When Motor-Home Magnate John and Donna Crean Invited Their Friends to a Bash, They Really Meant It

"We're going to live in an apartment inside of the house. So we don't get lost. So we always have our own little corner. We've lived in several big houses, and, you come in the front door and nobody answers because they're way at the other end somewhere."

"It all started two years ago. Our children came home for the holidays with our nine grandchildren and we had to put half of them up at a hotel. I told John I liked having them all together in the same house."

Donna and John Crean, wealthy Orange County residents, organized a demolition party in Santa Ana Heights to destroy a two-bedroom bungalow and make way for an 11-bedroom, 14-bath mansion. The couple invited 100 family members and friends to participate in the destruction. Despite the massive 21,000-square-foot size, the Creans plan to occupy only 1,500 square feet as their personal living space, describing it as an apartment within the house to avoid getting lost. The remaining space will accommodate their four adult children and nine grandchildren during visits, inspired by a holiday gathering that required hotel accommodations. The couple, currently residing in a 3,000-square-foot Corona del Mar home, are committed to maintaining their own private corner within the expansive new residence.

Read at Los Angeles Times