Courtney Love is being evicted from her West Village townhouse after she set it on fire and “ruined” its designer décor.
The owner of the West 10th Street house has gone to court to kick out the Hole rocker, who’s been renting the landmarked four-story building for 10 months at $27,000 a month.
Owner Donna Lyon claims Love, 46, has damaged the property, altering its designer interior by painting over hand-finished walls, and owes over $50,000 rent.
Chicago-based Lyon, who bought the 1827 residence last year under her company Astor Street Partners for $8 million, told us: “It was decorated by the previous owner, interior designer Steven Gambrel. One of the requirements of the lease is that nothing should be done to the interiors.
“Courtney has wallpapered and painted a large portion of the property without my consent. I learned about this when I wanted to sell the house and had photographs taken. They sent me the brochure and I said, ‘This can’t be my property.’ I came to New York to see it and I was horrified by what she had done. The walls that had been hand-painted and glazed were ruined, covered in damask wallpaper and ice-blue paint.”
The house was featured in a 2009 article in Elle Decor. Lyon estimates it could cost up to $100,000 and up to 12 weeks to restore.
In June, Love scorched her hands after a candle set a curtain on fire in the master bedroom. Lyon said, “I got a call from her accountant, who said, ‘Miss Love is fine,’ which I was glad to hear, but I thought, ‘What about the house?’ ”
Lyon said Love is currently $54,000 behind on the $324,000 annual rent. A court date has been set for Dec. 21 in Manhattan’s civil court.
Lyon’s lawyer, Norman Flitt of Rosenberg & Estis, said Love, “Has taken a historical house done by a recognized designer, and has taken upon herself to redecorate it. It Is tantamount to destroying a work of art.” Calls to Love and her rep were not returned.