Maria Sharapova gave Architectural Digest a rare insight into her three-story Los Angeles house inspired by Japanese architecture and minimalist aesthetic.
It comes as no surprise that people involved in the design, construction and decoration of the house said that Sharapova was “one of the most intellectually curious and committed clients they’ve ever encountered”, as she was actively participating in the project from the earliest phases down to the final details. Talking about how excited she was about creating a dream home, the tennis star said:
I was obsessed with the process of making this home. I’d jump off a plane from a tournament and go straight to the work site or to the architect’s office or to a kitchen manufacturer. This was my project, and I wasn’t going to delegate any part of it.
When it comes to location, Sharapova made sure to pick a place with a good view. The mansion is situated on a sloping site that offers ocean views from Palos Verdes to Malibu.
Sharapova adopted a minimalist approach to design, but only in the sense to include only the features that she will truly use. There is no minimalist coldness, as concrete and glass areas are balanced with bleached oak, cedar, and silver travertine.
As interior designer Courtney Applebaum states, the style is a mixture of “rough-hewn antiques from Asia, Africa, and Europe, all set against a strategic array of refined mid-century classics”.
Of course, the property includes a pool, which you can enter straight from the living/dining area. There is also a bowling alley in the basement, but there’s no mention of a gym or tennis courts. Do you remember Jelena Jankovic’s eight-bedroom San Diego mansion (she may have sold it by now) that includes a tennis court, massage room, steam shower, dry sauna, swimming pools, gym, home theater, wine cellar, enormous garage, and a billiards room?
The five-time Grand Slam champion demanded the team behind her house to use their full brain power:
I kept telling everyone that I want this to be the best house they’ve ever done. I tried to push their vision because I believe in all of them and want to see them shine. I’ve traveled all over the world and enjoyed lots of incredible spaces. But my home is my absolute favorite. I think that’s the way it should be.
If I had a house like this, I don’t think I would be motivated enough to travel around the world and stay in hotels, no matter how luxurious they are. How can you build a house of your dreams and then almost never spend time in it?
For photos of the house, visit Architectural Digest.
Tasteful. Love it.