Inside Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz's Incredible $21M Razor House
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Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz live like Tony Stark. And they paid quite a bit to do so.
The multiple Grammy Award-winning singer and her influential hip hop producer husband nabbed this astonishing house in late September, plunking down $20.8 million for the glass-and-concrete house perched on a cliff in La Jolla, California. Rumor has it that the Razor House — so named because of its location at Razor Point — inspired the Stark Mansion, the fictional house featured “Iron Man 3.”
Keys certainly loves it. Here is she is dancing by the home’s cutting edge pool, via her Instagram.
Want to see more reasons why Beatz and Keys made this place their new home? Read on.
Cliffside Living
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The cantilevered house was precariously built on a bluff overlooking walking trails and the Pacific Ocean beyond. Construction was complicated, as construction equipment and materials had to be carefully moved to the cliff side of the property, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The property has six bedrooms and six-and-a half-bathrooms, and totals 11,545 square feet of living space.
The ‘Real’ Stark Mansion
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In “Iron Man 3,” the Stark Mansion’s exterior is CGI, and the interior was a set. The exterior is more like the Enterprise from “Star Trek,” but you can see the cliffside inspiration in this shot. Also similar are the white concrete walls and the floor-to-ceiling windows. Even more similarities can be found in this behind-the-scenes footage from the 2013 film.
The Courtyard
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Tech executive Donald Burns purchased the house was in 2011 for $14.1 million, but the house wasn’t finished because the original owner went bankrupt. According to the Wall Street Journal, Burns spend another three years and an undisclosed but “substantial” amount of money to finish the project.
The Courtyard, Continued
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If Iron Man, Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys all collaborated on a single, what would it sound like? Would Tony Stark be the lead vocals? Because Robert Downey Jr. can actually sing. Whatever this fantasy song might sound like, talks about it would probably begin here, in this incredible courtyard.
The Courtyard, Continued
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The house is an awe-inspiring combination of curves and glass.
The Courtyard, Continued
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You can see almost everywhere in the house from the courtyard, thanks to the towering all-glass walls.
The Pool
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The infinity pool seems to sharply drop off a cliff, creating a startling appearance. Here’s Swizz Beatz rocking out with a cigar and a glass of wine in this very pool.
Sharp Looks
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While the Razor House is named after Razor Point, it’s also designed with some edge.
Sharp Looks, Continued
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It’s even more apparent from this overhead shot. Speaking with the San Diego Union-Tribune, architect Wallace Cunningham said, “It’s in the realm of art. It’s not really a house, it’s not real estate. It’s form and light and shadow and capturing views, framing the views like you’d frame a painting. Every piece of it we made. We didn’t open a book and say, ‘Let’s take that doorknob.’”
Sharp Looks, Continued
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The tiered columns, which rise from the first story to the second, give a sweeping sense of elevation. They also cast shadows as the sun sinks and rises.
The Floating Staircase
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Inside, the glass throws wavy light patterns throughout the entire house, creating an underwater-like look.
The Pool Room
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You’ve never seen a pool room quite like this. The translucent pool table fits in well with the all-glass walls, while the dark hardwood flooring and built-in bookshelves provide a sense of stately elegance.
The Bar
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Of course, this house wouldn’t be complete without a huge bar. There are several wine racks on the wall opposite the glass and an island bar. There’s a hidden feature, too.
The Bar, Continued
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Beatz and Keys can surprise their guests with this automatic bar, which can blend into its surroundings when closed.
The Living Area
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You can see the ocean from anywhere in the house. This top-floor living area provides some striking views.
The Living Area, Continued
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The polished concrete resembles white marble more than concrete. The shapes and fabrics here are round and soft, contrasting with the home’s harsh-looking exterior.
The Kitchen
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The kitchen takes on an earthy tone with its seamless wood cabinets. There are two kitchens; this is the main one. The other is a restaurant-grade service kitchen (no pictures available, unfortunately).
The Kitchen, Continued
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Here’s a closer look at the island and a peek at the barbecue station outside. However, it’s not the same house that Keys announced to her children that she was going to host the 2019 Grammys (they were unimpressed). Keys is also set to host the Grammys in 2020.
The Bathrooms
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Down a long hallway is the home’s master bathroom.
The Bathrooms, Continued
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A dip in this oval bathtub, with those views, must be heavenly.
The Bathrooms, Continued
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All of the sinks are custom-made and solid granite.
The Bathrooms, Continued
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The home has six and a half bathrooms, and all of them are stunning. Perhaps Keys made this Instagram skit in one of them. In the video, she argues with her 2019 Grammy-host self about what she’s going to do for the 2020 Grammys.
The Bathrooms, Continued
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The towels are branded! Now you’ll never wonder which multi-million dollar home you’re currently living in.
The Bedrooms
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With six total bedrooms on this property — four in the main house and two in the 1,300-square-foot detached guest house — there are many places to crash, and each one is just as awe-inspiring as the last.
The Bedrooms, Continued
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Keys and Beatz got a pretty good deal on the home. It originally went up for sale for $30 million in August 2018, but couldn’t attract a buyer. After nearly a year on the market, the Razor House dropped to $25 million. Two months later, the celebrity power couple purchased it for $20.8 million.
The Bedrooms, Continued
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The canyon below attracts hang gliders, as can be seen here through this bedroom window. Hope the paparazzi don’t get any ideas.
The Bedrooms, Continued
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This curved bedroom features automatic, remote-controlled, floor-to-ceiling drapes for when you hit the hidden bar a bit too much the night before.
The Bedrooms, Continued
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One caveat about this house: unless the curtains are drawn, don’t expect much privacy.
The Theater
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The home theater is nestled underground, with three circular tiers and acoustically treated walls.
The Garage
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The curved garage is 35 feet below the ground and holds up to five cars. The Stark Mansion has a practically identical garage, which can be seen as he flies through it in his Iron Man suit.
The Rooftop Deck
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The rooftop isn’t just a rooftop, of course. It’s a party pad with a hot tub, fire pit and lots of places to lounge.
The Rooftop Deck, Continued
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There are tanning chairs and a barbecue fire pit as well.
Still Standing
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Unlike Iron Man’s mansion (and Iron Man), this house is still standing tall.