Lionel Richie at Home

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  "The biggest compliment you can give me," singer-songwriter Lionel Richie says of his Beverly Hills home, "is to walk into any of these rooms and say, 'I can stay here for a while.'"

  Mary E. Nichols

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  The façade of the Italian Renaissance Revival house, designed in 1929 by architects Harry Koerner and William J. Gage for Carrie Guggenheim. Architect Robert Attree and designers Peter Schifando and J. Jonathan Joseph updated it for Richie.

  Mary E. Nichols

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  The molded-and-painted-plaster ceiling sets the tone in the living room. A pair of 17th-century Italian columns flank the fireplace. On the mantel is an inlaid-marble fragment from a Sicilian church. Schifando custom-designed the pelmets and the onyx-topped table. Janet Yonaty drapery tiebacks.

  Mary E. Nichols

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  "We tried to respect the architecture and provide an environment to suit an accomplished celebrity," Schifando says of the décor.
  
  Elsewhere in the living room, an 18th-century embroidered wall hanging serves as an elegant backdrop to the custom amboyna piano. The textured-silk-upholstered furniture adds lushness. Richie's collection of Charles X opaline boxes adorns a low table.

  Mary E. Nichols

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  The dining room is distinguished by its original carved-wood-and-plaster ceiling. A suite of 18th-century mahogany chairs surrounds a walnut refectory table. The centerpiece is a silver-and-black-lacquer plateau that once belonged to comedian and actor Danny Thomas; on it rests a Chinese stone horse. African sculptures are on and above an inlaid-tortoiseshell chest that stands on the limestone mantel.

  Mary E. Nichols

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  Richie's many awards include five Grammys, 16 American Music Awards and the 1986 Oscar for Best Original Song; a selection of them is displayed on the oak shelving in the library. The seating area is anchored by a sofa covered in a cut velvet. Flanking it are a pair of Italian Rococo painted and gilded chairs. A specimen-marble-topped low table with an iron base is at center.

  Mary E. Nichols

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  The sunroom. The piano, which Richie still uses, is the one on which he composed several of his hits with The Commodores. A bronze bust of Malcolm X is at left. The painting is by Richie's longtime friend Miles Davis.

  Mary E. Nichols

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  The rose garden, on the south side of the residence. "I see a home as the total piece of property--there must be a garden and a view of it," Richie says.

  Mary E. Nichols

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  The master bedroom overlooks the rose garden. Painted and gilded Italian Renaissancestyle bed from Ebanista.

  Mary E. Nichols

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  The master bath was designed by Richie's former wife Diane Richie and designer Karen Carsello. With its large size, oak floor, original molding and limestone fireplace, the space has the feel of a living room. The mahogany-finished tub case enhances the ambience. "If I can't find a lyric, I walk to the end of the garden and say, 'OK, God, they're expecting me to be famous; I have things being delivered for the house tomorrow; I need a second verse,'" Richie says.

  Mary E. Nichols