Latin pop star/actor Rubén Blades and his wife, Broadway/Latin pop star Luba Mason have finally completed the renovation of their historic Chelsea townhouse.
The home, built in 1864 as a single-family mansion at 407 W. 21st St. became the Guardian Angel Convent in the 1950s.
Blades — who has won 18 Grammys and is currently starring in “Fear the Walking Dead” — and Mason — who starred in the new Bob Dylan musical “Girl From the North Country” — stayed true to the 6,000-square-foot, six-bedroom home’s roots while filling it with unique modern touches that reflect the couple’s exuberant personalities.
Unique features include a bathroom plastered in Broadway Playbills, as Mason has also starred in shows like “Chicago” as Velma opposite Brooke Shields’ Roxie; and opposite Matthew Broderick in the Tony-winning revival of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”
In addition, she has performed with several chart-topping artists, including Paul Simon, James Taylor, Stevie Wonder and Sting.
She also has a new solo jazz album out, “Triangle,” produced by Renato Neto, who was a long time collaborator with Prince.
The townhouse, designed by Nadine Homann, comes with a private garden, a second-floor terrace, a rooftop deck — with views of the Empire State Building — and a renovated chef’s kitchen, which once served as the convent’s chapel, with circular skylights.
The home also features Mason’s Slovakian crystal (she is of Slovak descent), original stained-glass windows, a spiral chestnut staircase, fireplaces, some original doors and a giant Times Square Broadway poster of Mason when she starred in “Chicago.”
The couple bought the home in 2015. While the interior renovations were completed before the pandemic hit, there is still more work to be done on the house.