The American singer, Usher Raymond is a sensation in the music industry. He is well-known not just for his contribution to the music industry, but also for his keen interest in real estate. The Grammy award-winning superstar has owned several luxurious mansions across America. List of Usher houses includes his beloved childhood dream mansion in Roswell, Georgia, and a modern villa near Mercedes Benz stadium also in Georgia. He also owned a Spanish-style estate on Sunset Strip, Hollywood

Although he has sold all three estates in the past couple of years, the Usher house he loved the most was the one in Alpharetta, Georgia mansion. This article will look at the Usher house from an architect’s perspective. 

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Usher House in Rosewell, Georgia_© American Luxury

The house is located in a gated golf community that goes by the name Country Club of the South. It is a customized three-story mansion with an area of 10,000 sq. ft. The house was originally built in 1988 but has been extensively remodelled since then. It houses seven bedrooms and full baths, large open-plan living, dining, and kitchen spaces, along with numerous other specific rooms. The amenities in the house are extensive, from a personalized sauna room to a climate-controlled treehouse the house is full of surprises.  

Usher fell in love with the house the moment he saw it when he was merely 13 years of age. He then decided to own a house like this once he grows old. His early success in his career enabled him to buy the same house from LA Reid. With all the facts established, here are a few key aspects of the house from an architect’s perspective. 

1. It is Open and Spacious | Usher House

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Open and spacious Interiors_© American Luxury

The Usher House is spacious and follows the open plan concept. Every space is articulated such that it feels open and clutter-free. The open feel of the house is not just limited to the common spaces but also extends into the private spaces of bedrooms and bathrooms. Larger room sizes, huge ceiling heights, and ample light flooding in are factors that contribute to making the space look spacious. 

2. The House is an Eclectic Blend

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Eclectic Interiors of Usher House_© American Luxury

The Usher house is a mixed bag of different styles and elements, making it eclectic. Contemporary design elements with bohemian touches are seen in the great room. A lot of other parts of the house have a similar language. A few of them are modern, others are rustic or traditional. The mix of styles is what makes this house eclectic. 

3. Old-world Country Charm with Contemporary Comfort | Usher House

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Old and Cotemporary Combined_© American Luxury

The house seems to be a typical traditional country home from the outside. This language changes entirely once one is inside the house. The interior seems to be far more contemporary and modern. The country club home interior seems far more comfortable, approachable, and less rigid. The traditional exterior and the relaxed interior combined to create a timeless charming home. 

4. Every Room has its own Story

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Master suite_© American Luxury

In the Usher house, every room has a different story. It is differently stylized to provide comfort and represent the style of individuals inhabiting the space. When one space looks traditional, the next looks like a contemporary space that is uniquely stylized. Every element has its charm and is different from the others, yet the space looks holistic and collected.  

5. It speaks for Everyone’s Needs | Usher House

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Amenities in the Usher house_© American Luxury

The house is an assortment of every user’s needs. The Usher house has everything the family could want in their homes. For example, the lower floor houses the yoga room, the music room, a relaxed seating area, a personalized multi-person sauna, and many more such amenities. There is also a personal dance studio and a training room in the house, a large patio space with a pool, relaxed seating, and a treehouse for the kids. 

6. Everything is Custom-made

Collected Look_© American Luxury
Collected Look_© American Luxury

At the Usher house, all the elements are custom-made to suit the space they inhabit. The extensive remodelling of the home over the years has curated a home that looks unique. The rich mahogany flooring in the living room and the light grey-toned wooden staircase create a lively ambience. None of the spaces follows a typical style guide, which is personalized, custom-made, and collected spaces. 

7. The Spaces are Airy and Well-Lit 

Airy and lit spaces_© American Luxury
Airy and lit spaces_© American Luxury

Ample light floods into the space through the numerous large windows on all facades. These also facilitate ventilation throughout the day. It makes the interiors seem light and airy. The open feel makes it look spacious. 

8. The House embraces a Rustic Vibe | Usher House

Rustic Vibe of Usher house_© American Luxury
Rustic Vibe of Usher house_© American Luxury

In several instances, the Usher house embraces a rustic aesthetic. The dark wood flooring, rough textured furniture pieces, and distressed elements make the space look rustic. The dated look of the wooden furniture at most places in the house adds a vintage rustic charm to the space.

9. It is filled with Quirky Elements

Climate controlled treehouse_© American Luxury
Climate controlled treehouse_© American Luxury

The Usher house is full of quirky surprises. The quirkiest of them all has to be this climate-controlled treehouse that sits along the backyard of the home. Other quirky elements include a vibrant blue-hued kids’ playroom and a large multi-person sauna with a wine cellar-like entrance. Another quirky aspect of the house is how it doesn’t shy away from switching themes between rooms. Usher’s mother’s room for instance is richly adorned in traditional country home style, whereas the master suite is simple and contemporary. 

10. Landscape as an extension  | Usher House

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Structured Landscape_© American Luxury

The vast landscape comprising the front yard and backyard of the home is elegantly stylized as an extension of the home. The front keeps up with the charming country vibe, whereas the backyard houses diverse amenities. Every space is designed to the minutest details to create functional and alluring spaces. 

Usher House_© American Luxury

Final Thoughts

The Usher house is an exemplary example of a retrofitted country home that perfectly serves modern functional needs. The grand mansion is no less than a mini-world of its own with every single amenity the users could need. Its dated look has an old-world charm whereas the addition of quirky elements and its collected aesthetic makes a rich eclectic blend. 

References:

  • (2020) YouTube. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-WEvSIa2go (Accessed: October 3, 2022). 
  • David, M. (2019) Usher drops Georgia Mansion at Deep Discount, DIRT. DIRT. Available at: https://www.dirt.com/entertainers/musicians/usher-alpharetta-mansion-1202894849/ (Accessed: October 2, 2022). 
  • IndyFan032589 (2018) Usher’s house in Alpharetta, GA (google maps) (#3), Virtual Globetrotting. Available at: https://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/ushers-house-2/view/google/ (Accessed: October 3, 2022). 
  • Erdman, S.L. (2018) Usher sells metro Atlanta mansion with climate-controlled Treehouse, yoga studio for $1.5m, WSB. WSB-TV Channel 2 – Atlanta. Available at: https://www.wsbtv.com/news/trending-now/usher-sells-metro-atlanta-mansion-with-climatecontrolled-treehouse-yoga-studio-for-15m/802134620/ (Accessed: October 2, 2022). 
  • Usher sells the first mansion he fell in love with, for $1.5m – realtor.com (no date). Available at: https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/usher-sells-first-mansion/ (Accessed: October 3, 2022). 
Author

Namita Dhawan is an architect and a writer. She is extremely enthusiastic about architecture, design, history, research, and writing. She believes architecture is about power, it can provoke thoughts, and emotions, and control the actions of the users subtly.