There is still a little Liberace in the old mansion
August 31, 2014 - 4:00 am
Despite the fact that the 14,939-square-foot Liberace mansion is in the middle of restoration, Mr. Showman’s opulence and unique design taste are evident throughout.
The First Floor
At the left of the grand entry is an expansive room with shiny white tile flooring, chandeliers, a mirrored wall and a mirrored bar with piano keys etched in glass.
A spiral staircase toward the right side of the home leads to a white-tiled, mirrored hallway with another chandelier and candelabra lighting reflecting off the glass. A framed mirror engraved with Liberace’s name leans against the wall waiting to be rehung. The mirror-lined hallway with Greek pillars leads to the home’s master-suite wing.
Upon entering the master suite, the depth of this restoration project emerges. At its entrance is the master bath, where a large fountain sits atop tile and under a ceiling mural of clouds, sky, cherubs and Liberace looking down. Straight ahead is a marble spa tub under a chandelier and mirrored ceiling. However, to get to the tub one must walk over some desert dirt. There is also dirt in Liberace’s grand closet that was once covered in royal red carpet.
Also accessible through the large bath suite is the master bedroom that features a replica of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel on the ceiling; the Sistine Chapel painting reportedly took two years, cost $1.3 million, and was completed by Stefano Angelo Falk (a descendant of Michelangelo), who was also commissioned by Liberace to paint the ceiling in the master bath.
Like other homes built in the 1960s, this portion of the home is experiencing foundation issues, and they are being fixed.
Toward the back of the mansion’s first floor is the kitchen, a sitting room and other rooms. At its back is a large air-conditioned banquet-type room where Liberace’s backyard and swimming pool once were. This large room is a treasure trove for Liberace admirers as it stores 15,000 cubic feet of items, some of which were once featured in the now-closed Liberace Museum. Sealed costumes are hung on a rack. Seventeen pianos are stored there as well as chandeliers, candelabras, statues, furnishings and other items. Pictures and paintings of Liberace rest along a wall. The room is filled with Las Vegas entertainment history.
The Second floor
The mansion’s second level can be reached by traveling up the grand entry’s curved staircase, which owner Martyn James Ravenhell said cost Liberace $75,000 to transport from Paris. The light-color floor tiles that offer a sparkle to the front portions of the first floor are replaced with dark wood floors on the second level.
A highlight on the second floor is what is known as the “Moroccan Room.” This room is highlighted by rich colors and Moroccan-inspired decor and features covered with $350,000 of copper tiles and a decorative fireplace. Its atrium-style ceiling allows the summer desert sun to shine in, making this room one of the brightest in the house.