16-04-2025
Lenny Kravitz Has A Whole Paris Mansion Dedicated To His Late Mother, And That's The Type Of Lavish Spending I Can Get Behind
Lenny Kravitz just proved why being a self-proclaimed "momma's boy" is sometimes a good thing.
Lenny is a lot of things — a creative, a songwriter, a musician, a producer, an actor — but I believe one of his proudest titles is a family man. Most people know about the strong bond Lenny shares with his daughter and only child, Zoë Kravitz, but he's also still the best of friends with his ex-wife and Zoë's mom, Lisa Bonet.
But this high regard he holds for family didn't start with the one he created for himself. No, this connection was deeply rooted in him from the time he was born, and it all started with his mother, actor Roxie Roker.
Instagram: @lennykravitz
And if that last name sounds familiar, it's because beloved weatherman Al Roker is her cousin.
Roxie was widely known for portraying Helen Willis on the hit CBS sitcom The Jeffersons, which ran from 1975–1985. She guest-starred on a string of shows and was even nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her work as Mattie Williams in the Broadway play The River Niger.
Roxie was married to television producer Sy Kravitz in 1962 until they divorced in 1985. Lenny is their only child. Unfortunately, Roxie died in 1995 at the age of 66 after a battle with breast cancer.
The "I Believe in Love Again" singer has always been vocal about the love he had for his mother and how much he cherished their connection. He likes to find ways to honor her, so when he gave a recent house tour for Architectural Digest, I knew we were in for a real treat.
Architectural Digest /
And if you're familiar with his previous AD episode on his beautiful Brazilian compound (which has more than 12 million views), then you already know Lenny takes great pride in the pieces he chooses for his homes and the unique details he adds to them.
For their latest Open Door episode, Lenny invited fans to explore Parisian living with his French regal mansion that once belonged to Countess Anne d'Ornano, the widowed former mayor of Deauville. He transformed it into a love letter to his mom and a home for creativity. Paris has always felt like a home away from home, so picking the location was a no-brainer for the artist.
"This place is called Hôtel de Roxie. It's named after my mother, because it was her dream to come live in Paris. She wanted to retire after doing 11 seasons on The Jeffersons, and she never got to do it."
Architectural Digest /
"So, I'm doing it for both of us. This place is a real gift. I've been in this house for 22 years now, but I've been in Paris my whole career. When my first album, Let Love Rule, came out in '89, they weren't quite sure how to market me in America because I didn't fit in a box, so they sent me to Paris. It's my favorite city in the world."
The 36-year-old star opened up about how the city has inspired him in a multitude of ways, culturally and through various mediums like music, art, fashion, cuisine, and more. He also revealed that his humble abode is filled with things that represent himself, "his ancestors, Black history, American history, and African history."
And while the entire home is a way to honor his mom, he has a special room dedicated specifically to her. "This is the petit salon; it's called the Roxie Room, and it's dedicated to my mother. She was the love of my life. I was a momma's boy."
Architectural Digest /
"I found a bunch of photos that my father had taken of my mother in the late '60s and got them framed by the same framer that does a lot of framing for the Louvre. I just wanted to have a room where I was surrounded by her image."
"This is my favorite photograph of my mother. It's just a moment. I love the composition, the hat, the look on her face."
Architectural Digest /
As he went from room to room, it became very clear just how much influence his mother had had on his life and the ways he was able to reflect that back into the interior design.
Vinnie Zuffante / Getty Images
Like his library, which was filled with several of her old books...
...or the grand salon, which featured a stunning chandelier that was crafted by Lenny's conceptual creative studio, Kravitz Design, and named after his mother.
What a gorgeous way to pay homage to your mom! I'm genuinely in awe of his taste. But it's Lenny, so I wouldn't expect anything else.
River Callaway / WWD via Getty Images
And fans were loving it too:
