More grim details about Kanye West’s gutted Malibu mansion have surfaced. A recent investigation into the 47-year-old rapper’s residence reveals how Ye intended to remix the home but ended up with a ravaged house stripped of its essentials.
West’s ambitious renovations
According to reports, Ye attempted to transform the Tadao Ando-designed, 4,000 square foot home into a minimalist architectural style. He instructed contractor Tony Saxon to remove its kitchen, bathroom, and other amenities. “Simple fresh and cleeeeeean,” West reportedly wrote in a text regarding the style he wanted for his home.
Ye’s 29-year-old wife, Bianca Censori, who holds a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Melbourne, supposedly told Saxon that the rapper did not want any of the wood to show in the home. The contractor was allegedly asked to paint over shelves, cabinets, closets, and even black and white marble in a bathroom.
One of the renovations allegedly included converting a staircase into a foam slide. Although Saxon was not involved with that specific project, he was reportedly asked by Censori to help remove the foam itself. Two metal chimneys were reportedly removed along with glass balustrades, windows, doors, heating, and plumbing.
Saxon also revealed that he negotiated a fee of $20,000 per week but agreed to disburse additional funds to pay his colleagues and buy materials. The contractor said he felt exposed to possible intruders while sleeping on a mattress in a corner of the main floor. He also had to chase out a few young Ye fans who seemed to be livestreaming.
Lawsuit with Saxon
Ye bought the mansion for $57 million back in 2021. He attempted to list the property on the market for $53 million with the help of “Selling Sunset” star Jason Oppenheim last December. The sale was apparently because the walls may have been too gray to his liking.
“The interior finishes have been removed, and this creates an unbelievably rare opportunity to buy a Picasso on the water with the ability to restore it to your own specific standards, with modern technology and excellence,” Oppenheim stated at the time.
Months before the listing, Saxon filed a lawsuit against Ye for unpaid wages and damages after being allegedly fired in retaliation over safety complaints. In April, Ye lowered the price of the home to a whopping $14 million.
