Project 1511 : SEA to PSP - Making The Desert A Permanent Residence 
These clients started coming to the desert valley from Seattle, first to vacation, but then later decided to invest in a small second home.  After a number of years of enjoying that residence, the conversation began about making the desert a more permanent place for them. But where would they go?  Their courtyard house just would not be large enough to accommodate the two of them plus their art and furnishings collected over their 40 years together in their Seattle residence. 

After first contemplating building a custom home, they stumbled upon Monte Sereno, an upscale community in South Palm Springs, CA.  After seeing the model and then viewing their soon-to-be-residence, it didn't take long for the excitement to build about their next step, making Palm Springs a permanent residence.  And it didn't take long for us to get excited about how we might create something quite special for this couple and to reflect the individual personalities of both. 
The home was well on its way to being finished when the clients made the purchase with flooring, finishes and fixtures in place.  But there were good choices in which to build a design that would be neutral in color palette but vary from deep chocolate latte to greige and from pewter to ivory, creating a background for a variety of art and artifacts. 
As with all design projects, getting the space to function was job one and defining the large main great room the first task.  The clients had a vision of walking thru the front door and having the sense of complete transparency thru the space to the exterior.  

​We accomplished that by ensuring that furnishings were placed away from the entry and from competing with the view to the pool and to the mountain range beyond.

We also knew that the interior should carry the feeling of the exterior so that a direct connection might be made, blending the spaces in and out, day or night.
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• Good space planning is the first step in creating a functional interior.
The result of hours of meetings, numerous drawings, various paint samples, reviews of wall and window finishes and the endless decisions are evident as one walks thru the entry and into each of the well appointed yet quite functional rooms.  The main living space features a sectional sofa balanced by a baby grand piano, each casting a view towards the fireplace wall.  A silver travertine porcelain tile was installed over the face of the fireplace and balanced on each side by a deep-toned linen and silk wall covering.  Motorized window blinds and a handwoven drapery panels complete the finished look on the right while the original art on the left adds brilliant colors. 
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The one design decision that seems to resonate the most with the clients is our suggestion that the way the media room was planned was, in the words of the designer, ... "bassackwards."  Once we explained our design rationale, the media room was flipped around so that the flat panel TV would be tucked away from window glare. While it took a bit of re-wiring, we achieved the enthusiastic support of both clients. The wall that would have held the TV now has an expanse of lyptus wood cabinetry to showcase a variety of pictures, books and ancient vessels.  ​
The dining space functions in two ways. It helps to divide the very long great room with the use of a resin-top dining table and upholstered chairs. The built-in banquette seating on the back side of the table not only reduces the number of chairs but provides a way to pull the dining table away from the entry as one walks into the interior.  The oval custom light fixture forms an attractive contrast to the many straight linear lines and horizontal elements seen in other areas of the residence while saving energy thru the use of dimmable LED lamps.  
The master bedroom is stylish as it is comfortable.  An upholstered set of wall-mounted panels are covered in an unusual vinyl that has a distinctive metal pattern to its face.  The  bedside chests are wall mounted and and illuminated by deep bronze finished wall mount lamps.  
The master bath was a blah "builder" white but with new paint and the installation of a quite subtle grey, beige and copper colored mid-century pattern on the back side of the vanity, the room started to reflect the drama. color and understated design found in the rest of the master suite. 
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​• Our amazing clients are now in residence and enjoying their equally amazing desert modern home, having sold both their Seattle home and their Palm Springs vacation home.

And by bringing their art, a few special pieces of furniture and of course their unique and individual personalities, this new house is now their home in the Coachella Valley.  And as we've said to many, that is what it takes to constitute a great design statement, one that remains a timeless statement of style.

The Design Collective Group, Inc.
Modern Design For This Century.