Clearly, I underestimated your knowledge of pop-culture trivia! You guys guessed it. The “mystery kitchen” I showed you yesterday does indeed belong to none other than Madonna!
The clues were:
1. Madonna’s new album is called “Hard Candy.” (It’s “sweet.”)
2. She collects paintings by Frida Kahlo and campaigned hard to play the Mexican artist in a movie about her. She wanted Marlon Brando, of all people, to play Diego Rivera. Salma Hayek got the green light to film her version and play the lead instead.
3. Madonna’s $5 million contract with Pepsi came to an abrupt end after her “Like a Prayer” video freaked everybody out in 1984. Her two-minute long Pepsi commercial aired only once, during an episode of “The Cosby Show.”
Her Manhattan apartment was decorated by her brother, Christopher Ciccone, and it was featured in Architectural Digest. Gossip columnist Janet Charlton tells us Christopher Ciccone’s tell-all book about Madonna, coming out soon, is gonna be a doozy!
Take a look around and see what you think!
She told Architectural Digest she loved her office because she could admire the Picasso over her desk while faxing things. Can you imagine? Your own personal Picasso to make faxing more interesting?
What do you think? Do you like it, or is it leaving you cold? Can you imagine Madonna living here–or at least spending time here when she’s not in any of her other homes?
You can read the article with more details about her apartment at Architectural Digest.
I love the old yearbook photos of Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone. It’s amazing how much her daughter Lourdes looks like she did as a teenager, don’t you think?
Here’s Lourdes with her mom:
Madonna has three children: Lourdes (11), Rocco (7), and David (2), whose adoption from Malawi was recently approved. From what I’ve read, she’s a very strict mom who has said there would be no boys for Lourdes until she turns 18.
“Late-night TV, junk food, and mess are not tolerated in my house,” Madonna said. She doesn’t like them to watch TV at all, in fact. And if they don’t keep their toys and clothes put away, they may lose them altogether.
“My daughter has a problem picking things up in her room,” she told a British newspaper. “So if you leave your clothes on the floor, they’ll be gone when you come home.” (If I maintained this policy, I’m afraid my children would have nothing to wear by now!)
Madonna and her husband Guy Ritchie have dodged divorce rumors practically since the moment they got married (some of the most recent rumors were covered here and here). But they were spotted having dinner together in NYC earlier this week, and witnesses say they were holding hands. The singer’s rep continues to insist, “There are no plans for Madonna and Guy to divorce.”
Check out Madonna on the May 2008 cover of Vanity Fair, rockin’ 50:
- Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie’s French Chateau
- Kenny Rogers’ Italian-Style Mansion in Atlanta
- Jennifer Connelly’s Limestone Mansion in Brooklyn
- More
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Not just Picasso over her desk—-it’s hard to see, but looks like what could be a Max Beckman over the fireplace and a Pre Raphaelite like Rossetti in the dining room. Oh, to dream!!!
Do you think she actually cooks?
I knew it, I knew it. I love me some Madonna! Her apartment is awesome!! But I expected nothing less.
)
i love it. i’d take it any day.
I have to say (and I am surprised) that I like it !! I had heard she was a very strict Mum. The ones that push the envelope often are I find. I would love for her daughter or son though, to give her a dose of what she gave her Dad… I can only imagine what he went through !!!
Interesting about her bros book, I will definitely check that one out.
Have a wonderful 4th Julia, we are headed off to Newport, RI for a few, looking forward to it.
Stay safe,
Kathy
Thanks for showing us Madonna’s home. It’s lovely, but it’s a little too museum-like to have three children tumbling to and fro. (And rumors say she’s thinking of adopting another.)
You do such a good job of, not only showing us the houses, but giving some background info on the people. That takes a little more work, and I thank you for that.
I love it. It is a little “scripted” looking but photo shoots for a mgazine often are. It is too funny that she is such a strict Mom. One of the other readers mentioned this too, but the hellraisers often are the strict ones when it comes to their children.
yes, I think she probably does cook a little.
I thought the same thing, the ones who are ‘wild & crazy’ seem to be the ones who are super strict. I like the home, but then again it seemed imperial (is that the right word), or something.
I like the kitchen and bath, nd the lighting treatment in the hallway “gallery” but the rest is “eh”. Lacks natural light it seems.
Show of hands, who here thinks she has ever sent a fax, despite the Picasso?
And I hope while she is keeping Lourdes away from TV and such she is instead teaching her how to tweeze, poor dear.
It’s a very complex apartment isn’t it? Traditional, modern, a tad gothic, all American….just like her personality. Fits her to a tee.
Oh, don’t rag on poor Lourdes’ eyebrows. I’m sure Madonna will hook her up with some laser or electrolysis in due time.
