Realtor.com: A Designers Comment on Kanye’s Home

Kanye West is in rare form these days: Since rejoining Twitter on April 13, the rapper has been ranting about everything from politics to how he’s “nice at ping pong” (whatever that means).

Yet one topic he’s kept tightly under wraps? His home with Kim Kardashian West. That is, until now.

Ever since purchasing this Los Angeles estate in 2014 for $20 million, the couple has been renovating up a storm—yet, remarkably, the famously publicity-hungry pair have not released one photo or video of how it’s going. Even the crew for their reality show “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” was forbidden to set foot inside.

But this week, midway through an especially lengthy (and controversial) pro-Trump Twitter rant, Kanye decided to give his followers a peek behind the curtain … and boy, were we surprised by what we saw.

A shocking glimpse inside Kanye West’s home … and mental state

West posted three photos from inside his 15,700-square-foot home: two shots of a cavernous-looking hallway, and one of what appears to be a living room. And what immediately struck us is wow, the decor is minimalist to the nth degree.

Take, for instance, the before-and-after shots of the hallway below. Keep in mind that the left photo is before they started renovating … and the right pic is how it looks now. They purged those nice lights, the artwork, everything!

We’re not sure how far along they are in the renovation, but the overabundance of beige and under-abundance of furnishings in these photos seem to suggest that progress is slow-moving. Or, given that they’ve been working with architect Axel Vervoordt—who’s known for his minimalist, neutral aesthetic—maybe it’s completely finished, and this is just how they want Chez Kimye to look.

“Monastery chic,” says interior designer Ana Cummings of ANA Interiors. “It’s a cross between the simplicity of Zen paired with Vatican-styled lines. If Giorgio Armani designed a shrine in Kyoto, it would look like Kim and Kanye’s [home].”

“My initial reaction was that I felt like I was peeking into a monastery,” agrees Terri Fiori of Fiori Interior Design. And that’s not necessarily a good thing, she adds, explaining, “The space lacks warmth.”

In fact, this home’s decor style is totally consistent with the stripped-down aesthetic of West’s fashion line, Yeezy. The same signature beige hue is a constant in the clothing, shoes, and accessories he’s rolled out in six collections so far.

Some people were more complimentary of the space. “Structurally, I like the way the monochromatic hues highlight the architectural language of the space,” says Lauren Visco, an interior designer for DesignBridge Ltd. in Chicago. “Proportions are emphasized, while natural light plays off the curves of the arches.”

Yet while the home might be designed to play up the dramatic architecture, the limestone finishes and neutral color palette are not exactly child-friendly—which is a little sad, since the Wests do have three young kids.

“I don’t believe that it would appeal to many families with children or pets, because it’s all white!” says Mariko Baerg, a real estate agent with Bridgewell Real Estate Group. “Whether it’s markers on the walls, or spills and paws on the floor, it would be an absolute nightmare trying to keep that home clean all the time.”

Diana Stelin, a professional artist who used to run DTR Modern Galleries, agrees that “The walls look stark and cold, and it is lacking warmth and personality.” Yet she believes this is because the interior decorating might not be complete. She actually sold art to West a few years ago, including pieces from Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, and Jeff Koons.

“Kanye has really great taste in art, so I’m assuming they just haven’t gotten to placing things in the right spaces,” Stelin says.

Or here’s another theory to explain this odd choice in decor.

“Perhaps they’re able to focus better on one another in this space without any distractions?” Fiori notes. “Since there is not much else, I’m thinking that the owners of this home want to take center stage.”

Kim and Kanye want to be the shining stars in their own home? Sounds about right.