Zendaya’s success can be attributed to many things, including her ability to know what she wants and to go for it. This same applies to Zendaya’s homes, which she’s selectively curated over the years to create a formidable real estate portfolio. Her former interior designer Brittaney Elise, who has also worked with the likes of Michael B. Jordan and Selena Gomez, once called the Challengers actor’s taste “immaculate.” Zendaya, in typical humble fashion, demurred, telling Architectural Digest that the two “worked really well together,” complimenting Elise for how she “transformed her ideas into a beautiful reality.”
She was likely downplaying her influence on the design of her homes, however—after all, the former Disney star’s penchant for stylish nesting has even extended to her Dune costar Timothée Chalamet’s bachelor pad. During a joint interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Zendaya shared how she helped outfit Chalamet’s NYC apartment with “a few necessities” like cups, plates, and cleaning supplies. “The vibe was very teenage boy,” she said. Below, we’re sharing a glimpse into Zendaya’s bicoastal homes, each with its own distinct vibe—none of which is, thankfully, “teenage boy.”
Mediterranean-style starter home
Born and raised in Oakland, California, Zendaya set down roots in Southern California in 2016 at the tender age of 20, paying $1.4 million for a starter home just as her career was starting to take off. The five-bedroom, five-bathroom pad is a remodeled Mediterranean-style mansion that Zendaya excitedly showed off on her Instagram account. She even gave fans an intimate tour of the space via her subscription-only app in early 2017, sharing commentary about a set of curved stairs in the grand entryway that she likened to “the Cinderella spiral staircase,” and declared her favorite part of the home. “Guys, I’ve always wanted stairs like this literally since I was a little girl,” she said in the video clip. “I’ve never lived in a two-story house or a house with air-conditioning or a house with a pool so this is crazy.” The mansion measures 4,155 square feet and features a gourmet chef’s kitchen, a vanity and powder room in the primary suite, and a pool and spa in the backyard. Zendaya still owns this home.
Ranch-style Encino home
In late 2019, Zendaya picked up a second property in the San Fernando Valley—this time a ranch-style pad in Encino for $3.97 million. In contrast to her ornate starter home, this second residence is aesthetically more minimalistic, with six bedrooms and seven bathrooms and hardwood floors throughout. Situated on 3.72 acres, the estate is very secluded, with a more than 5,000-square-foot main home, a separate guest house, private hiking trails, and a newly installed pool on the grounds. Features include a large eat-in kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances; multiple fireplaces; and a primary suite with a built-in tub. Zendaya reportedly may have purchased this second Southern California home as an investment property. Variety pointed out that the actor briefly listed the home for $12,900 a month on the rental market. She still owns this property.
Waterfront Brooklyn apartment
Zendaya next extended her reach to the east coast, picking up a stunning three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom condo in Brooklyn’s Quay Tower for $4.9 million at the end of 2020. The waterside luxury condo building, which was designed by NYC-based architecture firm ODA and Los Angeles–based firm Marmol Radziner, utilizes like wide oak plank floors, custom oak cabinetry, and high-end Gaggenau appliances in the kitchen. Images from Quay Tower’s site reveal floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the East River, with unobstructed sunset views. Perhaps the biggest perk of all, however, is the private elevator that opens directly onto her apartment for ultimate security. Zendaya still owns this home.