The house on El Conquistador

When starting the project I just told my German designer what I did NOT want: no ubiquitous Palm Springs midcentury look, no kidney shaped aqua colored pool. From previous collaborations the designer knew that I want color. The result is quite stunning: a modern house painted in anthracite, grey, cranberry, pink and peacock. Tiles imported from Mexico bring in vibrant colors: turquoise, pink and violet. Their handmade irregular glaze matches the desired unevenness in the modern concrete floor.

This 1450 square foot house has undergone a complete renovation in 2016.: new pool, new energy efficient windows, new bathrooms, new everything. It offers now a large loft-like living area under a pitched 12 foot high roof. There is an open island kitchen. The three bedrooms have each their own bathroom.

The sleek island kitchen is all black and dark brown. It contains a dishwasher, a full range, a microwave, a fridge/freezer and also a 42-bottle-wine-cooler.  All furniture has been chosen with an eye for seventies glam: The Mango wood dining table stands on elegant copper legs. Chandeliers are in the spirit of Tom Dixon. The metal mesh chairs are surprisingly confortable. Three sliding doors lead from the living area out to the covered patio and the pool area.  The indoor/outdoor flow is perfect.

The Master bedroom comes with a plush King size bed. The bathroom here is open space.  Towel holders, sconces and the handles of the floating vanity are made of polished brass. Two sliding doors lead into the exotic garden. Lights on the raised cactus planter can be controlled from the bed. Bedroom number two is of equal size as the Master bedroom. Here the bath is en suite with a window. This Bedroom comes with a Queen size bed. A sliding door opens to a private enclosed patio, which is next to the outdoor shower. Bedroom three has a Full size bed and a small desk. It has a bathroom directly across the hallway. All three bathrooms have floating vanities and showers evacuating directly into the floors.

The house sits on a 10.000 square foot lot on which a water friendly desert garden has been created. Mature Palo Verde and Tamarisk trees provide shade, Palm trees, agave, cacti bring in the exotic desert look. The new saltwater pool measures 33’ x 14’. The grey plaster finish matches the new grey acid washed concrete patios. Pool and spa can be heated.

Patios are furnished with a glass table and eight chairs for al fresco dining, four armchairs and four deck chairs for lounging. The garden offers majestic west and southwest facing views onto Chino Canyon and the San Jacinto Peak (10834 f). Sunrises are quite spectacular.  The first daylight projects a rapid succession of colors going from grey to pink, to orange to grey and then to the somewhat bleak brownish tone that stays until sunset. At night the Palm trees lend their graphic motive to the clear California sky. 

The house is located on a residential cul-de-sac close to the fancy restaurants in the uptown design district. Most homes on the street have undergone extensive renovation. Location is east of Indian Canyon, one block north of world famous Movie Colony and one block south of also world famous Racquet Club Estates.  A supermarket, a gym, a full service restaurant, a coffee shop and a Walgreen pharmacy are less than a mile away. The fashionable restaurants and shops of the Uptown design district are five minutes drive or 1,5 miles away. Downtown Palm Springs is two miles away.  Parking in Palm Springs is free and there is plenty.