Inside the Homes of 7 Oscar Winners

Since its inception, AD has been invited inside the greatest Hollywood homes—here are a few of our favorites, where you just might find a little gold man

By Rachel Davies

February 27, 2023

Image may contain Living Room Indoors Room Furniture Couch Human Person Interior Design Home Decor and Table

It should come as no surprise that a peek through the AD archives can land you a glimpse at the homes of several Oscar winners—after all, AD’s been touring the homes of celebrities practically since its inception in 1920. In preparation for this year’s Academy Awards ceremony on March 12, we’ve selected some of our very favorite homes owned by Oscar-winning performers (and even one EGOT winner). Though he doesn’t qualify as an Oscar winner, we’d be remiss to neglect mentioning that AD has even toured the former home of Oscar statuette designer Cedric Gibbons himself.

Elton John

The upstairs living area “became an opportunity not only to build an environment to showcase Elton’s glassware, but to float a space over the ‘gathering hall,’ as we call the dining area,” explained Dilger.

Photo: Simon Brown

AD has toured several of Elton John’s homes through the years, and while all of the Rocket Man’s homes are perfectly pretty, our very favorite has to be his Atlanta space designed by Fred Dilger and Stan Topol. We’re particularly into this appropriately glitzy mirror-backed lounge space that showcases John’s array of Baccarat and Lalique crystal and vintage Italian glass.

Diane Keaton

“Diane prepared for this as for a film” said Shadley, “collecting ideas in a binder that we constantly referred to.”

Photo: Tim Street-Porter

“She’s not afraid,” designer Stephen Shadley said of Keaton, who is also a producer and a director. “She doesn’t change things at whim, but if something isn’t working, she’s brave enough to say, ‘Let’s do another take.’” The pair placed a Monterey club chair in the small sitting room off the stair hall.

Photo: Tim Street-Porter

As Diane Keaton and her designer Stephen Shadley acquainted themselves with the actress’s home, a 1927 Spanish Colonial Revival in Bel Air, they were aware it would take some serious finessing. The 1977 Best Actress winner (for Annie Hall) was prepared to put in some major elbow grease, and in the end all of that mood boarding, envisioning, and consideration paid off. The home, which AD toured in 2005, was packed with personality and color while still holding true to its Spanish Colonial Revival roots.

Angela Lansbury

The actress, who loved to cook, hosted company in the kitchen while she whipped up modest feasts of vegetables from her garden, or a freshly caught fish.

Photo: Derry Moore

“My entire inspiration came from farm cottages—every detail and proportion. Every room is traditionally Irish, except for the size of the main room,” said Pearce.

Photo: Derry Moore

Though she’s technically an honorary Oscar winner, we had to include the late Angela Lansbury. The Murder, She Wrote star built her Irish farmhouse from the ground up in the early 1990s with her friend Stephen Pearce, a potter who had built his own home just 15 minutes away from the land her house would be built on. AD toured the spare but undeniably cozy home in 2007 and, 16 years later, the design of the space has proven itself to be as timeless as intended.

George Clooney

In Clooney’s living room, a slipcovered sofa and armchairs and a pair of stools by Casamidy were grouped around a cocktail table by SL Westwood Design; the Alison Berger–designed surveyor’s lamp is from Holly Hunt, the striped throw pillows are made of a Ralph Lauren Home fabric, the curtains are of a Holly Hunt linen, and the carpet is by Lawrence of La Brea.

Photo: Björn Wallander

With their tequila brand Casamigos, Rande Gerber and George Clooney made their forever friendship known to the world, but AD readers know it goes even deeper than that. In 2013 we toured the property Cindy Crawford, Rande Gerber, and George Clooney shared in Mexico, to which they gave the same name as the tequila brand. “There’s nothing more depressing than being in a big old house by yourself,” the two-time Oscar winner told AD. “You want it filled with friends and family because that’s what makes a home.”

Gwyneth Paltrow

Paltrow, wearing a Chanel Dress and jewelry by Foundrae, sits on a custom Charles Zana sofa through The Invisible Collection. Painting by Ed Ruscha, wire sculpture by D’lisa Creager.

Photo: Yoshihiro Makino; Styling: Colin King; Art: Ed Ruscha, D'lisa Creager

The entryway at Paltrow’s Montecito home.

Photo: Yoshihiro Makino; Styling: Colin King

Gwyneth Paltrow’s acting chops may have earned her an Oscar back in 1999, but these days she’s known just as widely for her prowess as the business woman behind the lifestyle brand Goop. Much like her personal brand, the Montecito home that AD toured is a strikingly earthy iteration of glamour, sophisticated but not at all concerned with glitz.

Mark Ronson

A painting by Derrick Adams, from the artist’s Culture Club series, hangs behind the couch. The black trim molding is original to the house, as are the decorative tiles along the stairs. In the corner hangs an “appropriately disturbing” print from the Chapman brothers (Jake and Dino Chapman), English artists whose work Ronson really enjoys.

Photo: Sam Frost

Only natural for a DJ and musician who’s won seven Grammy awards, a VMA, and yes, an Oscar, Mark Ronson’s former Los Feliz home was the epitome of Hollywood glamour. Carpeted walls, a hidden bar, and a two-story guesthouse were among the most alluring details about the pad that Mandolyna Theodoracopulos designed.

Viola Davis

Davis (wearing a Tory Burch dress and Misho earrings) and Tennon in the garden. Fashion styling by Elizabeth Stewart.

Photo: Frank Frances; Styling: Amy Chin

The dining room has a Visual Comfort chandelier, clients’ own chairs covered in Larsen and Mariaflora (through Quintus) fabrics, and a custom cherry table designed by Tennon.