Artwork from the LGBTQ+ artist community, whimsical furniture, and, of course, an antique trophy case that houses an Olympic silver medal are just some of the enviable decor in skier Gus Kenworthy’s chic California home. The two-time British-American Olympian recently welcomed Architectural Digest into his three-bedroom apartment in West Hollywood curated alongside designer Orlando Soria—and the interiors deserve an Olympic medal.
Born in Chelmsford, England, Kenworthy—who has made history as one of the first openly-gay Olympians—grew up in Telluride, Colorado and eventually made the move to Los Angeles, California in 2018. “I looked at this place online, and the day I flew in for the GLAAD Awards I went to see it and fell in love. I put in an offer on the spot,” Kenworthy told AD. “It’s a pretty quirky apartment with tons of weird angles and varying ceiling heights, which I found charming.”
“There was nothing on the rooftop, but the [real estate agent] said the building approved plans to build a custom roof deck,” he continued. “I climbed a ladder and was blown away by the unobstructed views from downtown to Hollywood and all the way to Century City and beyond to the ocean. That sold me.” From the photos of Kenworthy’s abode alone, we’re sold, too.
In the living room, a sleek fireplace, a white couch that wraps around a see-through coffee table held up by ball-shaped legs, and a gallery wall filled with framed prints in varying sizes make up the contemporary space. In the kitchen and dining room, whimsical elements like designer Dirk Vander Kooij’s Chubby Chairs (in an elegant green) and Park Studio light fixtures give the room a fun, youthful energy.
The renovation took nearly a year. Despite their busy schedules, Soria and Kenworthy made it to the finish line. “He really went through it,” Soria told AD. “And I’ve never had a more patient and understanding client.” The designer added of working with the athlete, “When you meet Gus, he’s inherently kind of mischievous. He’s not afraid of things just being bold, so it was really fun to figure out how to do that in a way that was also sophisticated.”
