Open Door: Inside Celebrity Homes

Today Architectural Digest is welcomed to Los Angeles by actor-producers Viola Davis and Julius Tennon for a tour of their tranquil, newly-renovated family home. Davis and Tennon, along with their 12-year-old daughter, Genesis, lived in their Toluca Lake home for about five years before embarking on a renovation with LA designer Michaela Cadiz. “I always want to go big and bold, but not too bold, not garish,” says Davis, the acclaimed Oscar-, Emmy-, and Tony-winning actor and founder (with Tennon) of JuVee Productions, a company that develops film, television, theater, virtual reality, and digital projects. “We were working in South Africa, shooting The Woman King, while the renovation was unfolding, and we were inspired by the incredible color and culture there.”

Today Architectural Digest is welcomed to New York City by actor Michael Imperioli for a tour of his intricately decorated, art-filled home. Returning to the east coast as empty nesters following years in California, Michael and wife Victoria, an interior and set designer, outfitted their new home around an extensive art collection acquired mostly in antique shops over nearly three decades. The former ‘Sopranos’ star's apartment evokes a bygone age with clear Italian influences, not unlike the Sicilian palazzos in ‘The White Lotus,’ his most recent HBO starring turn. “To me this apartment is a refuge from the world,” Michael says. “It’s representative of the past. This could easily be an apartment from the Jazz Age in New York around when it actually was built a hundred years ago.”

Today Architectural Digest is welcomed to Brooklyn, New York by David Harbour and Lily Allen for a tour of their exuberant family townhouse. Working hand in hand with AD100 designer Billy Cotton and architect Ben Bischoff of MADE, Lily and David have created an exciting and singular home within their stately late-19th-century brownstone in Carroll Gardens. “Lily is someone who lives with color in a deeper way than most. Her taste is bold, silly, fun, eccentric—it’s exciting,” says the Stranger Things actor and star of the recent blood-splattered Christmas spectacular Violent Night. “I’ve always been interested in interiors, and I’ve always done my own homes. But this was a big undertaking, and I needed help.” says Allen. “Together, Billy and I tried to reach for something weird and wonderful.”

Today Architectural Digest is welcomed to Malibu, California by Emmy Award–­winning actress Sarah Paulson for a tour of her sophisticated and cozy 500-square-foot beach home. Paulson acquired the property nearly a year into the pandemic, transforming the quaint but generic surf shack into a tailor-made retreat with the elegantly understated housewares of Nickey Kehoe. “The ocean never called to me. I’m the person who’s afraid there’s a shark in my bathtub.” says Paulson, star of the upcoming horror film Dust . "But the beach was stunning. How did I live here for so many years and not understand the beauty of the coastline?”

Today AD is welcomed to Columbus, Ohio by Debby Ryan and Josh Dun for a tour of their fascinating, ‘treehouse fantasy’ home. It might be surprising to hear of a sparkling young actor and her rocker husband setting up their first house in the “Arch City,” but Ryan and Dun relish an impulsive departure from the script. When they discovered the property and decided to make it their home, the actor and musician tapped Fawn Galli and Ashley Moyer to bring their domestic dream to life. From a basement boxing ring and a cold-plunge pool on the back porch, to a recording studio and a dramatic stone bust of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, that dream has come to full fruition. “I remember walking through the house and feeling like there was so much room to put our personalities into it,” says Dun. “Not only was this the first house that we designed together, but it was really the first time that both of us felt the freedom to put our mark on a place.”

Today AD is welcomed by Troian Bellisario and Patrick J. Adams for a tour of their 1924 Spanish Colonial Revival home in Los Angeles. Designed by one of the lions of the golden age of California architecture, Wallace Neff, its white stucco exterior, colorfully tiled main staircase, and wrought-iron details are all calling cards of his numerous Spanish-influenced homes. The actors and homeowners—Adams is best known for his role on Suits in which he played Meghan Markle’s character’s love interest, while Bellisario starred on the popular teen drama Pretty Little Liars —fell in love with the residence while in the midst of planning their 2016 wedding and moved in right after their honeymoon, embarking on renovations a few years later with designer Rosa Beltran. “The goal was to make it feel how Neff and the team of artisans who had worked on the home in the beginning would have wanted it to feel, and also to make it really comfortable and useful for a modern-day family,” says Beltran.

