2022 has been a very busy year for Travis Barker, a musician who is always in high demand. In just four weeks Blink-182 Drummer finished work on the latest Machine Gun Kelly album, mass sale, then he performed with Reba McIntyre at the Oscars in front of an audience of millions. He also played with Lenny Kravitz and HER at the Las Vegas Grammys before returning to the studio to prepare Blackbear’s latest album. In Loving Memory. Oh yeah, he got married too Kourtney Kardashian, first with a “trial” wedding – the couple has yet to be licensed – conducted by an Elvis impersonator in a Las Vegas chapel. They then officially married in Santa Barbara on May 15, 2022, with a religious ceremony held in Portofino on the 22nd of the same month.
When Barker needs some time to unwind with family and friends, he heads straight for his surprisingly serene and unassuming retreat in Calabasas, California, which he shares with his three children, Landon and Alabama Barker and Atiana De La Hoya. Three years ago, in order to make the large residence, which he has owned for over 15 years, more peaceful and tidy, Barker decided it was time for a good renovation of the house. At the suggestion of the mother-in-law, Chris Jenner, the musician really turned to Waldo Fernandezpermanent presence in AD100, which has been renovating celebrity homes for fifty years. “I liked the simplicity and zen atmosphere in his work. We immediately hit it off,” says Barker of his first meeting with the design legend.
“Travis he didn’t want flashy décor or caricatured rock star style“, recalls Fernandez, “he wanted a house that would allow him to be in peace and quiet.” In practice, this vision was embodied in one a decidedly restrained color palettein linen-covered furniture, in important pieces in warm and patinated wood, and in custom-made furniture inspired by the latest mid-century classics: “We made everything with a very light hand, according to the end goal,” adds Fernandez. .
Barker admits the understated atmosphere is a bit different from some of his previous homes: “I’ve lived in houses with flashy cars, murals and bikes hanging from the ceiling. But with my three children and Courtney’s children, this place seemed right for this period of my life. I wanted a home where I could relax and have fun with my family, a place to create new memories,” explains the musician. As an example, he describes a typical quiet Sunday at Barker House when the family gathers for a vegan meal followed by puzzles and board games, or just get together and watch movies.
If the decor suggests sophisticated and urban sensibilitythe art adorning the walls fits better with the public image of the musician, avid rocker and super-tattooed. His collection includes many works by Raymond Pettibon., an artist who, like Barker himself, has deep roots in the Southern California punk rock scene. Pettibon’s paintings on display range from the artist’s early underground flyers for Black Flag and other punk rock bands to paintings with images and text coveted by contemporary art fans. Dracula with diamond dust Andy Warhole, mounted above a 19th-century Chinese console, takes pride of place in the lobby of the house: “I saw this in the gallery when I was only 19 or 20 years old, we were on tour in New York. The diamond dust reminded me of the tape on the deck of a skateboard. I had to have it,” recalls Barker.
Like skateboarding and BMX racing, design has long been part of a musician’s DNA. In addition to being co-owner of clothing brand DTA (Trust No One), Barker recently launched a collection of accessories and objects for the home on the theme of the skull – from drum keys to table lamps and candlesticks – in collaboration with London-based firm Buster + Punch, who also furnished the drummer’s huge new recording studio. “I love finding different ways to express myself, especially in projects that combine music, fashion, art and design,” she says of her creative hobbies.