Cher's l.a. sanctuary: a glimpse inside the icon's evolving style

At 80, Cher remains an enigma, a force of nature whose homes reflect a life lived on her own terms. A fresh look back at Architectural Digest’s 2010 tour of her Los Angeles duplex, designed by the ever-stylish Martyn Lawrence-Bullard, offers a fascinating window into the singer-actress’s design philosophy – and a peek at the spiritual depths that inform it.

A buddhist's boudoir: finding peace above the city

Cher, famously self-deprecating (“I am a Buddhist who should always be in after-school detention”), doesn’t shy away from contradictions. Her sprawling Los Angeles duplex, perched high above the city, is a testament to this. It’s a space that marries Eastern spirituality with a decidedly glamorous aesthetic, a reflection of a woman who has consistently defied categorization. As she muses, “My houses are passions.” And this one, a 4,000-square-foot sanctuary, is no exception.

Lawrence-Bullard, tasked with creating “something ethnic, spicy and romantic,” completely reimagined the space. He eliminated the original 12 rooms, opting for two loft-like open floors connected by a spiral staircase. Cher’s desire for a single, expansive bedroom – a throwback to her early days with Sonny Bono – became the centerpiece. The result? A master suite featuring an antique Indian-paneled platform bed facing panoramic views stretching from Malibu to Hollywood. It’s a boudoir so opulent, Lawrence-Bullard himself describes it as “very Cleopatra.”

The details are what truly elevate the space. A 19th-century stone tub, enveloped by gauze curtains embroidered with gold Indian symbols, is activated with the touch of a button. A dressing room, cleverly concealed behind a mirrored façade from a Jaipur palace, adds to the exotic allure. “Cher loves all things exotic,” Lawrence-Bullard notes with a smile, hinting at the meticulous curation that defines her aesthetic.

From opium beds to zen panels: a design dialogue

Beyond the master suite, the main living space, dubbed Cher’s “parlor,” exudes a serene, almost ethereal quality. Backlit eglomise panels depicting Indian deities cast a flattering glow, while hand-carved latticework screens discreetly conceal a state-of-the-art kitchen. A 16th-century Chinese opium bed, repurposed as a guest room and “sexy little TV nook,” adds a touch of playful decadence.

Lawrence-Bullard’s design choices were heavily influenced by Cher’s own exacting standards. “She didn’t want color—we used creams, whites, and ivories juxtaposed with ebony,” he explains. But Cher, it turns out, is far from a passive client. “If Cher hadn’t been a singer,” Lawrence-Bullard observes, “she definitely could’ve been a decorator. She was very involved in the design.” The pair would often collaborate, sketching color samples together, a testament to their shared artistic vision.

“Martyn can verbalize what I want when I see it,” Cher explains. “In the end, our sensibilities are on the same page because he’s an artist.” And it’s this collaborative spirit that has resulted in a home that feels both deeply personal and undeniably chic.

But perhaps the most poignant aspect of Cher’s Los Angeles sanctuary isn’t its lavish décor or its breathtaking views. It’s the refuge it provides from the relentless glare of the paparazzi. “They’ve become so egregious,” she admits, “which is why my homes, and now this among them, have become so very important. In a word, they are my sanctuaries.”