modern home tour palm springs

Blast from the Past

Midcentury modern tours in greater palm springs.

Butterfly rooflines, colorful front doors and A-frame facades galore: Few places in the world feature such a treasure trove of midcentury modern architecture as Greater Palm Springs. Travel back in time and see some of these architectural gems for yourself on one of several midcentury modern tours offered year-round.

Knowledgeable guides share in-depth history behind the buildings as well as the artists and architects who created them—all you have to do is keep an open mind and your camera ready. A few iconic homes you won’t want to miss include:

• Elvis’ Honeymoon Hideaway (aka the “House of Tomorrow”)
• Frank Sinatra’s Twin Palms Estate (known for its piano-shaped swimming pool)
• Albert Frey House II (built into the side of a massive boulder)
• The Kaufmann House (site of the famous Slim Aarons “Poolside Gossip” photograph)

View a Donald Wexler original from inside an air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz coach with Five Star Adventure Tours . Cruise through historic neighborhoods on a group bicycle tour with PS Architecture Tours . Explore the interiors of fabulous midcentury modern homes with Palm Springs Mod Squad . Visit former celebrity estates with The Modern Tour , the official tour of the Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture & Design center. Or use digital tablets to compare a home’s vintage and contemporary photos on an outing with MidMod Design Tour.

Regardless of which midcentury modern tour you choose, you’ll find a whole new appreciation for the arts and culture scene in Greater Palm Springs.  

An inside look at Desert Modernism

Join Chill Chaser, Amy Yerrington, and Kurt Cyr of Palm Springs Mod Squad for a tour of local homes that showcase the iconic midcentury architectural style Greater Palm Springs is known for internationally. Look for the four distinct elements that characterize Desert...

Architecture

Modernism week 2023, oasis of art, highlights. greater palm springs, discover everything, greater palm springs has to offer.

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Mid-Century Architecture Self-Guided Tour

Learn more about Palm Springs Architecture on this Self-Guided Tour.

Palm Springs has one of the world’s largest concentrations of preserved mid-century modern architecture. Talented young visionary architects came to Palm Springs and interpreting Modern architecture in a way that best suited the desert environment and leisure living. Their design talents are celebrated every year during Modernism Week. Let’s explore the architecture through the neighborhoods.

Before we begin, a little background.

What is Desert Modernism?

Desert Modernism is an interpretation of the Modernist or International Style, tailored to suit the Palm Springs indoor/outdoor lifestyle.  People flocked to Palm Springs for the stunning fall/winter weather and wanted to spend their time outdoors. Desert Modernism is recognizable by its minimalist, clean lines and the seamless blur of indoor and outdoor space. Rooflines are often flat or butterfly-wing v-shaped (dubbed “butterfly” roofs). Floor plans were open, and there were many windows and sliding glass doors that brought the outside in. Beautiful breeze blocks temper the desert heat and attached carports rather than detached garages fulfilled the need to shelter the automobile.

Notable Architects from the Mid-Twentieth Century Who Practiced in Palm Springs

Richard Neutra (1892 – 1970) – Austrian-born, raised, and trained, Neutra immigrated to the U.S. in 1923, where he worked with Frank Lloyd Wright before branching out on his own.  Neutra designed homes in Palm Springs, including the Miller Residence (1937) and his masterpiece, The Kaufmann Residence (1946).

John Lautner (1911 – 1994) – After training under Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin West, Lautner moved to LA and focused on residential architecture. His distinctive application of the principles of organic architecture culminated in the Palm Springs homes for Arthur Elrod and Bob Hope. These homes are in a gated Southridge community and are not accessible to the public, although the Hope residence can be seen on the side of the mountain from East Palm Canyon Drive.

Donald Wexler (1926 – 2015) – Donald Wexler worked for Richard Neutra for a while in LA, then relocated to Palm Springs, where he was employed by William Cody. Wexler partnered with Richard Harrison for a time. Together, they designed many school buildings and the Steel Development Homes for Alexander Construction Company. Other notable designs include the Dinah Shore Residence, the main terminal building at the Palm Springs International Airport, and Royal Hawaiian Estates Condominiums.

William “Bill” Krisel (1924 – 2017)—Krisel studied architecture at the University of Southern California and also became a licensed landscape architect. It is estimated that 30,000 residences in Southern California can be attributed to Krisel. As a personal friend of Bob Alexander, he is credited as the architect of record for many Alexander Construction Company developments.

