Kevin Costner’s estranged wife, Christine Baumgartner, is hoping her move into her new home will ease tensions between the couple and end the actor’s “silent treatment,” sources reveal.
Earlier this week, DailyMail.com published photos of the rental house in Santa Barbara that Baumgartner, 49, is moving into after being ordered to vacate the $145 million Carpinteria, California compound she shared with 68-year-old Yellowstone star in their divorce.
Now a close friend of the designer’s has said the move is a relief to Baumgartner, whose initially amicable divorce from her estranged husband turned sour and left her in an awkward living situation.
“Christine said she feels like the weight of the world has finally lifted now that she’s moved,” the insider told DailyMail.com.
Christine Baumgartner was seen this week for the first time since moving into her new $35,000-a-month rental in Santa Barbara, California after separating from husband Kevin Costner
Sources tell DailyMail.com that Baumgartner hopes the move will ease tensions between the couple and end Costner’s ‘silent treatment’
Baumgartner, 49, found a new home in Santa Barbara, California after being ordered to move out of their marital home
She said she wouldn’t be surprised if Kevin’s staff kept an eye on her while she was packing.
“She still doesn’t understand why Kevin had to drag her name through the mud and make what could have been easy painfully difficult.”
The source revealed that Costner and Baumgartner have not had any verbal contact “in months” and have only communicated through their lawyers — much to her dismay.
“Christine hopes that will come to an end one day so that they can build a friendly relationship for the sake of the children,” the insider said.
“She said the silent treatment is ineffective and childish and Kevin needs to lighten up, especially now that he has the house.”
Following her July 28 move from the main house, an insider revealed to People that the mother of three was staying “in a smaller house” on the property used for staff staff.
The insider said Baumgartner had “stayed in the area so as not to disturb her, her and Costner’s three children — Cayden, 16, Hayes, 14, and Grace, 13 — who will be “back at school with their friends in the fall.” in the next months.
The mum showed off her tanned and toned midriff in a colorful silky crop top on Wednesday and was seen without her wedding ring
The drama goes back weeks when Costner asked her to leave the house, after which the focus turned to what she planned to take with her when she left.
Last month, Baumgartner got a court order to vacate the former couple’s lavish $145 million California mansion
Baumgartner, a handbag designer, has been “trying to keep everything as normal as possible” amid the tumultuous time for the family, the source told the outlet.
Baumgartner, who filed for divorce from the Yellowstone star in May, complained that he was struggling to find a suitable rental nearby.
Since proceedings began, the divorce has been far from amicable, from Costner claiming his ex refused to move out of the mansion despite giving her $1.45 million for a new home; to Christine who claimed the actor was trying to make her and their children “homeless.”
Baumgartner had insisted in court documents that she had no plans to “strip” their Santa Barbara mansion before they left the property.
Costner — who was spotted with the couple’s three children in Aspen, Colorado on July 28 — and Baumgartner have been locked in a highly contentious split for the past few months.
The drama goes back weeks when Costner asked her to leave the house, after which the focus turned to what she planned to take with her when she left.
Last month, sources told the DailyMail.com that Baumgartner fears the artist is “out for revenge” on her after she filed for divorce, and that police will have her escorted from their Santa Barbara home.
Parents of four: The former couple share three children: sons Cayden, 16; and Hayes, 14; along with their youngest daughter Grace, 13
“He wants to humiliate her,” said a close friend of Christine’s. “This isn’t about the house, it’s about making Christine’s life hell because she actually got through the divorce.
“Christine said she wouldn’t be surprised if Kevin had the police take her off the property,” says the friend. “It was Christine who wanted this transition to be as peaceful as possible in the best interest of the children.
Kevin has done the opposite. He doesn’t think about the kids, about how traumatizing this is.’
Last month, a judge also ruled that she must talk to Kevin before taking over any estate property. She is prohibited from taking art, furniture, furniture or appliances with her without his express permission.
The former couple initially tied the knot in 2004, with Christine filing for divorce on May 1 after 18 years of marriage.