Name: Jinsoo An
Location: Downtown Los Angeles, California
Size: 855 square feet
Years lived in: 2 years - rented
When I first met Jinsoo about a year ago, I suspected right off the bat wherever he called "home" would reveal a collector's spirit. My suspicions were proven true soon after becoming friends, bonding over a shared passion for food, the geometric, and technology. As an Experience Architect and Researcher at creative agency, Deutsch Inc., it came as little surprise his Downtown Los Angeles loft is as vibrant as his enthusiastic personality, the former industrial space warmed up by a collection of objects that caught his magpie eye for designs from today, yesterday...and sometimes seemingly from tomorrow.
My Style: Surreal mid-century modern with a hint of post-minimalism, themed around nature
Inspiration: Temples, gardens and alleyways in Gyeongju, Kyoto and Suzhou, Korean countryside landscape with trees and animals, 2001: A Space Odyssey, obsession with geometric design
Favorite Element: Vintage audio system and bookshelf with artifacts I've collected over the years
Biggest Challenge: Finding all the right pieces that represent who I am without burning a hole in my pocket. Also, the neutral colors on my walls and concrete floor made it difficult to create a feeling of warmth. Since repainting the walls wasn't an option, I ended up introducing some colors through art, decor and carpet to liven up the place.
What Friends Say: "How come everything in here is dead?" "I sorta feel like I'm in a modern version of Alice in Wonderland."
Biggest Embarrassment: I did my best to hide all the wires during the photoshoot, but they ARE everywhere! On the floor, on the wall and on the ceiling... In fact, some of the wires for the projector on the ceiling are attached using clear duct tape, because I couldn't get get some of the cord covers to stay on using adhesive pads and drilling or gluing was not an option.
Proudest DIY: Mounting the projector and projection screen on an impossible-to-drill concrete surface -- all on my own. I think I went through 7 or 8 diamond-tipped drill bits. Getting a huge deal on a decor or furniture and later realizing that it goes perfectly with my existing pieces. Those are happy moments...
Biggest Indulgence: The high ceiling with exposed beams makes me feel like I'm lounging around in a temple. I enjoy the feeling of being in an open space. I guess. It also adds a nice reverberation when I listen to music.
Best Advice: Be like a kid and follow your obsessions.
Dream Sources: Design You Trust, Materialicious, Yellowtrace, Archinect, Design Milk, ArcDaily, MoCo Loco, We Heart
Resource List:
LIVING ROOM
- Couch - Room & Board
- Audio System - Marantz
- Speakers - Wharfedale
- Fireplace - Brasa Avani
- Coffee Table - Umbra
- Bust - eBay
- Origami Sculpture - Etsy
- Console - Crate & Barrel
- Wall Decals - Blik
- Pillows - Amenity
- Rug - Flor
- Floor Lamp - CB2
- Book Shelf - IKEA
- Mobile - Wallter
- Projector - Sanyo
- Projection Screen - Amazon
DINING ROOM
- Dining Table - CB2
- Candleholders - CB2
- Le Corbusier Tray - Fifth Floor
OFFICE
- Stool - Luxxboxx
- Desk - IKEA
- Drawer - IKEA
BEDROOM
- Bed - Room & Board
- Duvet Cover - Amenity
- Wall Decals - Blik
- Floor Lamp - IKEA

(Thanks, Jinsoo!)
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Shaw's Original Fir...
Wow - original and mind-expanding, in a good way!
The points of focus in these pictures are really distracting for me. I do love the painting above the bookshelf. Very stylish.
very nice. very nice.
The bedroom is nice. I also want his socks :)
love/am extremely jealous of/would like to know more about all the art, esp the one above the stereo.
Great place. Where is that metallic papercut curtain from?
I Like it! It's original just like the owner.
the last picture left me laughing thanks!
Justineclare: The "curtain" you're talking about is actually a projection screen. Got it off of Amazon.com.
the idea of ever having to pack up and move this apartment is giving me hives!
I love this! is there a source for the little figurines sitting on the headboard? they are awesome!
Liza P: Yeah, it also gives me the hives...
Kittykatofdoom: I got those figurines from the gift shop on top of Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Supposedly made by local native americans.
And the desk clock in photo #30....what is it and where can I get it?
MonicaL: I got that from Kyobo bookstore in Seoul, Korea. They have a decor/accessory section where you can buy tons of fun things.
Awesome tour! Random question, but where did you get that great tray for your eyeglasses?
Leelo: I got it from Fifth Floor in Chinatown in Los Angeles. Made by a local artist in LA. fifthfloorgallery.com
Sexy........the apartment and Jinsoo!
Is that an original Rex Ray painting above the bookshelves, or a print?
