Kravitz Design Inc.

The Designer: Lenny Kravitz

Lenny Kravitz

The Profile: Since opening in June (2012) SLS Hotel South Beach has been THE place to stay in Miami. The old Ritz-Plaza in the Deco district on Collins Street was transformed by Sam Nazarian and Philippe Starck with some very stylish help from Lenny Kravitz. The rocker-songwriter-actor-designer created a 'look' for the tower and villa penthouses which is all white wood and marble. with a distinct Rock God flair.

It is no surprise that Kravitz, a style icon himself, should be attracted to the creation of beautiful interiors. "Style is someone being themselves," says Kravitz. He isn't new to the world of design, he has owned his own design company, Kravitz Design Inc., since 2003. He is not new to hotel interiors either, or Miami for that matter, having previously contributed to the design of the Florida Room at the Delano Hotel in Miami and the recording studio at The Setai, Miami.

Apparently Philip Starck and Kravitz have been friends for a while. Starck's daughter Ara is in the music business. Kravitz created a series of chairs for Katrell based on Starck's 'Mademoiselle' armchair. The chairs were covered in python skin, fur and leather causing the New York Times to comment that they were "clad, not unlike the rocker himself".

The Style: Kravitz is a lover of all things leather. His first L shaped sofa in crocodile skin is still in his New Orleans home. "When I started getting my own homes, I found myself creating pieces I couldn't find or copying those I couldn't afford", he told the New York Times.

From his own homes, Lenny Kravitz moved on to the decoration of other people's. He and his company have interior-designed private residences in Paris and New York. Kravitz Design Inc has also created crystal chandeliers for Swarovski, including the impressive black and crystal 'Casino Royale'; black and white tiles for Lea Ceramiche, wallpaper for Flavor Flower, and are worked with Bisha Hotels & Resorts on condos in Toronto.

As a teenager young Lenny would constantly rearrange his room in the Upper East Side Manhattan apartment of his mother Roxie Roker. "Since I was a child it was always important how my room was put together. I would buy posters fabric and lighting to make my room how I wanted it to be." Kravitz has said.

His associates say that he often describes his design ideas in terms of music - 'we need a little Isaac Hayes here' or '1950s jazz there' - it seems to work. "With music, you go to a studio, you put the track down and you have something new. With interior design you're seeing something in your head and you go through the design process and you see it in front of you. You get incredible satisfaction." Kravitz told Toronto.com

The self-stated mantra of Kravitz Design is 'transforming his [Kravitz] eclectic global lifestyle into innovative and dynamic design solutions'. So far they've succeeded. No wonder there are more hotel commissions are on the cards.