Serena Williams House: 10 Facts through Architect’s Lens

Serena Williams is an American tennis player who was born in Saginaw, Michigan, on September 26, 1981. Starting at age 14, Serena has made history in the world of tennis. She amassed more Grand Slam singles titles (23) than any other male or female player throughout the open period. 

“The success of every woman should be the inspiration to another. We should raise each other up. Make sure you’re very courageous: be strong, be extremely kind, and above all be humble” She strongly believes in this, and her self-belief is what makes Serena Williams so admirable. The revolutionary never fails to dazzle, both on and off the court, whether she is helping build schools in Jamaica, speaking out in support of the Black Lives Matter cause or inspiring women all over the world.

In addition to her impressive resume and dominance in her sport, the Queen of the Court has an impressive real estate portfolio. Serena Williams House are in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles and a stunning retreat in Palm Beach Gardens, South Florida. She has evolved away from tennis to spend more time at home in Florida with her husband Alexis Ohanian and daughter Olympia. 

The Miami mansion | Serena Williams House

The well-known tennis player opened the doors to her new home north of Miami, which was remodelled into her dream home in a span of a little over 3 years by her sister, the well-known tennis player Venus Williams. The tennis star was moving out of the house she shared with her sister and fellow tennis winner, Venus, after more than 20 years, to establish roots in her primary residence. Serena enlisted V starr, the design firm Venus founded in 2022, to completely transform and modernize her 14,500 sq. ft. Spanish-style home. 

Serena’s vision as any other client was Venus’ priority, she claims. The minimal and modern designed hotels Serena stayed at while travelling the world served as inspiration. Serena’s future family aspirations were an integral part of the design plans all along. Venus set out to give Serena the house of her dreams– and we’d say she succeeded. Let’s take a look at this Spanish Mediterranean-style home, which positively oozes beauty, grace, and charm.

The lush property

Set in a verdant, sprawling waterfront property, with breathtaking views in a prestigious neighbourhood north of Miami, it is only a short drive from Venus and her parents. The luxurious Florida home is a blend of modern, straight lines, warm woods, and high-end fixtures that capture her calm yet assertive personality. The design offers intimacy and a connection with its natural surroundings. The home’s colour scheme is arranged in a similarly modern manner, with black frames and white walls creating a beautiful monochromatic impression. The interiors have natural hardwood flooring throughout, which brings a feeling of unity to the expansive area and highlights the more colourful features. Williams built a simple yet cosy family home by fusing her passion for modern art and technology. 

The outdoor landscape | Serena Williams House

A premium outdoor space embraces Florida’s topography. The home easily transitions from interior to outdoor spaces, and when the sky begins to look a little gloomy, Serena and her guests can relax on the enclosed patio. The patio is styled similarly to the rest of the house, with fine deck furniture in greys and light woods. The estate has a lot of green space and a beautiful infinity pool with a raised spa in the middle that is decorated in deep blue hues. Williams can sunbathe on deep loungers while swimming in the pool, and a stone terrace with sharp edges is the perfect place to unwind after a long day on the court.

William’s own art gallery

The home embraces an open-plan sensibility, which is evident from the moment Williams opens her front door in her Architectural Digest home tour. The property’s architecture was designed using straight lines to create an interior with lofty ceilings and towering windows. V Starr created a living room unlike any other; instead of a formal seating area and chairs, it has colourful art pieces on display that give the impression of an art gallery. It is Williams’ favourite room in the house, and she enjoys being surrounded by art. As one walks through the property, the spaces merge seamlessly, with the art gallery becoming the library becoming the music space. With 28-foot floor-to-ceiling windows and expansive white walls, it’s the ideal setting for works from Serena’s personal collection, which includes works by sculptor Leonard Drew, painter Radcliffe Bailey, and KAWS. Minimal design elements, such as the sleek, recessed fireplace that is functional, while serving as a focal point, also become an artistic statement.

Display of her tennis career | Serena Williams House

The home also has a private trophy room with a simple and stylish two separate etagere in black-finished framing that supports transparent glass and metal shelves, opposite to each other against plain white walls, allowing her trophies to be the focus. This room houses some of her firsts from the US Open, French Open, Australian Open, Wimbledon, and many other tournaments, as well as some cool pieces that mean a lot to her, such as a Wheaties box. Her office is the next private room, which is a cosy, warm space with dark furniture and white walls with posters from her magazine shoots. Because she doesn’t work much at home, she needed a small office space to attend all the important meetings.