E. Stewart Williams (1909 – 2005) – Williams studied at Cornell and the University of Pennsylvania. Some of his notable Palm Springs designs include the Palm Springs Art Museum, Coachella Savings and Loan (now Chase Bank), Santa Fe Federal Savings & Loan (now the Art Museum’s architecture and design center), Palm Springs Aerial Tramway station, and Frank Sinatra residence.

William Cody (1916 – 1978): Cody studied architecture at the University of Southern California before moving to Palm Springs in 1946. The following year, he designed the Del Marcos Hotel and went on to work on several clubhouses and Country Club developments throughout the Coachella Valley. Cody’s celebrated designs include the Abernathy House, Palm Springs Public Library at Sunrise Park, St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, and the L’Horizon Hotel.

Albert Frey (1903 – 1998) – Frey established a style of modernist architecture in Palm Springs known as “Desert Modernism.” He worked in Paris for Charles-Edouard Jeanneret (commonly known as Le Corbusier) before moving to the U.S. in 1928. He then worked with New York architect A. Lawrence Kocher in New York City for some years as the managing editor of Architectural Record magazine. A small commission for an office and apartment for Kocher’s brother, Dr. J.J. Kocker, brought Frey to Palm Springs. In California, he worked with architect John Porter Clark. Buildings of note include Frey House I and II and the Tramway Gas Station (now the Palm Springs Visitor Center): the Raymond Loewy Residence, and the Palm Springs City Hall.

John Porter Clark (1905 – 1991) – Clark studied architecture at Cornell and apprenticed with Garrett Van Pelt in Pasadena. He relocated to Palm Springs to find more work and is credited as one of the pioneers of “Desert Modernism.” In 1935, Clark met Albert Frey and collaborated on many projects, including the Palm Springs City Hall, the Welwood Murray Memorial Library, Palm Springs Woman’s Club, and St Paul’s in the Desert church.

George and Robert Alexander (developer) – The Alexander Construction Company was founded by George Alexander and his father George. They specialized in affordable tract residential developments in Southern California post World War II. The prolific developers helped make second home ownership in Palm Springs affordable to the growing middle class. Their homes are known as the “Alexanders,” though most of the developments’ architecture is credited to William Krisel and Dan Palmer.  They also partnered with architects Charles Dubois and Donald Wexler. Alexander developments in Palm Springs include Twin Palms, Vista Las Palmas, Racquet Club Road Estates, Desert Lanai, and Sunmore Estates, among others.

Hugh Kaptur (1931 – ) – Kaptur studied architectural engineering at the Lawrence Institute of Technology in Detroit, Michigan. He relocated to Palm Springs in 1956 and apprenticed for Wexler and Harrison. Kaptur is recognized for his design of the Steve McQueen Residence, the William Holden Residence (both gated and private), several home designs for the Ranch Construction Company (now Desert Park Estates Neighborhood), the clubhouse at the Mesquite Golf Course, Tahquitz Plaza office buildings, the Triangle Inn, Fire Station #3 (with Robert Ricciardi) and Fire Station #4, the Musicland Hotel (renovation) among others.

Jack Meiselman (developer)—Jack (1899 – 1994) Meiselman developed many single-family homes in and around Palm Springs in the 1950s and 60s. Their homes, designed by a young architectural designer named John “Jack” Moyer, featured many of the same design features and construction methods seen in the post-and-beam homes by the Alexander Development Company. The Meiselmans built approximately 350 homes in Palm Springs.

A. Quincy Jones (1913 – 1979)—Jones worked with a slew of modernist architects, including Douglas Honnold, George Vernon Russell, Burton A. Schutt, and Paul Williams. He later partnered with Paul Williams on several Palm Springs projects, including the Palm Springs Tennis Club (1947), the Town & Country Restaurant (1948), and Country Club Estates Condominiums.

Palm Springs Self-Guided Architecture Tour

This self-guided tour is a mere introduction to the amazing collection of extraordinary buildings in Palm Springs designed during the mid-twentieth century. Many of the architects of these buildings were not well-known.  They were young architects, often at the beginning of their careers, who were exposed to many prolific and noteworthy modernist architects.  They found eager clients in Palm Springs ready to throw off the tired revivalist and traditional styles and embrace fresh new ideas of the Modern Movement.

Begin at the Palm Springs Visitor Center – 2901 N. Palm Canyon Drive

Albert Frey designed the Tramway Gas Station, now the Palm Springs Visitor Center .

