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Mel B’s farmhouse Hollywood makeover: Spice Girl is giving her £2m Yorkshire idyll some zigazig ah with an indoor pool, cinema, and reiki room

BBG News

Instead of living a bustling life in the Hollywood Hills, she has moved back to her roots in Yorkshire and now spends her days tending to goats and chickens on a peaceful farmstead.

Now pop star Mel B has been busy spicing up her dream country home with a glamorous makeover.

As a devoted admirer, I’m excited to share that the enigmatic singer is unveiling the comprehensive blueprint for their visionary project. The objective is to metamorphose the once bustling farm into a contemporary family residence, brimming with amenities suitable for a global phenomenon.

Back in the early part of the year, we shared news about the Spice Girl investing a significant sum of around £2.2 million in a private estate. This estate, nestled on approximately 11 acres, offers breathtaking vistas of the picturesque Yorkshire Dales.

It’s now official! After her grand 50th birthday bash earlier this week, Mel has received approval from the planning team to construct a pool house, a cinema room, and an extension that will transform into a stunning new master bedroom suite.

The main bedroom boasts a stylish, standalone bathtub, and it will be adjacent to a spacious walk-in closet, a wide connecting corridor, and a private bathroom for your convenience.

Evidence indicates that Mel intends to establish a Reiki healing area, a treatment room, a fitness center with a sauna, and also an outdoor area featuring a hot tub and ice bath.

In addition, there will be a spacious, brand-new kitchen and a customized dog kennel equipped with a shower and an entrance flap for the convenience of the celebrity’s two Rottweilers serving as protection dogs and their Yorkshire terrier, Cookie, to move in and out at their leisure.

The current property features a swimming pool, but future plans involve constructing a new extension over it, which will provide space for poolside loungers. This way, people can enjoy the pool even during colder months.

The structure, featuring an additional area for the fitness center, will connect to a fresh, covered outdoor kitchen and dining area.

More recently, Melanie Brown (formerly known as the singer) shared glimpses of her current lifestyle during her appearance on Alison Hammond’s BBC show, The Big Weekend.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I enthusiastically met up with the television host while zipping around on a robust quad bike. Clad in vibrant orange high-visibility workwear, I accessorized with a stylish leopard print safety helmet, ready to tackle any adventure that came our way.

Mel explained her daily routine, sharing that each morning she puts on her usual attire and manages the chickens while spending time tending to her goats, one of whom is called Sharon.

She shared that each animal on her farm, which she’s nurtured since they were young, has its unique character. However, she mentioned there’s a hierarchy among them as well.

Mel shared that the farm was still under development, and when she first arrived, all she had was a Spice Girls Union Jack sofa that she got following their reunion tour in 2019.

Mel demonstrated that she had personalized the property by adorning the living room with leopard-themed wallpaper, signaling her unique touch from the start.

In my own words, here’s how I might put it: Ever since I, the ultimate Spice Girls fan, was away from home, my heartthrob Rory McPhee, 38, had been secretly transforming our upstairs landing into a magical shrine dedicated to the Spice Girls tours, adorning every inch with posters, photos, and treasured memorabilia. The surprise he had in store for me was beyond anything I could have ever imagined!

In the course of the event, Mel and Alison additionally enjoyed an evening outdoors near the woods, where they roasted marshmallows over a fire pit under the starlit sky, on the property’s perimeter.

Mel frequently shares glimpses of her significant lifestyle transformation on various social media platforms from time to time, ensuring her followers are well-informed.

On Sundays, we embrace trees, connect with creatures, and enjoy a traditional Sunday meal.

In another, Mel was pictured in a sports bra and hot pants as she bagged up fruit for the goats.

She shared: “I and the animals have been spending delightful days at the farm. We often find ourselves in fits of laughter – it’s the small, joyous moments that count, and I adore interacting with them immensely.

Reflecting on my new home acquisition, I found myself musing, “This place will be a sanctuary of joy for me, as I remember my father, cherish my children, and stand in solidarity with all the survivors out there – remember, you too can reclaim your power. Trust and believe.

Back in 1993, what is now Mel’s secluded retreat was initially a humble farmhouse and its accompanying barn. The local council chose to sell these properties, which were then transformed into a spacious rural mansion.

This five-bedroom house is nestled within a stunningly beautiful natural area, boasting approximately 6,950 square feet. With the addition of Mel’s two single-story and one double-story extensions, the property will expand by a significant 18 percent.

As I, an over-the-moon enthusiast, stand before this stunning abode, my heart skips a beat at the sight of its alluring charm. Nestled in a sprawling landscape, it boasts a detached office and a double garage, making it an ideal haven for both work and play. The property is surrounded by lush gardens adorned with an enchanting pond, two spacious paddocks, and offers breathtaking vistas of the undulating hills and a tranquil reservoir nearby. Simply put, this gem of a residence whispers serenity and luxury in every corner.

