider told The New York Post earlier this year.
However, in an interview with PEOPLE when With Love, Meghan season one first dropped, the duchess explained why she didn’t film in her own home. She said: “I wanted to protect that safe haven.
Meghan Markle protects her ‘safe haven’
“We’re a close-knit family, and I love those moments. Putting Lili down for a nap, having lunch together, having sacred time together at the end of the day. Our kitchen is where Mama just cooks for the family. And with a crew of 80-plus people, that’s a lot of people to have in your house!”
Despite the divided opinions on Meghan’s show and her luxury lifestyle brand As Ever, Meghan is committed to her brand.
With Love, Meghan – part of the couple’s reported £80m ($100m) deal with Netflix – showcase moments of “playfulness over perfection”.
“We’re not in the pursuit of perfection. We’re in the pursuit of joy,” repeats throughout both series.
The first season of the show featured Meghan cooking, baking, flower arranging, beekeeping and entertaining with celebrity guests like Mindy Kaling and Roy Choi.
This season she welcomed friends and famous faces like Chrissy Teigen, Jay Shetty and Tan France, as well as a string of other stars.
Upon launch, Netflix described the series as a chance for Meghan to invite “friends old and new to roll up their sleeves and join her in the kitchen, garden, and beyond”.
Harry and Meghan’s Montecito house
Meanwhile, the Sussexes’ Montecito mansion, purchased in 2020, remains largely unseen by the public.
Meghan has occasionally spoken about its significance. She once told The Cut that she and Prince Harry were drawn to the two palm trees in the backyard.
“One of the first things my husband saw when we walked around the house was those two palm trees,” she said. “We did everything we could to get this house.”
Despite their attachment to the property, they chose to film elsewhere.
Some speculate this is an effort to maintain privacy, while others believe it’s a strategic move to craft a more curated image.
With Love, Meghan is streaming now on Netflix.
Read more: Meghan Markle mocked over missing her favourite radio station in the UK
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