This remarkable Modernist structure was constructed between 1963 and 1965 as a gas station. The roof is constructed of corrugated galvanized steel, spanning over 95 feet, and supported by six steel pipe columns. The dramatic structure was created to draw the attention of motorists entering Palm Springs.  In the 1990’s the building was threatened with demolition by the property owners. Fortunately cooler heads prevailed and the building was granted Class 1 historic landmark status. Shortly after it became the Palm Springs Visitor Center.

There are several architecture books available at the Visitor Center, as well as various gifts and information. For those who want to see even more Palm Springs mid-century architecture than this tour provides, buy a map produced by the Palm Springs Modern Committee.

There is also a printed Hollywood Star Home self-guided tour map for purchase, which shows where many of the Hollywood stars lived, which helped make Palm Springs world famous.

Tramway Shell Station – (William Cody, architect, constructed 1964)

2796 North Palm Canyon Drive

On the east side of Palm Canyon, just south of San Rafael, is another dramatic automobile service station designed by architect William Cody.  The station is comprised of an ultra-thin cast-in-place concrete roof.  The service bays and attendants’ offices are a simple cubic volume that appears to have been carefully slid under the thin roof plane.  Lighting in the canopy was deftly integrated into the roof plane in recessed troffers that had most recently been retrofitted with LED lighting.  The buildings’ minimalist design and thin roof profile are a trademark of Cody’s work in the desert.

Head down San Rafael Drive across the street from the Visitor Center. Turn right on Indian Canyon Drive and left on East Simms Road.

Racquet Club Estates 

A short distance from the Palm Springs Visitor Center off Indian Canyon Drive is Racquet Club Road Estates, developed by the Alexander Construction Company. Racquet Club Estates boasts the Steel Development homes by Donald Wexler on Sunnyview, Simms, and Molina Roads, dozens of “Alexanders” designed by Palmer & Krisel, and a collection of mid-century homes developed by Jack Meiselman, designed by Jack Moyer  .

290 Simms Road 300 and 330 East Molino Road 3100, 3125, 3133 and 3165 North Sunnyview Drive

Designed in 1960 by Donald Wexler and Richard Harrison, these pre-fabricated, all-steel homes were to fill an entire neighborhood. However, after seven homes were built, rising steel prices made further homes in this style cost-prohibitive. All seven homes are now Class One historic sites and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Head South on Sunnyview toward Francis Drive

Palmer & Krisel designed homes

325 East Francis Drive

388 and 520 Desert Holly Circle

970 East Racquet Club Road

455 and 483 East Francis Drive (flamingo letterbox)

A close personal friend of developer Bob Alexander and his family, Krisel came to the Desert at the request of Alexander to design a tract of modernist houses dubbed Smoke Tree Valley (now known as Twin Palms for the pair of palm trees that were included with the completion each of the homes).

Other Palmer & Krisel projects include the Ocotillo Lodge, Las Palmas Estates (Vista Las Palmas), Kings Point and Canyon View Estates, and Racquet Club Estates. The “House of Tomorrow,” conceived as an experiment in modern living, impressed Alexander’s wife Helene so that they made it their residence. The house later gained fame as the honeymoon home of Elvis and Priscilla Presley. (1350 Ladera Circle)

Head back to Indian Canyon Drive and make a left. Drive approximately one mile.

Chino Canyon/ Little Tuscany Estates

Grace Lewis Miller Residence (Richard Neutra – 1937) – 2311 N. Indian Canyon Drive

Although a tiny home, it combined a dance studio for the owner. It is a good representation of Neutra’s use of simple, flat-roofed forms arranged and adapted to the sun, outdoor space, and the need for coolness and ventilation in the desert. He specialized in extending architectural space into a carefully arranged landscape.

Head South on Indian Canyon and make a right on West Vista Chino.

Kaptur Court – 262-266 West Vista Chino

Kaptur came out of retirement in 2016 and designed three iconic mid-century-style single-family homes, reflecting his own interpretation of mid-century modernism.

Turn right on N Via Norte and left on W Chino Canyon Road, then head up the hill. If you stay left, you will pass the home owned by Elvis Presley at 825 W Chino Canyon.

