This year for the first showing of the X Factor USA on TV, Paula Abdul showed that she not only have good taste when it comes to music and choreography, but she also has good taste in houses too.

Paula Abdul’s property in Santa Barbara, California, which played host to the groups, had stunning mountain views as well as a waterfall forming the centre piece of her enormous garden. The house is designed in a white boarded colonial style and also apparently features its own petting zoo.

To help Paula decide which 4 acts to take to the live shows this year, she enlisted the help of singer and producer Pharrel Willams.

Williams is one half of the production duo The Neptunes, with Chad Hugo, and he has produced music for a range of well known Pop, Hip-Hop and R&B artists. As well as his production talents, Pharrell is also the lead singer and drummer of the funk-rock band, N*E*R*D.

Paula was awarded the groups to mentor in the X Factor this year and the eight groups that she and Pharrel must choose from in the competition are:

2Squar’d 4Shore The Stereo Hoggz The Brewer Boys IllusionConfusion The Anser Intensity Lakoda Rayne.

The fortunate four contestants that Paula selects will go through to the live shows and will be mentored by her in the hope that one of them will become the winner of the first series of the X Factor USA, and in turn Paula will become the winning judge.