Name: Kevin Mincin
Location: Hollywood — Los Angeles, CA
Size: 945 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year — Rent
Kevin lives in an old Spanish style apartment in Hollywood, where he's designed a bright and colorful home. As a set builder, he takes his creative and stylish skills home with him — you can understand his attraction to texture and rich tones. He doesn't believe in applying any typical design rules and brings sense of humor to his decor.
Kevin and I were introduced to one another by my friend Jeff Eyser. They've spent many weeks together building sets and designing houses for reality television. Kevin's eclectic and fun style is apparent the moment you walk in the door. He says that the most significant thing about designing his own home was "making sure it directly reflects your personality. It feels more like home that way!"
Kevin has traded the traditional "painting and candles" bedroom decor for a handmade wooden platform bed and a hunting rifle. I love his use of the unexpected, like the film reels that serve as snowboard racks in his dining room. "This is the very first place I have ever had to myself. I have always had roommates, whether they were friends, strangers or siblings, so this is very significant to me because it's all the way I want it. I never have to deal with anyone else and the food and beer never randomly go missing!"
Tying in his love of surfing, snowboarding and all things DIY, this home is full of memories of his travel and eclectic artwork. Not only does Kevin enjoy the generously sized apartment, but he's also transformed his deck into an outdoor movie theater. "There is a super wide variety of art in LA, which is awesome inspiration. My favorite part of LA is the fact that a one hour drive can take you to so many different cultures and lifestyles, such as ocean beaches, deserts, woods, lakes, snow, cities or mountains. That's way more than enough of an influential design aesthetic. Also, I work in the television industry so I am around designers all the time. I like seeing their styles and get inspiration from that."
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: Southern California Urban Beach
Inspiration: My inspiration comes from my life. I love being in the woods and at the beach. I also love traveling, so that's where all my inspiration comes from.
Favorite Element: My favorite element of my place is my bedroom. I love the vibe in there, it's so relaxing after a long day to just lay in bed with the windows open and just read a book or magazine. Plus every time I visit a new place in the world I buy a new map and put it on the wall.
Biggest Challenge: My biggest challenge with my place was definitely trying to get all this furniture up these small ass stairs.
What Friends Say: "How soon are you moving out?" or "can you just move out and leave me everything the way it is?" I'm pretty sure most people are shocked when they walk in because they don't expect me to have style and be so clean!
Biggest Embarrassment: I don't get embarrassed by much of anything so to be perfectly honest I'd have to say nothing.
Proudest DIY: There are a lot of DIYs goin' on around here. I love my bed platform. The surfboard rack made from threaded pipes, couplings and flanges was a fun one...just sitting on the floor at Home Depot screwing arrangements of pipes together! Taking Ikea pot racks and turning them into a magazine rack. The biggest DIY project was the porch railing, I am really happy with the way it turned out.
Biggest Indulgence: Hands down, my outdoor theatre! I could sit out there by myself or with some friends every night. Good thing Los Angeles averages 329 days of perfect weather a year!
Best Advice: Just be yourself! Don't believe in rules or standards. It's your place and you live in it.
Dream Sources: Ehhhhh I don't really think about it... I could spend a bunch of money on something, build it or just take it out of the trash, haha.
Resources of Note:
I would like to give a big shout out and thanks to everyone at Pregra Artificial Grass for the amazing job they did on my patio. www.pregra.com
PAINT & COLORS
- • All Benjamin Moore
LIVING ROOM
- • couch- Ikea
• Pillows- CB2 & Dwell Studios
• Rug- IKEA
• Coffee Table- CB2
• Side Table- CB2
• Lamp- CB2
• TV Stand/ Desk - Custom made
• Chair-..? unknown
• Surfboard rack- Me (Home Depot)
• Magazine Rack- Ikea (Made from pot and pan racks)
• Art work- Me
• Photography- Me
• Picture frames- Ikea
• Plants- Home Depot
DINING ROOM
- • Table- Custom (fairfax flea market)
• File cabinets- Ikea
• Art work- Me
• Photography- Me
• Film reels- Fairfax Flea market
• Placemats- Pregra
• Dishes- Target
• Plant- Home depot
• Printer- Epson
KITCHEN
- • Shelving unit- Ikea
• Updated knobs- Home Depot
BEDROOM
- • Bed platform- Me
• Quilt- Shop Scad
• Bird Pillow- Shop Scad
• Dresser- ikea w/handles from home depot
• Nightstand- same as dresser
• Maps- Art.com
• Gun- Remington 700 30.6 from my Dad
• Chandelier- CB2
• Astro Turf- Pregra
BATHROOM
- • Artwork- Fairfax Flea Market
• Film reels- Fairfax Flea Market
ELECTRONICS
- • TV-42" LG
• Audio- Polk Audio Sound Bar
• 15" MacBook
• Apple iPad
• Apple TV
• Sony PS3
OTHER
- • Astro Turf- Pregra
• Patio railing- Me
• Fireplace- Home Depot
• Bean Bags- Fatboy
• Shelf- ikea
• Chair- CB2
• Planter- CB2
• Plant- Home Depot
• Red Table- unknown
• Projector- Epson
• Audio- JBL audio
Thanks, Kevin!