Edris Residence ( E. Stewart Williams – 1954) – 1030 W Cielo Drive

William and Marjorie Edris had seasonally rented an apartment  in one of the Potter Clinic Building’s upstairs apartments at the same time as the Williams family in the late 1940s. The two couples became friends, and in 1953, William Edris hired E. Stewart Williams to design a winter residence. The parcel chosen was located in the rocky area dubbed “Little Tuscany”, located on the lower portion of the Chino Cone alluvial fan. Taking full advantage of the unique location, Williams moved only those boulders necessary to place the house on a flat surface with the goal of integrating as much of the natural environment into the design as possible.  Native rock was used for the prominent chimney, which anchored the southeastern portion of the home alongside  the floor-to-ceiling wall of glass on the east wall of the living room, which afforded breathtaking views of the Coachella Valley. Almost the entire pool is surrounded by boulders.

Dr. Franz Alexander Residence (1956) – 1011 West Cielo Drive

Historic, original, and spectacular, this home is a midcentury modern dream. Designed by architect Walter S. White for psychoanalyst Dr. Franz Alexander, the Alexander Residence, appears to hover over the  boulders-strewn site. The result is a structure that seamlessly integrates into its natural surroundings, enhancing views of the valley while creating numerous indoor-outdoor connections.

. Dramatic architectural elements like V-shaped steel supports, a swooping tongue-and-groove ceiling reaching toward the mountains, plus a double-height atrium—with an open-tread black steel staircase designed by Albert Frey—are but a few of the incredible details that bring the residence to life.

Head back down to Vista Chino and make a right.

Kaufmann Residence (Richard Neutra – 1946) – 470 West Vista Chino Road

Edgar Kaufmann hired Neutra to design a desert home for his family. Frank Lloyd Wright had built Fallingwater for Mr. Kaufmann a decade earlier in Bear Run, Pennsylvania. Having seen Taliesin West, Kaufmann thought that Wright didn’t understand desert design and chose Neutra instead. The home turned out so well that when Wright saw it, he admitted that it was beautiful (uncharacteristic of him). The building remains the most famous in Palm Springs in terms of international recognition.

Go to the end of the road and turn left on North Via Monte Vista 

Vista Las Palmas and Old Las Palmas

Swiss Misses (Charles DuBois – 1903 – 1) – 755 W Crescent Dr.

Du Bois attended architecture school at UCLA for a year and then transferred to MIT. Traveling between coasts and working at different architectural firms, Du Bois passed the California architectural licensing exams in the 1930s and started his firm in 1938. When housing construction slowed during WWII, he worked as a senior set designer for MGM Studios.

He is known for the few Swiss Miss Houses in Palm Springs featuring the A-frame entry.

Examples include:

1133 Vista Vepero – 1958

1110 Abrigo Road – 1958

775 W Crescent Drive – 1958

700, 855 Via Las Palmas – 1959

1355 N Rose Ave – 1961

These homes were built in the Vista Las Palmas neighborhood, developed by Joe Dunas and the Alexander Construction Company. There are 15 Swiss Miss Houses remaining today in Vista Las Palmas.

Dinah Shore Residence – 432 Hermosa Place

Leonardo DiCaprio acquired Dinah Shore’s Palm Springs Home for $5.2 Million in 2014. Designed by architect Donald Wexler for Dinah Shore in 1964, this legendary Palm Springs’ Old Las Palmas neighborhood tennis estate defines timeless mid-century modern architecture.

Turn right on N. Mission Road, turn left on W. Merito Place, right on N. Cahuilla, left on W. Alejo, right on N. Belardo, and then right on N. Museum Way. There is a municipal parking structure on your left.

Downtown Palm Springs

Palm Springs Art Museum (E. Stewart Williams 1976) – 101 N Museum Dr.

Williams designed the museum with concrete mixed with Warmtone cement and several aggregates. Long expanses of concrete panels were hammered to expose the aggregate. The exterior walls of the museum are clad in lava rock.

By the early 1980s, more space was needed to display the museum’s collection, so administrative functions were relocated to a new, separate structure just north of the original building. Named the Marks Administration Building, it was designed by Williams and completed in 1981.

From the front of the Art Museum, head south on N. Museum Drive, turn left on W. Tahquitz Canyon Way, then right on S. Palm Canyon Drive. 

Oasis Commercial Building (E Stewart Williams – 1953) – 121 S Palm Canyon Drive

This Class 1 historic site was designed in the International style by modernist architect E. Stewart Williams.  It was built on a prominent corner that used to be a part of the Oasis Hotel.  The two-story building reflects many of the design features of the internationally known Villa Savoy in Poissy, France, designed by Swiss architect Le Corbusier and built between 1928 and 1931, and the Brazilian Pavilion by Oscar Niemeyer from the 1939 New York World’s Fair.