According to Mel’s planning representative, her plans involve extensively landscaping the property to ensure it blends well with its surroundings. The wider landscape and countryside will have minimal visibility into the site, demonstrating respect for the surrounding views.

The fundamental layout remains the same, yet it’s been revamped to align with today’s family living needs and improve its recreational amenities for a more contemporary feel.

The pool house stands separately, is modest in size, and appears to be subordinate to the main residence – this design is often replicated in outbuildings on various farms across the Dales region.

After receiving no opposition from neighbors, local planning authorities granted approval for her Grand Designs-inspired renovation project.

It’s generally thought that the suggested projects won’t change the charm of the home or the nearby Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) landscape.

Previously this year, Mel, who shares a neighborhood with former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate and ex-Manchester City defender Micah Richards, shared that she had finally found what she truly desires and that moving back to her Yorkshire hometown was one of the best choices she’s ever made.

She explained that she had ultimately discovered her long-term haven, which proved to be an ideal dwelling for her three kids: Phoenix, aged 26, Angel, 18, and Madison, 13.

Mel shared with her hometown newspaper that she currently owns three goats, nine chickens, two guard dogs for protection, and she manages a piece of woodland.

Upon returning home, I take in the invigorating Yorkshire air, attend to my beloved animals, and unwind within the comforts of my dwelling. This simple sanctuary leaves me feeling deeply grateful and content.

‘This is the safest, best place that I could be.’

Mel shared her journey, explaining that she returned to a similar beginning, having grown up in a public housing unit in Leeds. After traversing the globe and achieving international recognition, she later moved to the United States.

In my fervor as a devoted fan, I can’t help but chronicle the rollercoaster ride of this incredible artist. Her first walk down the aisle was with Jimmy Gulzar, the man who is Phoenix’s father, but their union didn’t last long. Their marriage dissolved bitterly just two years into it, culminating in their divorce in 2000.

In a heartbeat, I’d choose Little Marlow, Bucks, as my dream abode – until it became a nightmare. As an ardent fan, I’ve always admired the couple. Yet, little did I know that their peaceful life would be disrupted by vile racist hate mail, forcing the remarkable Mel to flee.

She shared that she had been given letters instructing her to leave the town, implying she didn’t fit in, and that she couldn’t purchase such an item.

Initially, she relocated to America and developed a romantic bond with actor Eddie Murphy, who is the father of Angel. Later on, she tied the knot with movie producer Stephen Belafonte during a wedding ceremony held in Las Vegas in June 2007.

The couple bought a vast home in the Hollywood HIlls, once owned by movie legend Rudolph Valentino.

The building boasted four bedrooms, five baths, a movie theater, recording facility, an upscale kitchen designed for chefs, an exterior kitchen, fitness center, game room, and a pool with panoramic views of the Los Angeles skyline.

However, their 10-year union concluded acrimoniously through a contentious divorce, as Mel accused Belafonte of abusive behavior, assertions that he refutes.

Or,

Their marriage of ten years ended in a hostile split due to Mel’s accusations against Belafonte of abusive conduct, allegations that he rejects.

Both sentences convey the same information but use different word choices and sentence structures for variety.

Despite a luxurious renovation and desirable location, the feuding pair found themselves in a tight spot, needing to sell their home quickly. Originally listed for £6.8 million, they had to reduce the price twice, eventually settling on a price just under £5 million due to their urgent need to find a buyer.

Regardless of amassing over £80 million throughout her career, Mel faced prolonged periods of financial struggle following her separation.

Previously, she shared that only £700 remained in her possession following a pricey divorce and custody disputes last year.

In 2019, when Mel returned to the UK and moved into her mother Andrea’s bungalow with her three children, she found herself in such a tight financial spot that she began shopping at budget stores like Lidl and Costco instead.

She remarked: ‘I hadn’t anticipated encountering that situation during my 40s, following a prosperous professional journey. However, I found myself at a crossroads with no other options.’

Now, she’s working towards regaining stability in her life and is optimistic that her third marriage to Rory this coming summer might prove successful.

The duo is set to get married at St. Paul’s Cathedral, with the ceremony made possible due to a special exception granted to her following Mel receiving an MBE award in 2022 for her exceptional work in charitable activities and assisting vulnerable women.

Lately, Mel has been stepping away from her responsibilities at the farm to travel between the U.S. and here, as she’s partaking in a fresh season of America’s Got Talent that debuted last week on American television.

Mel returned as a judge after a six season absence.

Apart from organizing a grand 50th birthday bash at the luxurious Habbibi rooftop bar in Leeds last week, she skillfully slipped in a romantic getaway with Rory in Paris, accompanied by the presence of fellow Spice Girls Emma Bunton and Sporty Spice Mel C.

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2025-06-08 15:36

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