Kat Von D sells $8m Gothic mansion with a blood-red pool (2024)

Kat Von D's decadent mansion has a new owner

Famous tattoo artist, model and entrepreneur, Kat Von D, is known for her unique sense of style, but her former home truly captures her flair for the dramatic. In January 2022,she listedher historic Gothic mansion for a cool $15 million (£12m), giving us the chance to take an 'access all areas' tour.As well as jaw-dropping interior design, itcomes with one seriously cool feature—a blood-red swimming pool. Click or scroll on and let's take the full tour of this gorgeous, ghoulish mansion...

Fame and fortune

Katherine Von Drachenberg rose to fame in 2005, after starringonreality TV show,Miami Ink. Later, she was given her own spinoff,LA Ink, which followed her work at her personal studio, High Voltage Tattoo, in Hollywood. The artist then launched her own cosmetics company and even started a career in music, accumulating areported fortuneof $30 million (£24m). With her money, Von D bought thismagnificent mansionin the Hanco*ck Park neighbourhood of Los Angeles.

Making a deal

After more than a yearon the market—and several price chops—the turreted three-storey Victorianfinally soldin March 2023for just shy of $7.8 million (£6.3m). That's roughly half what she originally wanted for the place and not much more than the $6.5 million (£5.2m) she paid back in November 2016.Dating back to 1896, the grand Queen Anneproperty was commissioned by the American businessman Isaac Newton Van Nuys, but it hasn't always been located on its Windsor Square site. Thebeautiful home has a fascinating historyand was actually moved to its current location in 1915, by Isaac's son, J. Benton Van Nuys.

The perfect buyer?

Clearly, the eclectic home isn't for everyone, and she obviously had to wait for the right buyer to come along. Lucky for her, LA delivered. TMZ reported that the buyer is Tyler Cassity,owner of the iconic Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Santa MonicaBoulevard. It is the final resting place of lots of legendary movie stars such as silent screen icon Rudolph Valentino, Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, and even the dog who played Toto. Cassity runs yoga classes among the graves and holds musical concerts in the cemetery, so he won't be freaked out by the gothic house and macabre decor. Let's take a closer look inside...

Step over to the dark side

Once you head through the estate's black and gold gates, past thelandscaped gardenand through the home'sdecorative front doors, you'll find yourself inside a dark and dreamy interior that is truly befitting of the iconic tattoo artist. Spanning 12,565 square feet, it's overflowing with Gothic design elements and spooky décor. The Gothic Victoriana entrance salon offers guests the perfect welcome, preparing them for the treasures that lie further inside...

Gothic Victoriana entrance

When Von D bought the property, it was pretty special—kitted out with hand-carved walls, stained-glass windows, mirrored fireplaces and chic hardwood floors. Yet design-wise, the house wasn't quite to the TV star's tastes, so she undertook adramatic home transformation, which took a team six years to complete.Clearly no expense was spared, because every room is now elaborate and flawlessly finished.

Beautiful ballroom

The breathtaking ballroom boasts antique furnishings, a hand-painted statement ceiling, velvet drapery, gilded details and parquet flooring. As if plucked from the set of Bridgerton, the room also has a snug sitting area, complete with mirrored walls and French doors that open up to the garden. We imagine this would be the perfect spot to enjoy a cup of coffee, or perhaps a blood-red co*cktail.Yet, remarkably, the space didn't always look like this...

Movie magic

This movie still, from the 2003 family comedy, Cheaper by the Dozen, highlights just how much the mansion has changed since Von D snapped it up. The property was used as the set for the film, which starred Steve Martin and Hilary Duff,and at the time it was grand and light-filled, but nowhere near as quirky as it is today. Despite extensive remodelling works, Von D took inspiration from the home's history and was careful to be sensitive during the renovation works.

Luxurious library

Her hard work is clear to see throughout thehistoric residence.The TV star retained the home's traditional floorplan, with the grand salon seamlessly flowing into a library and formal sitting room,updating the interior with hand-crafted elements in keeping with the home's heritage. There are endless living spaces for work, rest and play, andthe panelled library would've made a great HQ forVon D's cosmetics company, KVD Beauty, which she sold to Kendo in January 2020.

Quirky kitchen

The dark, dramatic kitchenhas been updated to fit with the rest of the house. Finished with an ornatestove surround, golden marble countertops, rich mahogany units and a butler's pantry, it's definitely got bags of Gothic appeal.Full of surprises, the space even boasts a hidden bar with hand-carved walls and a secret door that leads out to the garden.

Dramatic dining room

Every room in this real-life movie houseis kitted out with original features and hand-crafted elements that artisans meticulously curated for Von D. From fireplaces to flooring, furnishings and light fixtures, no detail has been overlooked. This is really highlighted when you step into the dining room. With its wood-lined walls, decorative ceiling, stained-glass windows and crimson red details, it's the ultimate space for hosting.

Hosting in style

And, of course, that's exactly what Von D and her husband, Rafael Reyes, have been doing during their residency at the house. On Thanksgiving 2020, Von D took to Instagram to share this image of their celebration with family and friends.

VIP bedroom

Head up the home's grand wood carved staircase and you'll find 11 impressive bedrooms and eight bathrooms, each with its own unique sense of style. The master suite is, of course, a dark and dreamy space with plenty of Gothic charm. From the blood-red upholstery to thegolden ceiling and black fireplace, it's the ultimate Halloween-readysanctuary.

Theatrical master bath

The room also benefits from a walk-in closet and a theatrical ensuite bathroom, finished with black and gold details, mirrored walls and a freestanding tub. We can't think of a cooler space for the queen of Gothic to relax and unwind!

Glorious guest room

We wouldn't mind spending the night in one of the home's guest rooms, either. This enticing space features a sophisticated timber floor, a black fireplace, Victorian furnishings and a stunning wall muralthat stretchesup onto the ceiling.

Elegant guest suite

This incredible celebrity bedroom highlights Von D's passion for historical architecture and design. We adore its gilded ceiling, polka-dot wallpaper and elaborate fabric-draped bed, which appears plucked from the interior of an authentic royal palace.

Incredible attic

There's even anincredible atticthat comes complete with a turreted side room, a bar and a stage—the perfect place for hosting VIP parties and intimate gigs. In recent years, Von D has been recording her own music, so perhaps this space was where she performed her songs in front of friends and family for the first time. In January 2021, Von D shared news viaInstagramthat shehas filmed a documentary about the house, showcasing the renovation from start to finish.

Casa Von D

“Casa Von D has brought many amazing people together and I can’t wait to share the documentary with you," she told her 8.3million followers. As well as “interviews with all the tradesmen and artisans that poured their hearts and souls into this project," the documentary will reveal the inspiration and historical references that influenced her designs. But despite how stunning and unique the property's interior is, it's really all about what's going on outside...

Blood-red backyard

Step into the wow-factor backyard and you'll find one seriously cool feature—a dramatic, blood-red swimming pool and spa that perfectly match the deep crimson hue of the mansion's painted façade. When Von D bought the pad, the exterior was all-cream, but we think that this look is much more befitting.

A permanent fixture

Far from being a real estategimmick, used to attract attention and market the property, it's clear from Von D's Instagram that the blood-red pool was a permanent fixture ofthe spooky house. As well as the statementpool, the huge garden is also home to a two-bedroom carriage house, which sits atop a large garage with its own car turntable.The grounds also boast perfectly manicured hedgerows, ornate statues and mood lighting for all occasions. After all this work, why did Kat decide to sell her amazing house?

Moving on