Monday, Jan. 23, 2006 | 8:37 a.m.
In an age of excess in a city of excess, the home of Nico Santucci might be considered by some to be excessive.
From the massive iron gates to the 650-pound mahogany front door to the silver fox fur-covered grand piano at the entry -- Santucci's 14,000-square-foot, eight-bedroom, nine-bathroom Parisian Palace is an overstatement of art and architecture.
"If I were to do this in Kentucky, people would think it was strange," the 39-year-old Chicago native said. "But Vegas is a different animal."
For a mere $10,000 to $25,000, Santucci will lease his home for a special event.
Recent guests have included a couple of his actor buddies, George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg (who was in town for a charity golf event).
Santucci said he bought the mansion from a bank a couple of years ago for about half of the $14 million original price tag -- and then he pumped millions into refurbishing and redecorating the home built in the 1980s by a real estate developer.
"I watched the place deteriorate over time," said Santucci, who moved to Las Vegas from Los Angeles about six years ago.
He says he was in love with the architecture -- which he describes as "French Castle," with a blue porcelain tile roof and twin copper towers.
"I didn't like the landscaping," Santucci said.
He tore it out and replaced it with elongated front gardens adorned with a "Buckingham" fountain and statues of Roman and Greek gods.
Santucci built a 5,000-square-foot recreation center that includes a one-lane bowling alley and a stripper bar.
The back yard includes a swimming pool, spa and a waterfall.
Soon he will have a cigar room and other features.
The one-acre estate is at South Jones Boulevard and Palmayra Avenue.
It isn't an exclusive neighborhood.
"But it's in a central part of Las Vegas," Santucci said. "I could find something in Queens Ridge or some place like that, but the lots are small. What intrigued me about this place was the size of the lot."
Plus he owns the lot next door in case he wants to expand.
But for now, he's content with what he has.
Four people take care of the property, which is protected by 35 video surveillance cameras and a high-tech alarm system.
Once you enter the five-foot wide doorway you are in an entry accentuated by two Louis VIII chairs; a wall adorned with 10,000 silk roses; a 600-pound crystal chandelier, a five-foot wide Italian marble staircase and, of course, the fur-covered piano.
There are a dozen chandeliers purchased from around the world.
Seven hand-carved cherry wood fireplaces add a touch of warmth to the manor, whose master bathroom includes a marble bidet and toilet.
Murals, painted by Italian artist Thomas Bisesti, cover walls and ceilings.
"I built this to live in, but so many people said they would love to have an evening here that I decided I would rent it out for special occasions," Santucci said.
Santucci said he grew up on the streets of Chicago but escaped a life of crime when he became a pop singer and moved to Los Angeles.
"I was in the music industry for 12 years and then I decided to retire," he said.
But retirement didn't last long.
He pursued his interests in business, architecture, design and art collecting.
Six years ago he moved to Las Vegas and got into the nightclub business.
"I converted C2K at the Venetian from a showroom into a club," Santucci said.
He owns two restaurants, Capo's at 5795 W. Tropicana Ave. and Cafe Moda at 3400 S. Jones Blvd.
Santucci says about 90 percent of the work on his home is completed.
When he's finished, he says he may turn his attention to a casino.
"Probably a boutique resort," he said.
For a virtual tour of Santucci's home, go to parisianpalace.net.
Jerry Fink can be reached at 259-4058 or at [email protected].
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