Today AD is welcomed to Los Angeles by actor Karen Gillan for a look inside her cozy, pub-like home. The Dr. Who and Marvel Universe star recently moved into the traditional early-1900s cottage with her husband, comedian Nick Kocher, setting out to design their first home together. The couple enlisted Pierce & Ward, an AD100 studio known for creating lived-in spaces with an old-world feel and a dash of glamor. After tearing down a series of bland renovations and adding elegant finishes like built-in bookshelves and wainscotting, the designers got to work. “It’s exactly what I wanted,” says Gillan of her newly decorated home and its traditional two-story layout overlooking a tree-shaded backyard. “I could never live in a modern space because it would kill my energy.”

Today Architectural Digest is welcomed by RuPaul to tour his dazzling Beverly Hills home. When the 'Drag Race' star and husband Georges LeBar acquired their home they enlisted esteemed AD100 designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard and architect Christopher Hatch McLean to help bring their 1980s palazzo to life. Together they transformed the property into an enchanting homage to Old Hollywood injecting the glamor of 1930s regency throughout. Bursting with color and pattern, RuPaul wanted the design of his home to evoke joy in those who step inside its doors - “The house is a touchstone to remind me to inspire people to feel the magic that’s seemingly so elusive these days,” RuPaul asserts. “It’s meant to be whimsical and fun. None of it is to be taken too seriously—except for love and kindness.”

Today AD is welcomed to New York City by Chloe Fineman for a look inside her Paris-inspired home. The Saturday Night Live star first fell in love with her West Village apartment when filming a job in the same building—and as if meant to be, a month later it was hers. With the help of her sister Emma and designer Tali Roth, she dove headfirst into decorating her space opting for an eclectic, feminine vibe. Chloe invites the luxurious vibes of Paris into her cozy rental through rich velvets, fine linens, and romantic colors—creating a softness that compliments the original exposed brick and crown moldings throughout. The particular charms (and constraints) of living in Manhattan aren’t lost, however: Chloe’s oven is primarily used to store wigs. “I was a cook at the beginning when I moved into this apartment. And then it got scary where I was like, I'm going to burn this apartment down. So now my oven is mostly wig storage.”

Today Architectural Digest is welcomed by Amanda Seyfried for a tour of her peaceful home in New York City. The Crowded Room and Mamma Mia! star spends most of her time upstate at her Catskills farmhouse, but when work calls her away she needed a tranquil city base fit for her family–with the help of Sarah Zames and Colin Stief from General Assembly they aimed to bring some of those farmhouse vibes to Manhattan. Stunning original arched windows create a bright, airy space enhanced by light oak features, and Amanda’s love of antique silhouettes paired with modern pieces offers an eclectic yet zen feel, perfect for relaxing after a busy day in the city–“I’m part of the development of a Broadway show,” Amanda says “This is going to be my home for six, seven, eight months. I know this will be where I live, and I’m comfortable here. I feel really safe.”

Today AD is welcomed by John Legend and Chrissy Teigen to tour their loving family home in Beverly Hills. The superstar couple are no strangers to moving house as the chapters of their lives change, this time around wanting a magical space for their kids to grow up. John and Chrissy enlisted AD100 designer, Jake Arnold, working in tandem as he paired his signature earthy palette with their desire for bright pops of color. Together they designed an open space full of warmth with no shortage of spots for family time during their latest stage of life. “Every house we’ve ever had reflects the moment we were in in our lives, like chapters in a book,” Teigen avers. “We were attracted to this place because of its lightness and airiness. We love how open it feels, and how it’s so connected to the outdoors. We wanted to create something magical, especially for the kids,”

Today Architectural Digest is welcomed by Winnie Harlow to tour her glamorous Hollywood home. Having lived in rented apartments her whole life, the supermodel bought her first home in Los Angeles after relocating from New York for the heat and sunshine. This being her first home she was excited to get designing with AD100 authority Martyn Lawrence Bullard. The neutral base of the house layered with soft textures and dramatic accents come together to create a calming sanctuary for Winnie to kick back and relax. “It’s the first house I’ve ever lived in and it is a lot of work,” she says. “Nothing is ever done. There’s always something to do—something to fix or build—but I am up for it all.”