Continue South on S. Palm Canyon to Baristo. The Architecture Museum is on your left.  

Palm Springs Architecture and Design Center, Edward Harris Pavilion (E. Stewart Williams – 1961)  – 300 S Palm Canyon Dr.

The museum’s architecture and design center is housed inside a classic midcentury International style building that Williams designed in 1961 for the Sante Fe Federal Savings & Loan.

The Santa Fe Federal Savings & Loan building reflected new thinking in the design of banks and financial institutions during the middle of the twentieth century.  No longer were banks heavy masonry structures with neo-classical architecture – modern banks were seen as gathering places for the community, open and inviting.  This building also featured a new concept:  the drive-up banking window, which still exists on the east side of the building.  The building is set up on a raised platform or “plinth” with recessed foundation walls, giving it the illusion that it is floating above the ground.  Metal shade screens on sliding tracks were built into the west façade to help control direct son in the afternoon hours.  The building’s main level features a gallery space for architecture and design exhibitions and curatorial offices. The lower level of the building serves as a study center and library.

You can head toward the mountains on Baristo.

Del Marcos Hotel (William Cody – 1947) – 225 W Baristo Rd

In 1947, Cody completed the Del Marcos Hotel, his first independent commission, which the AIA Southern California Chapter recognized with an honorable mention. Cody had a prolific career in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley and became known for his elegant, simplistic designs with ultra-thin columns and rooflines.

You can go back to S. Palm Canyon and turn right.

Coachella Valley Savings & Loan (now Chase Bank) – ( E. Stewart Williams – 1960) – 499 S Palm Canyon Drive

Originally the Coachella Valley Savings & Loan, the design of this elegant building with its inverted parabolic curved columns and water feature was inspired by the Palace of the Dawn by Brazilian Architect Oscar Niemeyer, completed in 1958 in Brasilia, Brazil.

Musicland Hotel (Hugh Kaptur – 1967) – 1342 South Palm Canyon Drive

An earlier project similar in architectural style to Tahquitz Plaza (now Kaptur Plaza) is The Musicland Hotel, formerly the Casa Blanca Motor Hotel.  Kaptur was commissioned to update and modernize the building and created the unique façade seen today with its sculptural “eyebrow” around the street-facing second-story window.

Continue south

The Mesa/Canyon Corridor/Twin Palms Estates

Royal Hawaiian Estates (Donald Wexler – 1961-1962) – 1774 South Palm Canyon Drive

Donald Wexler and Richard Harrison combined modernist ideas with Polynesian themes when they designed the Royal Hawaiian Estates condominium complex when tiki architecture was in fashion. The complex has 12 buildings with 40 condominium units on five acres.

Drive south on South Palm Canyon and turn right on W Camino Carmelita. Turn left onto Camino Monte,  and the property will be on your right.

Ship of the Desert – (Erle Webster & Adrian Wilson, Architects – 1936) – 1995 Camino Monte

The Davidson family had been visiting Palm Springs from the east coast in the winter and decided to build a home in Mesa. They hired architectural firm Earle Webster & Adrian Wilson to design their winter home. Before 1936, architecture in the resort town mainly was Spanish Mission Revival. They decided to do something completely different and designed the house in the Streamline Moderne style.  Reflecting imagery of automobiles, steamships, and airplanes, Streamline Moderne was a dominant style in the late 1920’s and 1930’s. “Ship of the Desert” was featured on the cover of Sunset Magazine in 1937.

In 1998, fashion designer Trina Turk and her photographer husband Jonathan Skow purchased the property with plans for an extensive restoration. However, during the house’s rehab, it was destroyed in a fire. Undeterred, they rebuilt using the original plans.

You can head back to South Palm Canyon Drive, turn right and then left onto La Verne Way.

Fire Station #4 (Hugh Kaptur – 1971) – 1300 S La Verne Way

The Palm Springs Fire Department was formed in 1931, several years before the small town was incorporated as a City in 1938.  As Palm Springs grew, more fire stations were constructed, and until today, the City fire protection is provided by five fire stations.  Fire Station #4 was built in 1971.  Over time, the station began to show its age, and its facilities became outdated.   Starting in the summer of 2017, work began on Fire Station #4 to remodel and expand it. The city consulted with Hugh  Kaptur in the renovations so that the station could preserve his mid-century modern look and original vision.  The City’s first fire station was located just north of the California Water & Telephone Building at 369 North Palm Canyon Drive (also a Class 1 historic site). Currently, the City’s oldest fire station is Fire Station #1, located at 277 North Indian Canyon, designed by architect Albert Frey in 1952 in the Modernist architectural style, also a Class 1 historic site.

