Drew Barrymore, 51, wanted the best of both worlds: a place close to Manhattan but away from the city’s pace, without the long drive out to the Hamptons. That’s when she stumbled upon the Colonial mansion at 19 Winfield Avenue in Harrison, New York. The 1740s home seemed perfect for her requirements. She bought the home in 2024 for $4.4 million. “I lived in the house in the most primitive of scenarios,” she told The Wall Street Journal, referring to the period when the home had no kitchen or running water. For the past two years, she invested her time and money in renovating the house. In July this year, she sold it for $4.5 million, according to Zillow.
Pic credit: Douglas Elliman
The 1740s home
Pic credit: Douglas Elliman
The main house was built in 1747, according to the listing on Douglas Elliman. The six-bedroom, nine-bathroom home spans approximately 7,274 square feet. The property sits on nearly 12 acres of wooded land, lawns and gardens, and includes a pool, a pool pavilion with a kitchen, and a detached guest cottage. Five lots on the parcel could be sold separately, which gave the estate a second kind of value that buyers could weigh. The painted wood floors, wood-beamed ceilings and skirted kitchen cabinets were some of the highlights.
Pic credit: Douglas Elliman
“As you enter the home, you are greeted by a chalet-inspired foyer with a limestone fireplace, which sets the tone for the home. The floor plan offers exceptional flexibility as the open spaces flow between the kitchen, dining room, sitting room, sunlit conservatory, cosy family room, expansive living room, and additional gracious entertaining spaces, all of which are enhanced by the multiple fireplaces, creating a sense of warmth, comfort and connection throughout,” the listing says.
Pic credit: Douglas Elliman
The primary suite comes with a sitting room, a spacious walk-in wardrobe, two bathrooms, a Juliet balcony and a large picture window, which, according to the listing, “frames the stunning property and allows the room to be illuminated with natural light”.
Pic credit: Douglas Elliman
A complete gut renovation
Pic credit: Douglas Elliman
After buying the estate in 2024, Barrymore went for an extensive renovation. What began as a cosmetic overhaul soon turned into a “complete internal gut”, Realtor.com reported. The first step was adding modern amenities, including heating, plumbing and air conditioning.
Pic credit: Douglas Elliman
Then came the gut renovation of the main level. It “took a year of engineering to figure out”, the actress previously confessed while talking about the drastic renovation. She wanted an open kitchen to let light in. Her approach to interior design was also hands-on. The work, she said, came down to ideas and effort. “Between Pinterest, thrifting, and a can of paint, there’s nothing you can’t do,” she told the Journal. Her design line, Beautiful by Drew, sits behind that instinct, but the renovation was larger than decor. It involved the structure and mechanical systems as well as the finishes that show up in photos.
Pic credit: Douglas Elliman
Selling just above the original price
Pic credit: Douglas Elliman
Barrymore listed the house in the spring for just under $5 million. Within about a month, the property had a pending offer. The sale closed on 27 July 2026 at $4.5 million, according to Mansion Global. That is only $100,000 above the $4.4 million she paid two years earlier. On paper, that may look like a gain. However, once renovation expenses, other associated costs and commissions on a sale of this size are factored in, the actual profit may be considerably smaller.
Pic credit: Douglas Elliman
Pic credit: Douglas Elliman
Kori Sassower of Compass represented both sides of the deal. She said Barrymore was pleased to hand the house over to the buyers, who are moving out from the city. “They plan to use it as she used it, as an escape,” the agent told the outlet. The listing calls it an “unparalleled opportunity”. “Located in the Harrison School District and close to Rye, Harrison, and Mamaroneck, this one-of-a-kind estate is unmatched in setting, scale, and lifestyle. Impressive, updated, spacious, inviting, and comfortable all at once, 19 Winfield is a truly unparalleled offering.”
