Cover A mid-century modern home away from home in Palm Springs
A mid-century modern home away from home in Palm Springs
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Stephanie Brown Inc’s full-scale transformation for this home away from home showcases textural stone and warm woods
Located in the city of Indian Wells, part of greater Palm Springs in California, the single-storey mid-century modern home from the 1960s acts as a vacation home for a Canadian couple with three adult children, escaping the harsh Vancouver weather during the winter months in exchange for outdoor activities of golfing and hiking, and the liveliness of the desert town, with friends who also “winter” there.
What was initially just supposed to be a replacement job for the dated ceramic floor tile transitioned to a full gut renovation when interior designer Stephanie Brown sat down with the clients and proposed the possibility of transforming their 2,187 sq ft getaway into “a calming desert oasis bathed in sunshine and neutral tones and textures.”
“The original home had undergone a few previous renovations but remained quite outdated,” recalls Brown, who has worked on many vacation homes near and far, but this being the first sizable project in the Palm Springs area. “The Palm Springs mid-century modern aesthetic, and the desert ‘oasis’ of Indian Wells are very inspiring, which are exciting for us to create a dream vacation home for them.”
Read more: The Tatler guide to buying your first vacation home
Above Soft, parchment tones paired with consistent and muted walnut
Soft, parchment tones paired with consistent and muted walnut
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Wonders of walnut
While the mid-century modern aesthetic of the home inspired Brown to work towards an all-neutral palette, she hit a snag when the mid-century modern interiors in the area have “moved on” with the times, most of them choosing to “upgrade” from the monotonous hues to notorious pops of colour and bold patterns typically associated with Palm Springs.
“It was rather challenging finding comparable mid-century interiors with an all-neutral palette. I scoured Palm Springs for design inspiration, but the bright colours and kitschy styles didn’t align with our vision,” Brown says. “So, the team sought inspiration in contemporary design in Mexico and Australia, which feature a beautiful minimal aesthetic that uses monochromatic palettes and simple, natural materials such as textural stone and warm woods.”
See also: 4 contemporary Malaysian solid wood furniture brands to know
Above Minimal aesthetic with monochromatic palettes
Above Textural stone and warm woods
Minimal aesthetic with monochromatic palettes
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These references influenced Brown to opt for soft, parchment tones on the wall, floor and counter surfaces, which were paired with a consistent and muted walnut for the cabinetry and woodwork, highlighted with warm and textured brass accents.
This resulted in an interior that feels warm, calming and clean, with an expansive and quiet feel throughout. Hence, the affectionately named “Casa Sand Dune” for the vision of the home.
“Our client desired a soft, muted and organic palette that would be tonal and textural, and this aligned well with our taste and vision,” Brown explains. “We felt a neutral scheme would exude a sense of tranquillity and sophistication, resulting in a fresh take—a more calming and sophisticated approach—on the traditional mid-century style.”
Don't miss: 6 ways to create a warm minimalist space
Above Large format porcelain tiles that are extremely durable and cool underfoot
Large format porcelain tiles that are extremely durable and cool underfoot
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Pile on tiles
Due to the hot climate in Palm Springs and the nature of indoor-outdoor home living, Brown made full use of the variety of tiles available.
Large format porcelain tiles that are extremely durable and cool underfoot spread across the open-concept living/dining/kitchen area and bedrooms; while fluted concrete tiles surrounded the walnut-panelled fireplace.
Read more: 5 Creative Ways to Use Tiles at Home
Terrazzo marble tiles and textural zellige-tiled walls in the primary bathroom ensuite
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A subtle shift took place in the bathrooms, where soft terrazzo marble tiles and textural zellige-tiled walls were featured in the primary ensuite, and as a nod to retro design, off-white mosaic tiles encased the secondary bathrooms as a budget-friendly offset.
See also: Home tour: A Japanese-style apartment in Singapore with an onsen-inspired bathroom
Above The bedroom fireplaces were removed and replaced with built-in millwork
Above The den was repurposed into a third bedroom with moveable twin beds
The bedroom fireplaces were removed and replaced with built-in millwork
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Making room
Originally, the home had wood-burning fireplaces in the primary bedroom, and an open den with a third wood-burning fireplace.
However, Brown’s team decided that the den was not a practical use of space, and thus repurposed it into a flexible third bedroom with twin beds that can be pushed together for a king-size. The bedroom fireplaces were also removed and replaced with built-in millwork.
Don't miss: Ask a designer: 7 ways to curate a bedroom that exudes quiet luxury
Above The dated kitchen was reworked to incorporate a long island counter
Above Casa Sand Dune with a view of the sweeping golf course
The dated kitchen was reworked to incorporate a long island counter
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Meanwhile, the dated U-shape layout in the kitchen was reworked to incorporate a long island counter, a coffee station and a bar situated between the dining and living rooms, where the homeowners could entertain their friends in Casa Sand Dune that overlooks the outdoor patio and pool with a view of the sweeping golf course of the Indian Wells Country Club.
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Credits
Photography: Phil Crozier
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Celeste Goh is a senior writer covering architecture and design. Based in Malaysia, she reports on emerging architectural and home design trends, as well as insights by local and international architects and interior designers.
Previously, she covered men’s lifestyle, fashion, music and entertainment.
