Bo-ho Chic in Venice Designer Kim Gordon crafts artistic abodes Few people understand the changing face of
Layers of organic and luxurious custom details
our homes. So paying attention to all these factors
Venice better than property designer Kim Gordon;
create a uniquely rich, quintessential California chic
with an emphasis on interior landscaping—which I’m
she is changing the landscape one property at a
contemporary vibe. Once in a Kim Gordon home
planning on working with much more in depth on
time. Gordon designs and develops one-of-a-kind
I guarantee you, you will never want to leave. Her
some new projects—is exciting and very California.
luxury homes in the area, selling them for millions
homes are one-of-a-kind California styled luxury
Mixing crunchy elements with some smooth sling
to creatives who epitomize the new ARTISTIC face
homes that welcome the natural elements of the
on the interior is also very California.
of Venice; and her uber popular, boho-chic modern
outdoors and evoke emotion, along with a casual
homes are intentionally designed with them in mind.
sense of sophistication and warmth. I sat down
You do a fantastic job mixing vintage and modern,
with the ever so approachable and charming Kim
however not everyone can pull this off. What do
Kim Gordon homes are luxury transformations
Gordon, to discuss style, vintage and her perfectly
you feel is the biggest mistake designers make trying
with a focus on natural light and warm interiors.
designed homes…
to achieve this look? Inauthentic choices—I really have some trashed/loved
Gordon stages the homes with custom touches mixed with vintage finds, and flips them for as
I’m a huge fan, your design style is (in my opinion)
up pieces layered into a modern room. Charming
much as $4 million and up. Buyers of her homes
quintessentially California! How has the California
pieces are necessary too. So it’s not too serious—I
include the likes of TBWA\Chiat\Day creative chief
lifestyle influenced your design esthetics?
have a ridiculous Mid-Century tree branch duck that
Stephen Butler and True Religion Apparel Inc. alum
I am from the East Coast and when I first moved here
is in all my houses. People use too much industrial,
Kelly Furano and her husband, Keith Eshelman of
I was confused by all different exteriors, shapes, and
too much metal.
Toms Shoes, plus young tech entrepreneurs from
sizes of houses … now after 20+ years I get it. It’s
Google, Yahoo and Snapchat.
freedom of expression. It’s your imprint on the place
I’m always curious when I meet successful people
you choose to call home. In designing the home, itself,
what their routine is, would you say you are a
The signatures of Gordon’s homes are huge steel-
the design is first dictated by the lot size and shape.
morning person or night person?
framed windows, lighting made to compliment
Then, I watch the sun, feel where the breeze is coming
I wake up at 4:30am every morning and write out
artwork, and plaster walls, hand troweled for texture.
from. This is California and we want nature inside
lists of whatever my brain and heart were working on while I was sleeping. I am in bed reading to my 8 year old at 9pm, so I am pretty perky at 4:30am. I send emails then too! As the builder, as well as the designer, what is the “strangest/oddest” thing you have ever discovered while in the demolition stage? A mummy cat in perfect petrified condition. Soaring spaces and custom steel windows, beautiful details in wood, stone, and hand-troweled plaster are some of your trademark styles. However, I’m
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certain you have heard the term “The devil is in
Your homes have a modern California cozy design
What is your favorite room in your own home?
the details” what are some of the “smaller details”
aesthetic uniquely your own; (put it this way you
I have a 10’ kitchen island that faces the living and
your homes have, that set them apart from the rest?
are not building Cape Cod style homes in Venice
dining rooms, and doors that open to the pool with
The flow of the house, how the light falls from the
California). How have you maintained the integrity
the flowing water from a fountain. Our home is
floor to the ceiling windows, the layers in staging
of your brand while keeping each new home
complete heaven to me.
to include charming bits. Food and flowers on the
distinctly different from the last and not looking
counter when you arrive to see it. And succulents
formulaic?
Your clients may range from tech entrepreneurs to
and plants to add warmth.
I cannot tell you Maggy how much I appreciate you
Pottery Barn Moms, what is the one thing, you find
saying that. Because the windows are so distinctive I
most interesting that everyone loves?
Name three things you do not leave home without?
hear, “Oh, that’s a Kim Gordon House,” and of course
I am so proud and happy that both men and women
After I’ve got back into the house three times to
people are making houses to look a little more like
can find happy here. “We found home where
grab the important things I forget: My lapis ring, cell
ours. But I try so crazy, crazy hard to be different in
we agree … he wants super modern, she wants
phone, and glasses.
every house that my partner Mauricio Suarez gets
traditional.” How cool is that?
annoyed when he suggests the same something Your properties are very recognizable and have
or another from a previous home and I bristle. It’s
virtually changed the landscape of various parts
easier to copy the same house, that’s what’s been
of the Venice community. I’m certain it has not
happening in Venice. Houses are so close together
always been easy; once an area infested with gangs,
that when you get one architect making the same
drug dealing and run down bungalows there are
house, with the same color exterior and the same
now million dollar properties. What has been your
floor plan it ticks off the neighbors. I have two
biggest challenge in the gentrification of Venice?
houses only one house away from each other and
The people who feel that Venice should not change,
I was really challenged to make them different. In
which is a common issue with gentrification. I speak
my mind I called the one house “Winter” and the
of the new artists moving to Venice. They aren’t
second house “Summer.” I am really proud of how
painters anymore, they are fashion designers, movie
different they both are.
people, and of course the people who design games and the Internet. The entire world is changing. The
If I had to pick one thing I love most about your
entertainment field is an industry that has always
homes, it would have to be the ceiling-to-floor
been attracted to Venice and somehow the old guard
windows, and how they bring nature in and
doesn’t want anything fresh … another challenge has
showcase the natural light. What would be yours?
been the architects who started in the 90s with a
The windows for sure, which is Mauricio’s signature.
A Los Angeles based lifestyle designer, Vintage Finds buyer for One
certain design formula: boxier/wood on the ceiling/
The exterior plantings are really important. High
Kings Lane and a veteran apparel industry leader who pioneered
cement floors … when I started to offer a different
ceilings are difficult to wrestle away from the HVAC
several popular children’s brands. She is a Mother, art & nature
style—and mind you I am self taught—I caught a lot
guy. I love bathrooms.
lover, and collector of all things chic for the home.
of flack and still do from the architectural old guard.
WRITTEN BY
Maggy Siegel Contact information: maggysiegelcastyle@gmail.com.
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