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Using the bones of a classic Spanish colonial-stye beachside abode, interior designer Mimi Shin’s home is a testament to the art of elevating what came before. Photographed by Amy Bartlam
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Sometimes, great design isn’t just about form, perfection and precision, but a vision that warms the heart and speaks to the senses. In these instances, we’re wonderfully reminded that yes, someone lives here. This is the case when it comes to the gorgeous, light-filled Venice Beach abode of interior designer Mimi Shin, her sports documentary filmmaker husband, Brad Hennegan, their teenage daughter and Chug, a handsome pitbull x boxer breed rescue pup. Filled with light and warmth, this Spanish Colonial-style home pays homage to its original bones, with subtle modernist updates and thoughtful details.
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Interior designer Mimi Shin
Shin is an LA-based interior designer with her own practice, a background in fashion editorial (Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar) and a degree in art history. Beloved by the design world, Shin’s practice is adored for the relaxed but intelligent vision she brings to her residential and commercial projects. In the case of the two-year transformation of her own beachside home, this ethos can be seen front and centre.
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“Unlike the directive in grad school which was to raze everything and start over,” Shin says of the project’s creative beginnings, “I wanted the house to feel like it was always there, but just better.” The Spanish-stye front facade of the 1927 home has been kept true to its history and intentionally left to appear unchanged, but the core of the building was completely redesigned. “New additions were kept discreet,” she says. “And meant to be seen only upon entering the property.”
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Flanking the entrance are matching archways, that along with the barrel-vaulted ceilings, were kept relatively intact. However, in a nod to an apartment by Le Corbusier, the archways have been slightly altered on one side to create a private library.
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“Another architectural nod to the modernist was the stained glass in the primary bathroom,” she says, referring to the stunning grid-like window that features blue glass, and at the right time of the day, projects a sense of linear vibrancy across the walls. “I was looking at the rhythm of the glass panelling at a convent in La Tourette,” Shin reveals.
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“The house is a reflection of the inhabitants,” says the interior designer, noting that while it might be a masterclass in relaxed but chic design, importantly, it still feels like a family lives here. “The front and back houses were designed as public and private,” says Shin. “The front house is for entertaining, kitchen, dining and office, while the back house has the bedrooms, media room and a sofa custom-designed with a dog bed.”
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Almost all the decorative pieces found within are either custom or vintage, with European fabrics from Pierre Frey and Dedar. “I tried to include as many female designers in the furnishings as I could,” says Shin. “Including Charlotte Perriand, Gae Aulenti and Anna Castelli Ferrieri. But there's a Fabio Novembre sofa that feels like something from Star Wars in the primary bedroom that I love.”
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Throughout the warm interior, there’s a sense of grounding and softness offered via elements of stone, terracotta flooring, ‘Japanese-style’ burnt cedar wood, leather and other earthly textures and tones. New walls are subtly plastered to match the existing texture of the near-100-year-old beach house, while the kitchens and bathrooms are completely new and feature modern conveniences. However, Shin’s approach was to still make them feel aged and utilise living finishes that will transform over time. This has been achieved with Waterworks faucets in the bathrooms, Vola tapware in the kitchen and Forbes and Lomax light switches.
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It may look effortless today, but the build wasn’t without its challenges. “Gutting the central core, which was also structural, made the builders reluctant to add the necessary skylight over the dining area,” admits Shin. “All of the load had to be redistributed to the outer walls.” Light plays a central role in the design, and the upper story of the abode was built to allow a skylight to shine down over the dining area, so this detail was essential.
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Over her career, Shin has designed several houses within Venice and says that her knowledge of how and where the sun sets in this romantic, beachside location helps to determine so much—from building mass to pool location, internal cooling, light and views. “The principle was the same for the pool,” says Shin of the new central courtyard area, which has been landscaped by ORCA Living. “But in this case, the central courtyard was filled with plumbing and electrical that all had to be rerouted to create what's the focal point of the project —which is the pool that's surrounded by wood decking, a barrel sauna and discreet shower with limestone stepping stones surrounded by plants.” When asked how she and her family reacted to the finished result of their new home, Shin simply says, “It feels like home, but better.”
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The living area.
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The kitchen and living area.
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The kitchen.
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Another view of the kitchen.
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A study area.
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A bathroom.
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The teenager's bedroom.
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A powder room.
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A bathroom.
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The main bedroom.
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Another view of the main bedroom.
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The living room with a view to the backyard.
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The backyard area features a sauna.
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The back deck.
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