Krisel in Twin Palms

Situated in the south end of Palm Springs lies the neighborhood of Twin Palms.  The development received it name, for the pair of palms that were planted in the front yard of each home.  It was the first of many neighborhoods developed by Los Angeles builders George and Robert Alexander starting in 1957. The neighborhood features mostly mid-century homes with soaring butterfly roofs designed by Palmer & Krisel.menrad house in twin palms neighborhood of palm springs

One such home is the Menrad Residence.  Here let’s take a tour.

Through the slatted door lies a small courtyard lined with cactus and succulents.entry to menrad house

Upon entering the house a small foyer opens to views of the swimming on the left and bedroom wing to the to the right.menrad house entry wtih vintage art glass

The guest bedrooms are charmingly mod with a highly personal and curated collection of furniture and art.detail of guest bedroom in menrad houseguest bedroom with vintage iron head boards and travel postersbedroom corner with eames rocking chair and vintage books

The master bedroom features its own patio with access to the backyard and pool.master bedroom with saarinen tulip side table and arne jacobsen swan chairdetail of master bedroom in menrad house

The dining area and living room share a generous space with dramatically sloping ceilings. A wall of roman-stacked brick showcases a vintage George Nelson electric clock.vintage george nelson clock in menrad house

A mid-century modern sofa is made even more mod with a collection vintage and retro pillows featuring patterns from the Swiss designer Verner Panton.  An Eames surfboard coffee table holds a collection of architectural and design books.menrad house living room with eames surfboard coffee tablearne jacobsen egg chair and eames surfboard coffee table at menrad house

Arne Jacobsen’s egg chair and swan chair have pride of place flanking the fireplace while a Warren Platner side table provides an extra surface for a cocktail.menrad living room with planter side table, arne jacobsen egg chair and swan chairdetail of planter side table and vintage ash tray

Eero Saarinen’s marble tulip table and chairs provides deluxe dining in this thoroughly modern home. menrad dining area with saarinen tulip chairs and tablemenrad house detail of saarinen dining table with tulip chair

The kitchen is new, but pays homage to its mid century roots with perforated acrylic panels reminiscent of fiberglass panels of the 1950′s and Harry Bertoia’s wire counter stool.  A collection of vintage cigarette lighters harken to another time.menrad house kitchen with bertoia counter chairmenrad house ktichen cabinet detail of perforated acrylic panelsan array of vintage details in menrad house

The Menrad House is a playful example of carefully restored home that is up-to-date in every way.  And at 90 it appears that the architect, William Krisel wholeheartedly agrees!architect William Krisel in the Menrad House

 

Provençal Pigments

Today I thought we would stroll about Roussillon.  This misty hilltop Provençal village sits atop an ochre ridge in the Vaucluse Department of the Luberon.   Beginning in the late 18th century until 1930, the village’s rich deposits of ochre pigment were quarried from its clay hills for the textile industry.

Ranging from yellow to orange to deep red, the village itself is a calling card for the wide variety of hues of ochre found in its nearby quarries. rousillon, provence, france known for ochre miningrousillon, provence, france known for ochre mining for 200 yearsprovencal hilltop village of rousillon known for ochre miningprovencal hilltop village of rousillon known for ochre miningprovencal hilltop village of rousillon known for ochre miningprovencal hilltop village of rousillon known for ochre miningprovencal hilltop village of rousillon known for ochre miningprovencal villageprovencal villageprovencal vilage with view to valleybonnieux, provence

Don’t Fence Me In

Palm Springs Modernism Week has now concluded.  What a whirlwind of mid century modernity it has been!palm springs airstream and trailer exhibit during modernisim week

Yesterday was the perfect conclusion to a very invigorating week of iconic mid century modern architecture.  The time had come to hit the road.  I volunteered to docent at the Vintage Airstreams and Trailers exhibit.palm springs airstream and trailer exhibit during modernisim weekthree burner stove and coffee carafe at palm springs airstream and trailer exhibit during modernisim weekpalm springs airstream and trailer exhibit during modernisim weekturqoise interior of vintage trailer

A parking lot filled with bright and shiny Airstream trailers glistening in the Palm Springs sun,  I had no choice but dub it the George Hamilton sundeck!palm springs airstream and trailer exhibit during modernisim weekpalm springs airstream and trailer exhibit during modernisim weekinside "viewers' choice" at palm springs airstream and trailer exhibit during modernisim weekinterior of viewers' choice at palm springs airstream and trailer exhibit during modernisim week

The trailers ran from vintage 1940′s to the 2000′s.  There were trailers in original condition and some carefully restored.  But there were some that were completely customized and tricked out beyond belief vintage trailer interior at palm springs airstream and trailer exhibit during modernisim weekdetail of interior of viewers' choice at palm springs airstream and trailer exhibit during modernisim weekclose up the "deco liner" at palm springs airstream and trailer exhibit during modernisim week with every mod-con imaginable.

It was great opportunity to see the wide and wonderful variety of travel trailers that have hitting the highways and byways of America for the past 80 years. hitting the road palm springs airstream and trailer exhibit during modernisim week

Until next year – Don’t fence me in!