How Lenny Kravitz made Paris home feel like his own

A home does not necessarily need to follow a single design style to feel cohesive. Sometimes, it is the details that make a space feel lived in. Lenny Kravitz’s Paris residence is an example of this approach.

The musician first searched for a small Paris apartment in the early 2000s. Instead, a real estate agent showed him a 1920s mansion in the city’s 16th arrondissement, a property that had belonged to Countess Anne d’Ornano. What started as a search for a simple pied-à-terre eventually became a much larger project.

Kravitz already had experience with interiors by the time he took on the property. He founded Kravitz Design in 2003, working on residential and commercial interiors alongside branding and creative collaborations. His Paris home gave him another opportunity to apply that background to a deeply personal space.

One of the clearest ideas throughout Kravitz’s Paris residence is that a home can function as an extension of its owner. The rooms bring together European furniture, African-inspired pieces, midcentury designs, contemporary works and more sculptural, Brutalist elements. Instead of committing to one period, Kravitz allows different influences to share the same spaces.

That approach gives the interiors a less predictable quality. A room does not have to look like it came from a single furniture collection or follow one trend to feel considered. Kravitz has described his design philosophy as “soulful elegance,” which he associates with spaces that are balanced, comfortable and carefully curated without becoming overly minimal or excessive.

Mix eras instead of matching everything

Kravitz’s interiors also demonstrate how furniture from different periods can work together seamlessly.

In the primary bedroom, for instance, a 1970s bedroom set is paired with a Louis XVI mirror, a Baccarat chandelier and Berber rugs. Elsewhere, midcentury furniture sits alongside African objects and Brutalist pieces.

The combination works because the items are not used simply to recreate a particular decade. Instead, the contrast between old and new, ornate and simple, or polished and raw becomes part of the room’s character.

This approach applies just as well to modest homes. A vintage chair does not need to sit beside furniture from its own era. An inherited cabinet can complement a contemporary sofa, while an antique mirror can serve as a focal point in an otherwise modern room.

Give meaningful objects a place

Perhaps the most personal aspect of Kravitz’s home is how he incorporates memories into the design.

His library contains items connected to figures he admires, including boxing boots owned by Muhammad Ali and footwear associated with James Brown. A portrait of his godmother, actress Diahann Carroll, also holds a place in the room.

Family is equally present. Photographs of his mother, actress Roxie Roker, appear throughout the home, while a portrait of his grandfather, Albert Roker, occupies a prominent position in the dining room. Kravitz has described the portrait as particularly important to his family history.

These objects do more than fill empty walls and shelves — they give the rooms context. For a home to feel personal, decorative pieces do not need to be expensive or rare. Items with a story — photographs, souvenirs, inherited furniture, books or artwork — often carry the greatest impact.

Design around how the space is used

Kravitz’s home also shows the value of looking beyond a room’s original purpose.

One of the most distinctive examples is the property’s former boiler room, which he transformed into the “Chaufferie,” a two-story gathering space. The room features vintage French bistro furniture, a disco ball, a sound system and a chrome car grille set into the brick wall. It has also served as a venue for soirées hosted by his daughter, actress Zoë Kravitz.

The transformation is a reminder that unusual or overlooked areas do not have to remain unused. A basement can become a media room, an awkward corner can serve as a reading nook and a spare room can become a space for hobbies rather than storage.

Make room for the unexpected

An element of surprise runs throughout Kravitz’s residence.

A limited-edition Kravitz Grand piano created with Steinway & Sons sits near the main staircase, surrounded by sculptural furniture, vintage pieces and artwork from various periods. The piano itself reflects Kravitz’s dual passions, bridging his work in music and design.

These unexpected elements prevent the interiors from feeling overly formulaic. Kravitz’s Paris residence ultimately makes a case for decorating with intention rather than following a strict blueprint.

Its rooms draw from different influences, yet they remain connected through the objects and memories that matter to him. The result is not a home built around a fleeting trend but one shaped by a person’s history and creative spirit.

Now named Hôtel de Roxie after his mother, the property brings together Kravitz’s design work, music career and family roots under one roof.