Today Architectural Digest is welcomed by 'Pretty Little Liars' star Ashley Benson to tour her playful home in Los Angeles. Designed in 1930 by architect Arthur Kelly, Ashley's home is an Old Hollywood gem–and having had only three owners in over 90s years it's practically untouched. Inspired by her love of Europe and Nancy Meyer’s movies, Ashley enlisted interior designer Nicole Gordon, and architect John Farrace to help bring her home into the 21st century. From astronaut wallpaper to the ultimate coastal grandmother kitchen, Benson has created a playful space with something fun hidden around each corner.“I wanted to make each turn and each room—no matter the size—a unique experience.”

Today Architectural Digest is welcomed by British model, actor, and activist, Adwoa Aboah, to tour her charming London home. When the Top Boy star first viewed her Victorian-era home five years ago it was falling apart at the seams but despite this, she knew it was home. Together, architectural designer Lewis Kane and AD100 designer Beata Heuman, helped Adwoa transform the fixer-upper into a delightful space bursting with color, pattern, and profound character. Heartfelt mementos from Adwoa’s life fill the space, and with a garden landscaped by her aunt and her sister’s artwork hanging on the walls, these familial touches make her house feel like home. “Friends have said if they could imagine a house that described me, this would be it. I feel very at peace here. It is like my sanctuary.”

Today AD is welcomed by former NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony to tour his stylish new home in Westchester, New York. After closing out his two-decade-long basketball career in May, the New York native felt it was time to settle into a more spacious pad in the suburbs. Leaving the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks behind him, Anthony teamed up with interior designer Cassandre Bonhomme to create a home that matched his eclectic taste. Together, they designed a “modern vintage” interior–ornate fixtures paired with a luxe color palette and fabrics make the perfect home for Carmelo’s extensive contemporary art collection. With more space to stretch his legs and just a short drive into the city, it’s safe to say that Melo has settled nicely into his next chapter in the ’burbs. “I love land, I love space. Once you start getting out of the city and traveling and going to these other places, you realize that a 25 to 30-minute drive is not that far from the city.”

Today AD is welcomed by Jon Batiste and Suleika Jaouad to tour their beautiful home in Brooklyn, New York.

On an unassuming street, tucked in one of Los Angeles’s many canyons, sits a hidden tree house. And somewhat surprisingly, it’s owned by a cowboy who just so happens to be a consummate host. But to country music star Orville Peck, it’s just home.

Today AD is welcomed by comedy legend Kevin Hart to tour his stylish Hartbeat offices. A year ago, Hart moved his production company into a new 40,000-square-foot West Hollywood office space previously occupied by the Oprah Winfrey Network. With the help of Kai Williamson of Studio 7 Design, Hart was ready to give the office an edgier makeover, moving away from an off-white, coastal palette left behind by OWN. Together, Hart and Williamson designed a modern, open space that encourages creative thinking and collaboration through glass walls and luxe seating areas. But despite the makeover, Hart has made sure the spirit of Oprah remains, “There’s an energy in this room,” Hart says. “Every once in a while, The Oracle herself speaks to me. I’m trying to get a real mold of Oprah’s hand so I can slap Oprah five every time I leave out. The question is, How am I going to get it?”

Today AD is welcomed by Ray and Anna Romano to tour their serene desert home in La Quinta, California. The ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ star and his wife worked with AD100 powerhouse Nate Berkus to design a beautiful and comfortable home, perfect for hosting their expanding family as two of their four children prepare to get married. Moving away from the mid-century Americana styles you’d typically find around Palm Springs, Berkus took inspiration from Italian country homes, creating a more muted space with all the charm of the Italian countryside. Before letting Berkus and Anna take the reigns on design, Ray only had a few specific requests for his new desert oasis. “I wanted some kind of cozy feel to it. That’s all. I was very vague,” he says. “And I fell in love with a bunk bed room that we saw at the Ritz-Carlton in Sundance that my kids stayed in. And I said, ‘I want a room like that.’”

Today AD is welcomed by Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita to tour their delightful home in Los Angeles. The Modern Family star and his husband decided to move to the leafy Encino hills of LA in a bid to create the perfect home for their evolving family life and aesthetic. Their vision was for a calm and cozy interior with plenty of space for the family to hang out. With the help of AD100’s Mandy Cheng, they turned a blank new build into a warm, inviting space full of soft colors and snug resting spots, including a king and a half sized bed. “Justin and I got the giggles one night seeing how many rolls it took to reach each other,” Ferguson recalls. “It was like three and a half!”

Today the 46th President of the United States Joseph R. Biden welcomes Architectural Digest to Washington, D.C. for a tour of the Oval Office and White House.