(Images: Bethany Nauert)
• HOUSE TOUR ARCHIVE Check out past house tours here.
• Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour Submission Form.
• Are you a designer/architect/decorator interested in sharing a residential project with Apartment Therapy readers? Contact the editors through our Professional Submission Form.
Which Wall Color Gives the Best Sleep?
Marisa and Peter's Playfully Eclectic Home
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Z2 iPod Dock and Wi...
10 Low-Budget Pantry Items Everyone Should Have
Summer Recipe: Gluten-Free & Vegan Strawberry Shortcake
You know the game you play; what would you do if you won big money? My one and only indulgence with be a huge theater room so please excuse me if I mention how jealous I am of your outdoor theather. *sigh*
I really like your space. All the colors play wonderfully against each other and it's quite cozy and welcoming. Nicely done.
May I ask: What does your tattoo say?
I love your place. Pardon me if it's mentioned but where did you get the light fixture over your dining table?
This is the epitome of what Apartment Therapy house tours should be! I love it - creativity, personality, smart DIY choices and style. *applause*
Hubba hubba. :-) Great pad!
a gun over the bed?
I love the personality of this home!
This is my favorite space EVER featured on AT...EVER!!! The mounting of the snow boards...the way equipment is stored and used as focal points...the gun mounted over the bed...the astro turf...its put together so well, that I don't have one fav room in this house tour. I am pinning this for future ref. Kuddos on a totally awesome space.
Not my style, but there is a lot here I like. The gun over the bed seriously creeps me out though. In another room, the gun would be fine with me.
It's all great, colors, artwork, surfing stuff...and the outdoor space...to die for.
Perhaps that's what the gun's for...like my place or I kill you.
Real babe magnet that gun.
I did not like the rifle over the bed, other than that, beautiful space with a lot of personality.
Nice use of color throughout the space–especially that bright yellow in the hall to energize all the blue/green tones!
nice- I really like everything you've done. The gun over the bed is different, and ironic considering the recent trend to hang deer head trophies in the same spot. Those creep me out!
I like the rifle with the scope. Most people keep them under their mattress. I suppose it's easier to grab it off the wall instead, in an emergency...
Love the space. And so nice to see walls painted something other than white or pale grey! The home tours are always enjoyable, but have seriously been lacking in color lately. I love seeing the colors that inspire the home owners/renters - even if they're not my own personal taste.
Love your place. Love the wall of surfing magazines. Love the juxtaposed gun over the bed. Excellent colors.
Gun over the bed?
The bed is the post below is SO much better...and friendlier.
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/april-and-jims-eclectic-glam-hollywood-penthouse-168870
the gun over the bed it´s kind of intimidating... but nice place... though i´m still wondering... a gun over the bed?????
I love everything about this apartment! One of my favorite house tours EVER.
I don't care what any of you soccer moms say, I love that gun over the bed! This apartment is hot.
I have to laugh: as soon as I saw the gun over the bed I though, "Here we go... cue the disparaging comments." But I like it. And he likes it, which is infinitely more important. Maybe the point is that it's intimidating... that's not always a bad thing.
Great style! Warm and your own! Love your kitchen table in the classic 'institutional green of old' I've used that on 'trash furniture' myself and love the look..not that your table is trash furniture..Your colors are perfect....poor little birds on the cute pillow trembling all the time...the gunnnn..but I didn't say anything..You have created a perfect home for yourself!
Kevin's Urban Beach House is one of my all-time fave house tours...
Great colours. Would you mind listing them?
I really enjoyed this tour! Brought back memories of my hometown, San Diego. I absolutely love the use of color, the creativity in hanging snowboards and surf mags, even the rifle over the bed is cool.
I can't believe how much I enjoyed this tour! Even the freaking gun over the bed, so refreshing to leave the world of over staged, white walled, knick knack paddy whack spaces
that we've been looking at for months. YOU ROCK!
I love the gun over the bed. It adds a bit of edge to the place. I also really like the knives on the plates. Thats a knife!
But my favorite is definitely the maps on the wall. It really shows how real a person is by their love of adventure and travel. Especially if they are places you have actually been. Not just a silly map picture purchased at CB2.
It's basically the ultimate man pad. Show me a man who wouldn't want to live here (or just visit a lot), and I'll show you someone who needs to turn in his testicles.
Awesome!
Great place. Sweet man pad. Gun over the bed is pretty funny. I guess is makes sense in case you actually need to use it, Your color combos are really nice.
Awesome!
Seriously awesome house tour. I love, love, love the surfboards and snowboards mounted on the walls. And hey, the rifle's certainly a conversation piece!
I adored all of the maps, and it made me want to run out and wallpaper my house with them.
Thanks to everyone for all the love (even if you dont like the gun!).
Answers:
The tattoo on my arm is in Italian. It translates- "Only you can give the breath of life".
Dining Room Light Fixture- CB2
I will list the Benjamin Moore Colors soon.
