High Desert Tour – early afternoon

After trudging through the sand from Kate’s Lazy Desert, next stop was Looney Dunes.  Aptly named as I soon discovered.  The owners, Phillip Maberry & Scott Walker, are artists.  Their creations are sculptures that appear to be colorful pool floats!

Moored in the desert sand dunes and caught in cactus gardens it is impossible not to smile at their juxtaposition. 

You may remember their previous home, immortalized by the B-52′s in their video for the band’s hit song, Love Shack.

Yup, it’s true.  And if you look closely that’s an afro-ed RuPaul in the white halter top dancing in the living room!

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

 

Architecture is music

Johann Goethe called architecture frozen music.

My recent docenture during Modernism Week in Palm Springs has led me to that very conclusion.  Architecture is indeed a symphony.  To be exact, for me, the Palevsky House designed by Craig Ellwood is Ravel’s Bolero!

If you think that the music now inextricably linked to Bo Derek seems an odd choice to describe a weekend house in our fair desert.  Let me explain.

You spy a couple dining al fresco; poolside.  They are dressed simply, but impeccably.

The couple rises to leave.  Now you are able to see them in greater detail.  They are dressed in crisp white linen:  perfectly starched and properly ironed.

A faint scent of orange blossoms waffs through the air.

They begin to slowly walk away.  His strong back is outlined by his crisp linen shirt.

A gentle breeze caresses the hem of her wrap dress revealing a glimpse of a taut leg.

She throws back her head and lets out a throaty laugh.  Her tresses undulate over her shoulders as they shimmer in the afternoon sun.

He looks to her, his Roman profile captured in silhouette for an instant.  He smiles broadly; a welcoming smile of bright white teeth.

He unbuttons his shirt and lets it slide to the ground, exposing rugged muscular shoulders.

Following his lead, she loosens the tie at her waist, letting the dress billow behind her.  A gust of wind releases it from her shoulders. The dress flutters to the ground.

She kicks her heels aside.

They look knowingly into each other’s eyes. 

A wry smile crosses their faces.  They turn and dash towards the pool.

Splash.

Welcome to the Palevsky House!