Homeowner: Richard Franklin

Occupation: Photographer

Home Location: Los Angeles, CA

Richard is an established photographer who, in his lengthy and impressive career has shot with the likes of Kim Kardashian and over 600 models. He is most known for creating incredible special effects without the use of Photoshop, and instead relies on elaborate sets and clever lighting and textures to achieve amazing results. Originally from England, Richard moved to Los Angeles while pursuing his photography career and quickly realized that he did not like the lifestyle of moving from set to set, and instead decided to turn his home into both a work/living space. He started small, by increasing his home outwards and underneath the pool, and then over the years, added a total of 8 stories to the epic mansion in the Los Angeles hills. As Richard aged, he also became aware that he had Agoraphobia - a fear of leaving one’s home. He realized that in addition to creating a workspace, he had created his ultimate safespace, and therefore was able to continue the work he loved without allowing his disability to destroy his dreams.

While Richard and his house have sometimes been misunderstood by the outside world, he says he gets a laugh out of hearing what outsiders think of the epic house he built. He loves their reaction to the goddess torsos built into the walls (they’re a nod to European sculptors) and likes to see who has the willpower to sleep in the Egyptian room (not many!). While Richard describes himself as a quirky old Englishman, he admits that his house has kept him young, and allowed him to stay connected with the outside world. He now lives with his girlfriend and their dogs and loves to take their puppy for swims in the hot tub! Richard’s house is very much a part of him and how he sees the world. 

• No room in Richard’s house is the same - and he likes it that way! Each room is meant to have its own design aesthetic and unique elements that can be lived-in and photographed.

• Richard’s favorite room is the theatre, where he and his girlfriend can be found watching Game of Thrones and other favorites!

• From the pool deck, Richard has an incredible view of the city, but the room underneath the pool is completely blacked out, and is a unique touch that often receives the most questions - why would anyone black out a view? The answer: cooler lighting! The blackout allowed for Richard to create the cool “night club” effect in one level that is now synonymous with the house.

• When building the grotto, Richard wanted to include something different, so he asked a sculptor to sculpt a series of torsos as an homage to the famous European statues like The David. He embedded the torsos into the wall to create a cool and unexpected look!

• Every inch of Richard’s house is decked out with bling, though the Egyptian room is particularly full of it! The room has everything from wall art to giant statues!

• No 8-story mansion would be complete without its own gym, but Richard’s isn’t just any gym - turn the lights off, and it lights up as part of the blacklight effect seen throughout the house!

• Richard says that guests love the casino room, even though he admits that he isn’t a very good gambler! But he does love to host guests there and photograph everyone having fun.

• Funny enough, the only room in Richard’s blingy house that is of traditional design is the kitchen! But just because it looks average today doesn’t mean it won’t get a remodel soon… Richard is always up for a challenge!