From here, head North on Sunrise Way to East Mesquite Ave. and turn left. Turn left again at South Driftwood Drive.

Deepwell Estates

William Holden Residence (1956) – 1323 S Driftwood Drive

The architect of this classic mid-century home has yet to be discovered.  Located on an approximately 1 acre site in the heart of the prestigious Deepwell neighborhood, it is a unique example of a custom home using post and beam construction.  Heavily renovated in 2017, the home, while dramatic in its all-white appearance, does not reflect the historic appearance of the house when actor William Holden owned it.

Head North on Driftwood and turn right on  East Ocotillo Ave, then right again on South Calle De Maria.

Leo Koerner Residence (E. Stewart Williams – 1955) – 1275 Calle De Maria

A perfect example of Desert Modernism, the Koerner House was built for Leon and Thea Koerner, a pair of Canadian snowbirds.

William Bogess Residence (Richard Harrison – 1955) – 1366 Calle De Maria

Featured in LA Times Home, January 1, 1956.

John and Bessie Macy Residence  (Hugh Kaptur – 1961)  –  1577 Calle Marcus

Kaptur came to the desert in 1956, and Calle Marcus represents an early phase in Kaptur’s career during which he was experimenting with strong geometric forms, textures, and angles.

Sutter House (E. Stewart Williams – 1958) – 1207 Calle De Maria

Architecturally significant steel framed and concrete block structure wrapped in glass

Head back to Sunrise Way via Sout Mesquite Avenue and turn left. Go to Ramon Road and turn right. St. Theresa will be on your left. 

St. Theresa Catholic Church (William Cody – 1968) – 2800 East Ramon Rd.

The 10-foot marble altars were carved in Italy to Cody’s precise specifications, where the sculptured ceilings drape like tented fabric, and the clerestory windows welcome broad rays of natural light. The main entrance is at the base of a cross shape. Outside, the red and yellow stained glass are in a pattern designed by Cody.

Heat West to Farrell Drive and make a right. Go .6 miles to Tahquitz Canyon Way and make another right. Go .5 miles, and City Hall is on your left.

Palm Springs City Hall – (Clark, Frey & Chambers with collaboration by Williams, Williams, and Williams – 1956)

3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way

Clark & Frey began preliminary Palm Springs City Hall design in 1952. The buildings’ volume and massing reflect the Modernist tenet “Form follows Function”, in which the various elements, such as the Council chamber, are distinctly different from the administrative office wings, reflecting the different functional uses of the spaces within.  Like many of Frey’s designs, City Hall is constructed of simple, almost industrial materials such as unfinished concrete blocks, corrugated metal, and poured-in-place concrete.  The design incorporates a circular motif – found in the round opening in the roof of the main entry, the angled metal cylinders comprising the bris soliel screen across the front of the executive offices, protecting the large areas of glass behind.  A poured-in-place circular concrete roof element is located at the entry to the Council chamber, which is the same diameter as the opening in the many entries, creating a dynamic interplay between solid and void.  Simple corrugated metal and fiberglass panels are used at entries, and corrugated metal screens over the western wing provide solar control for the offices in that wing.    Several additions in 1965, 1972, and 1985 were added to the back (north) side of City Hall.  These additions are not considered historically significant but did add much-needed office space as the City grew.

Sunmor Estates/Enchanted Homes

Donald Wexler & Ric Harrison – 2928, 2968, and 2980 Plaimor Drive,  260 N Airlane Dr

Wexler and Harrison worked for architect William Cody when they first came to Palm Springs in the early 1950’s.  They formed the architectural firm of Wexler and Harrison in 1952 and collaborated on many projects until the firm was dissolved amicably in 1961.

Dan Palmer & William Krisel – 204, 205, and 206 North Airlane Drive

Head West to North Farrell Drive, turn right and then left on East Alejo Road. The Sinatra house will be on your right.

Movie Colony

Twin Palms – Sinatra Residence (E. Stewart Williams – 1947) – 1148 Alejo Road

Sinatra first came to Palm Springs in search of a weekend home for his family after signing a lucrative movie contract with MGM. Sinatra initially requested designs for a Georgian-style mansion, complete with a brick facade and columns. He had just made his first million and wanted to celebrate in grand style.

