There are quite a few homes throughout Minnesota that can be traced back to the legendary musician.
Paisley Park was Prince’s most famous property, with the 65,000-square-foot complex serving as his home, recording studio, and creative sanctuary.
But there was also his former Lake Riley mansion, his private retreat away from the public eye, plus a sprawling estate on Galpin Boulevard in Shorewood, the Purple Rain house in Minneapolis, and quite a few other, lower-profile properties mostly located around Chanhassen and Minnetonka.
Now, freshly landed on the market is a home that undoubtedly held a very dear place in the artist’s heart: a single-level 4-bedroom home in Golden Valley that Prince built for his mom, Mattie Della Shaw Baker.
Listed for a modest $699,900 with Coldwell Banker Realty’s Andrea Soule, the Golden Valley house has quite a few giveaways that it was once owned by music royalty. And its current owners took extra care in preserving some of the rockstar design elements after learning who the home’s former owner was.
Prince built the Golden Valley house for his mom, Mattie
The Purple Rain singer, songwriter, and producer, born Prince Rogers Nelson, purchased the property back in 1985 and demolished the former structure to make way for the 3,231-square-foot home.
He then had the current house custom-built for his mother, jazz singer Mattie Della Shaw, who reportedly lived there with one of his brothers until she died, according to court documents filed in a legal fight against Prince’s estate after his death in April 2016. She passed away in 2002, at the age of 68.
The current owners weren’t aware of the home’s history
When current sellers Alatheia Stenvik and Zachary Johnson bought their suburban Minneapolis home in 2020, they had no idea who its famous former owner was — until they signed the purchase agreement.
Nevertheless, the unique design, more reminiscent of music venues rather than suburban homes, drew them to the property. “It had this glamorous vibe to it unlike anything we’d seen before,” owner Alatheia Stenvik told Minneapolis’ Star Tribune. A vibe they sought to protect, even as they proceeded to renovate the 4-bedroom home.
The house retains some of Prince’s design choices
“In our changes we didn’t want to take away the glam look it had. We wanted to keep the ambiance and its original style,” the owner said.
So they kept the home’s signature sunken living room — still outfitted with its original chandelier and railings — and the bold, black-and-white kitchen.
But it has quite a few upgrades
“Our goal in all of the updates was to make it livable and clean, but we also wanted to keep all the original features of the home,” Stenvik told the Minnesota newspaper.
The couple installed new carpet throughout the house. They also painted the home and invested in some bigger upgrades — that included replacing the roof, gutters, and driveway, and adding a new bedroom in the basement.
Beyond the house’s glamorous past: The Specs
Celebrity aspect aside, the home can hold its weight: Spanning 3,231 square feet, it comes with 4 bedrooms, 1 full bath and 2 half-baths, spacious living areas meant for entertaining, and 2 standout fireplaces, all set on a desirable corner lot near shops, restaurants, and a short drive to downtown Minneapolis. It also has a 2-car garage.
The outdoor areas
Outside, a catwalk leads to a reinforced deck that can reportedly hold a hot tub. The lot spans 0.49 acres and backs up to a natural buffer by railroad tracks.
See also: Prince’s beach house in the Caribbean finds new owner, changes name to Emara Estate
It’s located in Golden Valley, Minn.
Looking to build their own house on a farm, the current owners are ready to pass along the house to someone who can enjoy its many attributes — and great location.
Known for its dense suburban feel, many parks, and award-winning schools, Golden Valley is one of the best places to live in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. It’s also a stone’s throw from Minneapolis proper, making for an easy commute.
“A great home with its own unique place in local history”
“Arriving at the property, the distinctive entrance welcomes you, evoking a sense of anticipation for what lies beyond the doors.”
“Inside, the large open layout, retro design elements like the sunken living room and unique bathroom tile, and catwalk to the deck, create the perfect setting for entertaining,” listing agent Andrea Soule says, before summing it up better than we ever could: “This is a great home with its own unique place in local history.”
Another Prince-owned house is up on Airbnb
If you’re not in the market for a new home but would love to walk in Prince’s footprints, Airbnb might have the answer. The vacation rental website has recently introduced Icons, a new category of extraordinary experiences for 2024 that will allow a few lucky travelers to stay in Prince’s Purple Rain house, among other equally desirable accommodations.
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