Awesome. Love the clever ideas, especially the magazine rack.. Very cosy home
I'm pickin' up what Kevin is laying down. Nice, saturated colors and the satisfaction of fixing it yourself = a home that looks as smart as it is comfortable. As a generally non-violent, pro-gun-control lady, I have an appreciation for the mechanics and design of guns and their accessories. Like it or lump it, I think they're kind of romantic. I've got my great, great, great grandfather's sidearm hanging in my bedroom and I love it.
Anyhow...nice space, thanks for sharing.
How does having a gun over your bed make you feel?
My husband loved the wall of surf magazines, I think we have an idea for all his "Surfer Journals" that he won't part with.
Love this apartment, the colors the use of surfboards and snowboards, I even sent a link to all my surfer "boy" friends and they dug it too. I see my daughter even commented on this post (notice I'm a surfmama and not a soccer mom). I don't exactly like the gun, but it looks very cool on the wall.
Love the gun, but I'm from Texas. My brother has been collecting Surfers Journal for over 20 years, it is one of his most prized possessions. A couple years ago we had to run from a hurricane and he loaded all of his SJ's into a huge offshore multi day ice chest. The duct taped the whole thing shut. It was only then that he realized it weighed several hundred pounds and he could not lift it into the truck. So it tied it down in house, figured the ice chest and teh duct tape would keep it dry and the rope and the bungees would keep it in place. He might not have a roof when he got home but his SJ's would be waiting on him. The hurricane changed course at the last minute and everything was fine, but it is one of my favorite stories.
sorry about the typos, sometimes my fingers work faster than my brain:)
Love it (especially being a big water person myself). And what a way to rock a pink bathroom!
This is a great HOME tour, definitely not a house tour. The personality of the owner is very evident. Great work
That first kitchen photo makes me SMILE :)
As Chekov famously said "One must not put a loaded rifle on the stage if no one is thinking of firing it." Gives a sort of resonance to the bedroom decor. Which, by the way, I think is great.
Kevin.. you're a Rock Star in my book.. not a speck of Granite, or Stainless Steel in sight...
Very Colorful Pad! Love the gun over the bed. Beautiful photography as well!
Cool Paul
@AMANDARH , haha. Surfers Journals are heavier than Vanity Fair's September issue!
We always take a few to our house in Puerto Rico when we travel. I think they put our suitcase over the weight limit. I'm seriously thinking about doing a wall in his "man cave" aka basement like Kevin's "Surfer Magazine" wall.
Why so much fuss about the gun over the bed? Is it that it hangs over the bed, or just the fact that it is a gun?
People like what they like. I, personally, think the whole place is great.
Love the magazine racks and the gun over the bed!!
Which pan rack at Ikea did you use??
I loved everything until I saw the gun.
Great colors and lots of character, and the bedroom is a perfect place to hang your father's gun. I think Freud would approve.
I wanna see more house tours like this one. The gun over the bed? love it, our founding fathers would be proud ;) Great job man.
Hey, tell us more about the DIY surfboard holders. Really. Is the wax an issue ever? Is it handy for real use?
Props for the quilt. A notch above the expected.
This place is the Yang to those 'Hollywood Regency' Yin places - super one-gender. If I had to, I would take this one over the foof but I would have to put in a pink surfboard. That said, all the surfer guys from my town are coming over now.
I can't believe that people are feaking out about a gun over a bed but in another Apartment Therapy post there wasn't a peep about a pillow on a bed with the words "f**k me" on it. Go figure.
Anyway, too cute for words. The apartment isn't bad either ;-)
A pillow with "f**k me", dead animal heads, over use of chalkboard paint....and people complain about a gun?? I personally have no problem with it in his home, in mine it wouldn't fly but hey it's his house tour! I love the personality in this tour.
Goes to show what a little dose of creativity can do for a 945-Sq. Ft rental. It's all about not being afraid to use color wisely and details, details, details..... Very cool Kevin!
The apartment itself is 765 sq ft... The 945 includes a garage that I am soon to tackle!
The gun over the bed is awesome! It's like the ultimate masculine symbol and putting it over the bed is just so over the top...it works! Seriously people, I doubt Kevin here is a serial murder, so lighten up!
I love everything about it. I have parquet floors too and people are always trying to talk me out of them, but I love them! Yours look great!. Love the bathroom colors...just a great space.
PS when is the next movie night?
This is the coolest place I have ever seen. Totally using the photos for inspiration for redecorating my place. And yes, I am going to have an outdoor theatre as well.
Unpretentious, creative with charm and humour and most importantly, comfortable! Lovely use of colour but hate the gun over the bed, Probably because I hate guns period though!
i love this house!
the gun, the pink bathroom, the stairs with the teeny doorway, and the maps...what a great job in expressing your style.
the tattoo is pretty sweet as well.
nice.
Dude! I love your style. Great job on the magazine racks, LOVE IT.
I think my friends were living in this apt last year :)
With all the killings goings around, is the gun still in your bedroom?
I'm with Manny from Manilla. Nine months ago, a gun over the bed might have just registered in the mild feng shui disaster category as in "if you are still single and wonder why, look into the gun over the bed thing." But given current events, this registers as just plain sick. Dude, please update us and tell us you've put the gun away!