However, with renderings of a house composed of long horizontal tines and non-traditional building materials, Williams was able to lure Sinatra away from the idea of a Georgian house towards something more “desert appropriate.” Later, Roger Williams, Stewart’s architectural partner and brother, reflected, “We’d have been ruined if we’d been forced to build Georgian in the desert.”

Other Noteworthy Properties

Frey House II – (Albert Frey, 1963, expanded 1967) 686 Palisades Drive

Albert Frey’s second home in Palm Springs is an essay in minimalist steel and glass integrated with the rocky mountainous site on which it is located.  Frey left large natural rock outcroppings on the site and integrated them to subdivide the main living space from the adjacent bedroom.  The house is owned by the Palm Springs Art Museum, which occasionally conducts limited site tours.

Other noteworthy mid-century modern sites that the Palm Springs City Council has granted Class 1 Landmark status include:

City National Bank (Now Bank of America)  588 South Palm Canyon Drive (inspired by the Chapel at Ronchamp France by Le Corbusier).

The Town & Country Center (Architects Paul R. Williams and A. Quincy Jones in collaboration with Donald Wexler, 1948 – 1955) is a fascinating amalgamation of buildings and styles. It reflects the emerging popularity after World War II for modernist architecture and a break with traditional, revivalist architectural styles of the 20s and 30s. 175 North Palm Canyon Drive.

Kocher-Samson Building (Architect Albert Frey 1936, one of the earliest Modernist structures built in Palm Springs. )

J.W. Robinsons’ Department Store (Architects Luckman and Pereira, 1958) is a classic mid-century department store with a “bow-tie” motif on the roof fascia, aggregate “zig-zag” masonry veneer walls, and unique tapered and ribbed steel columns.

By Randy Garner and Ken Lyon

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5 Incredible Mid-Century Modern Homes To Visit In Palm Springs

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• Palm Springs
• United States

Palm Springs is a time capsule of Mid-century Modern architecture. The city has the most extensive collection in the world. If you are an architecture fan, it’s a thrilling experience to explore the neighborhoods and view the spectacular homes reflecting the modern design of the late 1930s to 1970s.

It was a time of post-war optimism and Hollywood glamour. Palm Springs was a playground for the rich and famous who escaped to the desert for the winter months. Hollywood stars were under strict rules from their studios to stay within 120 miles of their lots. Palm Springs was within the limit. Photographers were under the thumb of the studios and were not allowed to photograph any movie star without their consent. In Palm Springs, the stars could relax and let the good times roll. 

The inspiring natural surroundings drew modernist architects because of the stunning mountains and the Coachella Valley desert. These creatives embraced the dramatic landscape in their sleek designs, a variation on Bauhaus or International Style but desert-inspired. One of the first architects was Albert Frey, referred to as the founding father of Desert Modernism. The famous Swiss architect worked in New York, but after a visit in 1934, he fell in love with the area. He returned in 1939 and never left. 

According to architecture expert and founder of Palm Springs Mod Squad , Kurt Cyr, “Palm Springs was a resort community. Residents only lived here for a part of the year, and because of that, they were open to new ideas and modern designs for their second homes.”

Cyr explains four distinct elements of Mid-century Modern homes; the first is the cantilever roof, an unsupported roof section that extends out past the roofline. The second is the clerestory windows installed at the roofline to add light. The third is Brise soleil (French for sunscreen) that allows in light but reduces heat. The shadow block or raised pattern walls was the fourth element. It allowed for privacy, and decorative flair as changing shadows created designs from the sun’s rays.

The following examples are five architecturally significant homes. Two are designated as Class 1, “the highest, most prestigious historic designation available in Palm Springs.” These homes are excellent examples of the modernist movement. They should be on your list when visiting the Capital of Mid-century Modern architecture. Still, luckily due to historic preservation, there are many examples to see. Taking a tour to view them is a must when visiting Palm Springs.

I was a guest of Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels for the PSModSquad Tour, but all opinions are my own.

