Inside the celebrity’s home: Jamie Kennedy

Pennsylvania-born quipster and all-around funny-man, Jamie Kennedy knows inspiration when he sees it. In August of 2007, while searching for his perfect home, his realtor Burt Bakman suggested a modern/contemporary dwelling nestled in the hills of Los Feliz. For Kennedy, whose bedroom walls as a child were pink (inherited from his elder sister) and whose first home in L.A. was a “shoebox in Koreatown,” anything with a view sounded mighty appealing.

“The house was previously owned by Philippe Naouri (the owner of Antik Denim), and it was incredibly stylized, detailed and unique. He really put a lot of work into the space so when I purchased the place there weren’t a whole lot of drastic changes to be made. “You don’t really don’t want to mess with a work of art,” Kennedy says while glancing around the dining room.

Complete with floor-to-ceiling windows, Swarovski crystal chandeliers, hand-blown “bubble-and-ball” lighting fixtures, a river flowing through the backyard, a double-sided waterfall and an above ground Koi pool, the expansive 4,500-square-foot house is so far from a shoebox it could be considered a closet worthy of Imelda Marcos.

Despite the home being near perfect when Kennedy began filling out his change of address forms, he still managed to add personal touches that reflect his personal design flair. “I love the W and the Standard Hotels, really anything by Philippe Starck, and wanted my home to reflect that aesthetic. I wanted it to be comfortable but really high-tech so I changed some of the furnishings and repainted.”

The bright green walls may not be reminiscent of traditional Starck but the infusion of gleaming white furniture (all purchased from various stores on Los Angeles’ trendy Robertson Blvd. district), sleek and crisp wall fixtures as well as the impressive indoor tropical fish tank would garner praise from the harshest of home critics. However, comedian Jimmy Fallon may beg to differ.

“My agent gave me Jimmy Fallon’s fish tank. He didn’t want to ship it to him in New York, so he gave it to me. Sorry, Jimmy! He’s probably going to be mad.” Kennedy sheepishly laughs.

There are various conversation pieces that catch your eye while lounging at the Kennedy compound. His unique art collection featuring works by photographer/artist Chris Anthony, Hyperrealism painter Robert Standish and artist Brandon Boyd adorns the walls, drawing your eyes to quietly reflect upon them. “I’ve been collecting art for years. Brandon Boyd’s sketches are really well done, so I have been purchasing a lot of them lately. I have unique taste in art and what I purchase.”

Despite his contributions to the fine art world, it is his own personal collection of photography that he considers the most valuable. “My photomural took me 20-years to assemble, and it has a lot of great memories. The most coveted things in my house are my photos. You can replace the house, but you can’t replace the memories.”

Some of my gentlemen friends would argue that you cannot replace Kennedy’s entertainment room when I described the intricate television, projector gaming and audio system. While most gamers cherish one simple unit, Kennedy’s electronic haven includes a PS3 and Xbox that are all connected to a projector that makes every game a virtual reality “It’s like 2025 everyday at my house! It really is one of my favorite rooms. I had pocket doors installed so you can walk right out to the backyard and see everything.”

Kennedy’s fully-equipped outdoor kitchen, award winning pool and Jacuzzi are just “accoutrements” to his aboveground Koi tank. “It was custom designed, using high quality Plexiglas. “I thought it was stylish and loved the idea of having the tank outside. Plus, with that and the cow rug in my kitchen, all I need is a pig, a wireless pig.” Kennedy bursts out laughing.

It’s been a windy and beautiful road for Kennedy from the streets of Koreatown to the hills of Los Feliz. He has earned every dollar invested in this house and more than earned the right to enjoy it – but not the way one would think. “Unfortunately, I do not have a bunch of naked girls wrestling in my pool and people jumping into it off the roof, contrary to popular reports.”