Super functional entertainment area

A karaoke room is located right next to the gallery, behind a secret doorway disguised as a bookshelf. Serena wanted many details on the walls, such as a 3D wallpaper with texture that can be felt at the Karaoke room’s entrance. This room functions as a media room, bar, and club room all in one, and it has a vibrant, active space full of colour and prints. It has its own stage where Williams and her daughter Olympia sing karaoke and chairs imported from Europe that twist 360 degrees and fully recline, making them more functional. The room is finished with a popcorn machine, wine bottles on display, a plush aquamarine velvet banquette, and foliage framing a neon sign spelling sérénade.

A kitchen in bold golds

William’s Private chef collaborated on the design of her kitchen, which seamlessly combines functionality and luxury. Pendant lights hang above a trapezoidal table with sleek wall ovens, a cooktop, and quartz counters that are balanced by warm furniture and flooring, as seen in the image. It maintains the clean neutral colour scheme with a white centre island and chairs nestled against darker wooden furniture. The hardwood flooring that runs throughout the rest of the house adds to the feeling of comfort and homeliness in the space. From the backsplash to the faucet spouts, gold is used throughout the kitchen to create a sense of luxury and excitement.

Olympia’s happy space | Serena Williams House

Williams and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, designed an opulent room for Olympia, their daughter. Ohanian took the lead, while Williams oversaw the rest of the property’s design decisions. They made sure there was space for art in the bedroom, with a blown-glass chandelier by artist Josh Fradis. The highlight of the room, however, is Olympia’s pink custom-designed castle bed with a literal built-in slide.

An aesthetic space in william’s room

Williams’ walk-in closet, spans 620 square feet and is designed to look like a high-end retail space, as seen on V Starr. To avoid the space feeling anonymous and clinical, Serena and Venus avoided sterile whites and instead chose welcoming wooden tones for the drawers, shelves, and floors. They also added stylish gold pulls and subtle lighting. Williams has rows and rows and rows of heels, flats, sandals, and so on, all organised by colour, with her purses on top stored in a white cabinetry.

A bathroom not less than a fantasy

Her bathroom is a vision in whites and metallic tones, a work of pure elegance. The floor is tiled in a diamond pattern that transitions to larger squares in the bathing area. A freestanding white tub with gold accents has two shower heads on opposite walls. Widescreen ventilators let in light while allowing hints of greenery to peek through. A white and grey marble wall with gold staining on the top edges completes the bathing area. The other bathing area, as seen on V Starr’s website, is diametrically opposed to the previous one. With a window and stone cladding on one of the walls, this room is kept dark throughout. The large rock in its natural form in the shower is the focal point of the room. The dark walls and silver fixtures are simple and functional.

The other interesting spaces in the house | Serena Williams House

The house includes a sauna-equipped gym, heated floors in the bathrooms, a wine cellar, expansive terraces, and the outdoor space includes an infinity pool with submerged chaise lounges. The large infinity-edge pool with spectacular views of the waterfront is the highlight of living here. Swimming is an indulgence at any time of day but imagine how spectacular it is at sunrise or sunset with a large outdoor deck overlooking. The only thing missing from the property is a tennis court. When at home, Serena wants to be able to sit still and do nothing, as well as separate home from work.

References

1. Books

Citations for books: None

2. Articles

Citations for Journals: None

3. Online sources

Citations for websites: 