I was hoping that this apt would show some of her Kahlo collection–but it must be at the other homes. Sigh. I suppose the other fabulous artwork will do.
Love the bathroom!
This is a great apartment. I think Chris did it up awhile back, and I wasn’t sure Madonna has even kept it anymore since she moved to London. And a fax? Who sends faxes anymore with e-mail and texting? I also wonder if the decor is still the same. It looks strangely stilted, except for the kitchen.The Lempicka painting is pretty wonderful too. It looks similar to one that Barbra Streisand sold at Christies some years ago. Madonna is a huge success and hugely rich, but she’s still a Mid West middle class girl who is capable of doing anything, be it mundane or fabulous. Thanks for a great post! Love your blog…
Beautiful!
Madonna is the new 50…boy am I in trouble.
I love it!
I want the bathroom *sigh*
Not my style, but it’s beautiful, as is Madonna. She is still amazing.
Happy 4th of July tomorrow!
rue
Just wanted to stop by and say have a great 4th!
Madonna’s kitchen is simple & beautiful! It amazes me how her career keeps going on and on – just like the energizer bunny!!
Karla & Karrie
Bummer… I guessed wrong… but I should’ve guessed she would want to play Frida… she used to dress up like a man and kiss girls too. I once went to a Laker game when she was in that phase of her life… she was in a full man’s suit and her girlfriend was real girlee in dress and heels and she did everything for her like a GENTLEMAN. I was in a VIP area close by her… I don’t think I ever watched the game… LOL
Surrounded by FUN people watching… hubby liked it… never talked to him or interupted his game watching…LOL
Her kids must never go there…..Happy 4th! Jen R
Yeah, that’s one of her Lempicka’s in the dining room- nice! She loves her art and has used many of them in her videos. What I love about this apartment is how totally Manhattan it is; I don’t think you could find one like that any where else. I covet the whole thing: it’s beautiful and unique, like Madonna herself.
WOW – what a kitchen – thanks for sharing!
Considering how colorful Madonna has been, her home is surprisingly traditional. It isn’t really over the top at all.
my fav is the bathroom with the clawfoot tub.
I like the rest of the apartment a lot better than the kitchen but they left off the best part – the view of Central Park!! I happen to have stumbled into the building she lives in last week while visiting someone else (I only figured out it was her building after talking to the paparazzi stalking her outside) and its a pretty unassuming building but right on the park.
Madonna is TOO STRICT! Her children have NO freedom and NO privileges! It doesn’t make sense that she hated the way she was raised, but insists on “copying” it!
You would think that most parents who hated the way they were raised would try to be better parents, but some of them turn out to be even stricter and Madonna is” just plain mean”!
It is natural to be admiring her Picasso while faxing – there seems to be nothing else interesting in her office design. The positive thing about it is its calmness.
Oh, come on, Lisa (comment 25), “Madonna is ‘just plain mean’!”???
I’ve seen her kids and they look immensely happy and smart.
Madonna doesn’t let them watch TV. So what?
She was not allowed to watch TV when she was a child. TV is not part of her life, it is a logical thing not letting her kids watch TV.
I don’t watch TV and wouldn’t let my kids watch the telly either.
Does that make us “mean” parents?
There are other types of entertainment such as books, music, and games.
Oh my, museum like for sure. Also quite cold which, of course, makes it just like her.
Wow, I am impressed. Not sure if she spends much time there. I am so happy she is a regular mum, and she does a woderful job. And I am also nearly 50 and love it, 50 is so the new 30. Its a wonderful age, you can get away with so much. She is Amazing, Madonna, if you happen to read this, you rock girlfriend. Cheers Debra in Australia.
What?
Are you for real?
Did Madonna give her dad a hard time?
How?
As far as we are concerned, she was a Straight-A student (the way he wanted), she didn’t watch TV (the way he wanted), she went to Religous School (the way he wanted), so, if you are talking about her carreer, mmm… then I would have to say you are a little too stupid.
In your adult life, do you do whatever your parents want you to do?
Think before you speak….
Does anyone know the artist of the painting in her living room?
Thanks
I really enjoyed this post! Great combination of contemporary urban décor! And, there is no why you can refer to it as cold! All color tones compliment each other all through the apartment to take the stress off and make cozy corner in megalopolis like New York…
What can i say, she definitely has a good taste.
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I love stars adopting children. She has a wonderful looking home and I do have to say that she is strict. But it’s her home, her rules. Thanks for posting this one Julie.
I love your blog. I just read that Madonna announced she is giving music a rest, saying she doesn’t have the “time or energy” to sing. Interesting! What do you think about that?
I’m all for rules for children, maybe sometimes even a bit strict, like no make up at 10 or 11 or whatever age girls these days try to start looking and acting adult, but no boys, dates, at all, until 18?
No strict, more like psychotic.