When Tina Trahan spent $3.2 million on a “Brady Bunch” house, her husband asked one question: “Are you crazy?”
After a two-year campaign she spearheaded, the Los Angeles City Council officially granted historic-cultural monument status to the modest Studio City home used for filming on location for the 1970s sitcom.
But getting a house into the spotlight can be an expensive journey.
Tina Trahan, current owner of the Brady Bunch mansion. Tina Trahan
For Trahan, the effort began shortly after she purchased the property in 2023 for $3.2 million.
She discovered the listing while browsing Zillow and immediately recognized the iconic split-level ranch home from the show’s opening credits—the triangular roofline, stacked stone exterior, and large picture windows immediately took her back to childhood afternoons watching reruns.
“It feels like you’re walking into your childhood home when you’re 10 years old,” Trahan said. “No one can feel this anywhere else.”
Trahan, who grew up in the Chicago suburbs, said she watched “The Brady Bunch” regularly as a child — even though it wasn’t technically her favorite sitcom. She said that this honor belongs to the “threesome”.
The Brady Bunch House is a two-story single-family home located in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles and serves as a major setting for the television series “The Brady Bunch.” Associated Press
Still, the house’s emotional appeal was undeniable, and “I had to have it,” she says.
Not everyone agrees.
Her husband, former HBO CEO Chris Albrecht, who has overseen shows like “The Sopranos” and “Sex and the City,” initially thought the idea was ridiculous.
“He said, ‘Are you crazy?'” Trahan recalled in an interview with LAist. “He thought I wanted to move in.”
The interior of the Brady Bunch house features a dining table, chairs and living area. Anthony Barcello
Living there was never the plan, she said.
“What if someone dropped a meatball on the couch or something?” she said. “I would have a nervous breakdown.”
Instead, Trahan turned the house into a meticulously preserved pop culture time capsule.
Over the past two years, she’s added about 400 props and Easter eggs that reference scenes from the show, including a flashlight that Greg once used to fake a UFO sighting and a stuffed giraffe like the one that appears in the girl’s bedroom. She even custom-made three different giraffes before settling on the right size.
After HGTV revamped the property for its 2019 series “The Brady Renovation,” the interior itself has become remarkably similar to the show’s set, with the famous floating staircase and other recognizable rooms recreated.
But Trahan worries about the future of the house.
The cast of “The Brady Bunch” pose on the set of their home. Disney General Entertainment content via Getty Images
The stairway of the Brady Bunch home features stone walls and stained windows. Anthony Barcello
“What if I get hit by a bus tomorrow?” she said. “Is there anything I can do to save this?”
The issue prompted her to pursue landmark status — a process she said took two years and several rounds of city government approvals.
Architectural historian Heather Goers helped prepare the nomination and guide it through the Heritage Committee, the City Council Planning and Land Use Management Committee and finally to a full council vote.
The designation is notable because the house was the first property in Los Angeles to receive landmark protection, and specifically because of its importance as a filming location outside of the studio.
A woman walks her puppy in front of the “Brady Bunch” house. Getty Images
The “Brady Bunch” house’s kitchen features orange countertops, wood cabinets, brick walls with an oven, and a light green refrigerator. Anthony Barcello
The living room of the ‘Brady Bunch’ home features a floral sofa, two armchairs and a central wooden coffee table. Anthony Barcello
Although the home was built in 1959 and only its exterior was featured in the sitcom, officials eventually extended the landmark designation to its interior as well.
Trahan said she was shocked when it happened.
“I’m sure there are people who are going to say, ‘But wait — this isn’t history,'” she said.
The decision reflects the lasting impact of the show, which premiered in 1969 and has been in syndication virtually since its original run ended in 1974.
Today, the house attracts a steady stream of visitors to the quiet San Fernando Valley street, with fans arriving daily to take photos.
Trahan has also opened the property for charity tours and events called “The Brady Experience,” often featuring actors such as Christopher Knight and Maureen McCormick.
For Trahan, becoming the owner of an official Los Angeles landmark didn’t bring much change—except for one unexpected headache.
After the designation was announced, her insurance company canceled coverage.
Insuring historic homes can be more complex and expensive, she said.
Still, Trahan said it’s a small price to pay.
