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Johnny Depp had a lofty notion, and now actors John Stamos and Frankie Muniz are following in his footsteps.

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All three have an interest in the lofts in the Art Deco Eastern Columbia Building in downtown Los Angeles, according to area real estate agents.

The 13-story tower, designed by Claude Beelman in 1929 and developed as lofts by the Kor Group, is sheathed in turquoise-colored terra cotta. Kelly Wearstler Interior Design created the common areas and some loft interiors, including one with three floors and two master suites.

Prices for the lofts on the penthouse floor, where Stamos and Depp are reported to have purchased, range from $1.4 million to just under $2 million. Among its amenities, the tower has a rooftop pool deck and a fitness studio.

Stamos, now 44, appeared in 1981 as Blackie Parrish on General Hospital and then moved on to Full House for eight years as Uncle Jesse. But as his acting career was growing, his marriage was failing, and he was divorced in 2005 from model-actress Rebecca Romijn. In 2006 the actor signed on as a series regular on ER, playing Dr. Tony Gates.

While building a house in the L.A. area for himself, Muniz, of Malcolm in the Middle fame, has reserved a two-bedroom, 2,900-square-foot loft at close to $2.9 million, real estate sources said.

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Bestselling author Sidney Sheldon didn't publish his first novel until he was in his 50s, and then he wrote all 18 in his Palm Springs compound. No wonder the estate, listed for sale at $6.45 million, was his favourite home in the desert.

Sheldon, an Oscar-winning screenwriter and creator of the TV sitcom I Dream of Jeannie, and his wife, Alexandra, owned many homes when he died in 2007 at age 89. By putting two in Palm Springs on the market, his widow plans to simplify her life, said Scott Palermo, one of the three listing agents. Both homes are in the Old Las Palmas part of town.

The author's favourite, designed by Arthur Elrod, includes a contemporary-style main house, a casita with seven bedrooms and 8½ bathrooms, and a guesthouse with six bedrooms and 8½ bathrooms.

The 14,000-square-foot estate, with two pools and a pool house, is on roughly 1.5 acres that are walled and gated but have a view of the San Jacinto Mountains.

The second home for sale is across the street from the compound. The Sheldons called the house Running Water. It is Spanish modern in style, surrounded by a private desert park with ponds, streams, desert plants, walking trails and an American Indian-style palapas, for outdoor entertaining, in gardens designed by Alexandra.

The house, priced at close to $4 million, was rebuilt in 1991 and has five bedrooms and 6 1/2 bathrooms in 5,797 square feet. There are four fireplaces and a private patio. The master bathroom has a spa tub and a sauna. The pool and spa have a waterfall and mature landscaping with ponds and a fountain.

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Celebrity hair stylist Ken Paves has purchased a home in Beverly Hills for nearly $2 million.

Paves, who has created do's for at least half a dozen young actresses, bought a Cape Cod contemporary-style house designed by Robert Byrd. Perched on a ridge, the renovated 2,700-square-foot house has city views and a split-level living room with vaulted ceilings, a wet bar and French doors opening to an expansive deck.

There are three en suite bedrooms, four fireplaces, a newly built kitchen, 3 1/2 new bathrooms and parking for up to 11 cars.

Hot Property, by Ruth Ryon of the Los Angeles Times, features the biggest celebrity real estate deals. It appears every Saturday in Escapade. Starting next week, Ryon will be replaced by Anne Brenoff.