This midcentury desert home was designed by Stuart Silk Architects, set on a plateau above Coachella Valley nestled up against the Santa Rosa Mountains in Rancho Mirage, California. Originally constructed in the 1960s, this dwelling sits in the center of the 1.3-acre property. One enters from the driveway through a private courtyard. A swimming pool and spa are sited in the spacious backyard.
The homeowners requested a makeover to their 6,357-square-foot mid-century modern home, but make it less modern. The goal of the architects was to capture the essence of a home constructed in the 1950s, mixed with elements of current design trends. The project team wanted to integrate fresh ideas alongside design elements popular in the 1950s in Southern California.
DESIGN DETAILS: ARCHITECT Stuart Silk Architects INTERIOR DESIGN Maison Inc CONSTRUCTION West Coast Builders LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Attinger Landscape Architecture
Some of these design elements include decorative metal screens at the front gate and entry hall, a geometrically inspired front door, and interior white brick for the fireplace and the main front hallway.
This renovation project included reconfiguring the entire existing floor plan and the exterior elevations. Most of the dwelling’s existing foundation and roof structure were reused.
The exterior aesthetic was substantially changed with the addition of brick walls, super thin cross-shaped columns, steel trellises, and large roof overhangs to provide shelter from the harsh sun.
What We Love: This midcentury modern home is bright and airy with maximized views of both desert and mountains. There is a wonderful flow between the main interior living spaces and the outdoor terraces, perfect for both entertaining and casual family living. With the original design being compartmentalized, the new plan is open and spacious with a fresh material palette and a mix of vintage and designer furnishings to create an updated home with personality and charm.
Tell Us: What do you think of the overall style aesthetics of this midcentury pad? Let us know in the Comments below!
Note: Have a look at a couple of other fabulous midcentury home tours that we have featured here on One Kindesign that are in the state of California: Visionary mid-century modern home piercing the Palm Springs desert and Midcentury dream retreat with a poolside oasis in Palm Springs.
Floor-to-ceiling glass walls open the house to magnificent views of the mountains and surrounding landscaping. Among the most significant changes that were made include opening the living room and kitchen into two open-air terraces and adding a generous pantry and a combined mud/laundry room.
More current ideas can be seen in the way the project team treated the kitchen ceiling, backsplash, and powder room. The floor is terrazzo, which is predominately white with gold and brown accents to pick up the warmth of the other house colors.
Above: The countertops are a quartz slab from PentalQuartz. On the wall, the brightly-hued tiles (in the color Yolk) are by Popham Design. Additional details include a Wolf range and a Vent-A-Hood hood liner. The island counter stools are from the vintage-modern furniture company Lawson-Fenning. A custom dining table is encircled by chairs from Design Within Reach. Suspended above the table is a vintage Murano glass chandelier by Salvatore Ferrante.
Several bedrooms were added to accommodate a growing family — five bedrooms total. The primary bedroom was re-envisioned to open out to a beautiful garden retreat. The primary bathroom has its own private outdoor shower that is accessible from the main shower.
Above: The settee at the end of the bed is from Global Views, upholstered in a Schumacher fabric. In the corner of the room, the chair was sourced from ABC Carpet & Home.
Above: The hanging pendant lights are from Design Within Reach.
Above: In the primary bathroom, a custom vanity features Kohler sinks and a quartz countertop from PentalQuartz. The wall sconces are from Visual Comfort. In the shower, the wall tile is a glass mosaic from Bisazza. The flooring is terrazzo, sourced from Architectural Concrete Innovations.
Above: The custom slab vanity and mirror in this powder bathroom were designed by the architect. The stool is from Teak Warehouse.
Above: The wall tile in this bathroom is from Heath Ceramics. Vintage Italian teardrop glass pendants evoke a 1960s feel, perfect for this mid-century abode.
Above: In the den, the sofa and chair are from Jonathan Adler, while the vintage coffee table was sourced from 1stdibs. A comfortable leather chair can be found at Dwell Studio. The carpeting is from Stark Carpet. On the wall, the artwork is by Whitney Nye. A pair of wall sconces are from Mr. Brown London.
Above: The outdoor furnishings are from Janus et Cie.
PHOTOGRAPHER David Papazian
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