Jinsoo An,
You had me at stripe socks, owl figurine, and a collection of Medium Format Cameras. The photographer however lost me at awkard focal points, and no pictures of the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. I love all the stuff that you have, thats great and all, but when I think house tour, I'd like to think you're taking me by the hand and walking me through each and every room. You're showing me where things go, and where certain things came from and sharing a funny story of how your magazine collectiong came to be, or the story behind your chandelier or whatever.
Thanks!
I love this place! So many cool things. I think we need a source for the socks ;-)
Those are nice socks. It's pretty amazing that stuff my mom sold would have sold in a yard sale is Artful and Stylish!
Rex Ray! REX RAY!!! Worked with him when I was a graphic designer at BGP... awesome guy, awesome talent. Great stuff!
Lovely place! Would have preferred some wider shots too but I still enjoyed the tour. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Jinsoo - it's amazing.
Love your place. Thanks for sharing. Where did you get that cute owl carving? :)
Jaxx: Got that from a small shop in Rome... I think the shopkeeper said it's from Dominican Republic...
Thanks all for comments! :)
Fantastic! I was hooked when I saw those amazing socks. And I love the folded paper art on that tree branch. Did you make them? Can you post a how-to if you did? And congratulations for having the strength of individuality to use bookshelf space for your wonderful collection and unashamedly showing piles of books on the floor in the photo shoot. That's how a REAL book lover lives!
Pic 33 is amazing. I love your kitchen area and all of the wonderful origami. The living room is also very cool.
Fantastic! Your originality is so inspiring! One of my favorite touches is how you have the two busts (one with headphones) and they're so totally different in style, and you have them facing the same way instead of symmetrically both facing inward. Awesome!
Bring me that clock.
Love the mouse & his hole! Très charmante!
The best I've seen on here in a while! Really well-done. :)
I want that clock on your desk!
Jinsoo - what a beautiful apartment that is as original as you are. Could you tell me the name of that wonderful bookshelf in your living room that is from ikea? I love its industrial look but am having a hard time finding it on ikea's website. I'll be taking lots of ideas from your place! Thank you.
Little carved owls and paper birds, Mr. Fox..what a creative space. LOVE.
Looks nice, but need less close ups. Why so many pictures of the bookshelf?
Love it all! Does anyone know if the bookshelf is still available from ikea, I can't seem to find it on their site.
Love it! I will remember JINSOO! That was was a lasting amazing!
Great tour! The classic Eames pieces and even the Ikea pieces look really fresh here. That coffee table with the magazines stacked willy-nilly looks sculptural. Love it.
I think the photography is beautiful. I like the creamy-dreamy bokeh: It makes the tour more personal. And the overall images are perfectly balanced.
I'm sorry to be a downer, but I must say I thought this tour was basically a tour of a bookshelf, not an apartment. There were a few shots of other things, but one or two shots of the bookshelf will do, thanks. If there aren't enough points of interest to do a full tour, then make it an article on how to style your display areas or something along those lines. Let's keep it interesting, please!
tetegrondona: a criticism so nice, you posted it twice? :)
Thanks for all of your comments. I got to admit that it was quite a challenge to take photos of my place esp. the kitchen and bathroom due to the layout, lighting and not having the ultra-wide angle lens. Some of the furniture had to be rearranged a bit because certain elements of the interior were just impossible to shoot. So we've decided to focus on the playfulness of the interior for the lack of having complete imagery of the place. If I get to around taking more photos of the place, I'll certainly post it here for you guys, with help from Gregory of course.
To those who are wondering about the bookshelf: I think the bookshelf is called Enteri from Ikea. I think it has been discontinued.
Dig the socks. What color is the office Ikea Malm painted? Like the wall art. Guess I'm not a fan of a lot of teeny tiny things; too much bother to dust around or keep clean themselves. Otherwise, Shows a good eye for design.
Oh my goodness! Little treasures everywhere. Love it. Love the socks. (Love Susan Miller!) thanks for sharing... ;}
Very inspiring space -- awesome! Thanks for sharing.
Very lovely space. Thanks for sharing, Jinsoo!
i like all the collectibles and tchotchkes, i bet his cleaning lady charges up the nose... i like the decal mouse hole and the whimsy of it all. too many pics of the ikea bookshelf though
Jinsoo loved the place! Where is your clock from that has the day on it?
Thanks
LOVE the piles of books. Great place, interesting interview. You seem like an awesome person to know in the real world. Thanks for sharing!
Really nice place! Great personal style. Photo note though... Tilt-shift a couple for effect but not all of them please... kinda overkill. It would be nice to see more of the things in the image.
Love the striped Happy Socks!!! I would have posted a link where your readers could buy them, sadly they are from the SS12 collection and are not readily available ;(
I live DT too, if you want to go sock shopping hit me up!! :)