1. Nast, C. (2021). Step Inside Serena Williams’ Striking Florida Home. [online] Architectural Digest. Available at: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/step-inside-serena-williams-striking-florida-home.
2. ‌WebTeam (2021). | Hommés Studio | Modern Interior Design. [online] hommes.studio. Available at: https://hommes.studio/journal/serena-williams-new-florida-home/ [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].
3. Peoplemag. (n.d.). See Inside Serena Williams’s Glamorous Florida Mansion (with a Gallery and Secret Karaoke Room!). [online] Available at: https://people.com/home/see-inside-serena-williamss-luxurious-florida-home-which-she-designed-with-sister-venus/ [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].
4. HELLO! (2022). Serena Williams’ bespoke Miami mansion where she’ll spend retirement – tour. [online] Available at: https://www.hellomagazine.com/homes/20220810147800/serena-williams-home-miami-family-photos/ [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].
5. Pinterest. (n.d.). Step Inside Serena Williams’ Striking Florida Home | Serena williams house, Florida home, House design. [online] Available at: https://in.pinterest.com/pin/365636063503405685/ [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].
6. House Beautiful. (2021). Serena Williams’s Florida Home Has an Art Gallery Instead of a Living Room. [online] Available at: https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/a35421732/serena-williams-home-living-room-art-gallery/ [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].
7. V Starr Interiors. (n.d.). Interior Design Firm | Hospitality, Multifamily, Luxury Residential | South Florida & Palm Beach. [online] Available at: https://www.vstarr.com/ [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].
8. Images/visual mediums

Citations for images/photographs – Print or Online: Serena Williams House

1. Jimmie48 (2022). Serena Williams, contemplating her fourth set point at WTA. Available at: https://www.wtatennis.com/news/2735466/serena-i-guess-there-s-just-a-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel- [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].
2. Ohanian, A. (2021). Family photo by Alexis. Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/serena-williams-family-daughter-olympia-b1780399.html [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].
3. Foster, L. (2021). Poolside at Serena Williams’ residence. Available at: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/step-inside-serena-williams-striking-florida-home [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].
4. Foster, L. (2021). Williams’s waterfront pool. Available at: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/step-inside-serena-williams-striking-florida-home [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].
5. Foster, L. (2021). A terrace outfitted with RH furniture overlooks the water. Available at: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/step-inside-serena-williams-striking-florida-home [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].
6.  Loco, R. (2022). Art Gallery/living room overlooking the pool. Available at: https://www.wolfgordon.com/news/howl4-venus-williams [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].
7. V Starr (2020). The recessed fireplace. Available at: https://www.vstarr.com/portfolio-item/private-residence-south-florida/ [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].
8. Foster, L. (2021). A terrace outfitted with RH furniture overlooks the water. Available at: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/step-inside-serena-williams-striking-florida-home [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].
9. Foster, L. (2021). The karaoke room is hidden behind a secret doorway disguised as a bookcase. Chair sculptures by David Kracov. Available at: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/step-inside-serena-williams-striking-florida-home [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].
10. Foster, L. (2021). The karaoke room. Chair sculptures by David Kracov. Available at: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/step-inside-serena-williams-striking-florida-home [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].
11. Foster, L. (2021). Kitchen with a trapezoidal table. Available at: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/step-inside-serena-williams-striking-florida-home [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].
12.  Foster, L. (2021). The dining room/Artwork by Serena Williams. Available at: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/step-inside-serena-williams-striking-florida-home [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].
13.  Foster, L. (2021). A lounge chair and side table stand in a corner of the primary bedroom. Available at: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/step-inside-serena-williams-striking-florida-home [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].
14. Foster, L. (2021). The Guest bedroom is hidden behind a secret doorway disguised as a bookcase. Chair sculptures by David Kracov. Available at: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/step-inside-serena-williams-striking-florida-home [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].
15.  V Starr (2020). Serena William’s Closet. Available at: https://www.vstarr.com/portfolio-item/private-residence-south-florida/ [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].
16. Foster, L. (2021). Bathroom 01. Available at: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/step-inside-serena-williams-striking-florida-home [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].
17.  Loco, R. (2022). Batroom02. Available at: https://www.wolfgordon.com/news/howl4-venus-williams [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].
18.  Williams, S. (2020). Serena relaxing on an egg chair near the water. Available at: https://www.instagram.com/serenawilliams/ [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].
19. Other source types

1. www.youtube.com. (n.d.). Inside Serena Williams’ New Home With A Trophy Room & Art Gallery | Open Door | Architectural Digest. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TeeIEh2IE8 [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].
2. www.youtube.com. (n.d.). SERENA WILLIAMS NEW HOME TOUR 2021 STEP INSIDE SERENA WILLIAMS’ STRIKING FLORIDA HOME 2021. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4vjJpnJrEk [Accessed 30 Oct. 2022].