1. Twin Palms – Sinatra House Architect E. Stewart Williams

Twin Palms on Alejo Road was Frank Sinatra’s primary residence from 1948 to 1957. He walked into the Williams design firm, licking an ice cream cone. He had just signed a movie contract with MGM Studios, and the newly minted millionaire wanted a Georgian-style mansion. Back home in Hoboken, New Jersey, a home-like that meant you made it. But, in the desert, that wouldn’t have worked at all. E. Stewart Williams drew plans for two homes, the Georgian and one of his designs. He explained to Mr. Sinatra why his Desert Modern concept would be the better choice. The long horizontal lines and sliding glass windows would allow for stunning views of the mountains, blurring the outside and the inside. The sprawling home allowed plenty of space for his wife Nancy and his three children (each had their own bedroom) and a private master suite for the couple. The courtyard included a long-covered walkway, a patio, and a piano-shaped pool. Two palm trees, a signature part of the landscaping, become the namesake for the home. The exterior neutral color blended into the surroundings. Frank was sold and employed the architect in May of 1947, requesting Twin Palms be ready by Christmas. He delivered. Frank threw legendary parties and signaled cocktail hour by hoisting a flag between the palms. He had a landing strip outside to hop into his private plane and return to the studio. His was the first “shed roof” house in Palm Springs and was designated a Class 1 Historic Site by the city in 2011. When he lived at home with Ava Gardner, his second wife, they fought so bitterly that Ava threw a champagne bottle at Frank. The bottle left a crack in a bathroom sink and was never repaired. The house is available to rent for parties or special events. 

2. House of Tomorrow — Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway Architect William Krisel

The House of Tomorrow on Ladera Circle was Bob Alexander’s estate. The local real estate developer had it built for his own family in the Vista Las Palmas neighborhood. Based on four circles on three levels, the design looks like it’s launching from the enormous boulder. It was called the House of Tomorrow because of its futuristic shape, and it’s one of the most interesting Mid-century homes in Palm Springs. It has terrazzo floors, stone-clad walls, and four circular wings that total 5,000 square feet. Other features include a sunken living room with a ring of clerestory windows and a fireplace hanging from the ceiling in the center of the room with built-in couches. There are five bedrooms and bathrooms in the funky home. The backyard features a lot of lush landscaping with a chevron-shaped pool. The home sheltered Elvis and Priscilla Presley, who hid out here during their courtship and famous wedding in Las Vegas. The noted couple wanted to escape the public eye when they spent their honeymoon here. Still, they didn’t know that gossip columnist Rona Barrett resided in the home across the street. This home recently sold for 2.6 million dollars and is undergoing significant renovations.  

3. Kaufmann House — Site of  “Poolside Gossip” Architect Richard Neutra

The Kaufmann House became the home of Edgar Kaufmann, the owner of the Kaufmann Department store in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Kaufmann loved modern homes and hired Frank Lloyd Wright to build Fallingwater in 1936. Ten years later, Kaufmann wanted to create a vacation home in Palm Springs in the style of a Desert Modern home. He chose architect Richard Neutra because he felt Wright didn’t understand desert design. After its completion in 1947, even Wright agreed that it was beautiful. Neutra used glass, steel, and stone to create a home with multiple wings branching off from the center of the house, much like a pinwheel. There is a second-story outdoor living room where subsequent owners have enjoyed cocktails alfresco. The building is internationally famous for its design and a photograph from the 1970s by photographer Slim Aarons. The iconic photo “Poolside Gossip” became a symbol of modernism. The image was of a group of casually dressed socialites sitting by a rectangular swimming pool. They were sipping drinks against the backdrop of the mountains and the gorgeous modern home designed by Neutra. It is considered one of the 10 most important residential designs in the world.

4. Edris House — Architect E. Stewart Williams

The Edris House on W Cielo Drive was built seven years after Twin Palms in 1954. William and Marjorie Edris were friends with the Williams and wanted Stewart to make them a winter home. They chose a rocky plot in the Tuscany Heights neighborhood and gave their friend free rein with no budget. The result was spectacular, and it’s still relevant. Williams only moved a few boulders and used the natural landscape in the design. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room allow that blur between the indoor and outdoor spaces allowing stunning views of the Coachella Valley and plenty of gorgeous light to flood the home. Natural materials like wood and rock create that same blur on the exterior of the house. Williams designed the home to look “As if it grew out of the ground rather than falling out of the sky. ” 

5. William Holden Estate — Architect John Porter Clark, Master Builder Joseph Pawling

The William Holden Estate (also known as the Barrett Residence) is a one-acre “through lot” in the desirable Deepwell neighborhood built in 1956. Through lot means the home has frontage on more than one street. Actor William Holden purchased the 4,559 square foot home in 1966 and lived there with actress Stephanie Powers until 1977. The main house has three bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, and there are two guesthouses attached to the main building, making it a five-bedroom five-and-a-half-bathroom home. The entire compound has a flat, cantilevered roof. Forty-seven floor-to-ceiling glass walls pivot to the enormous backyard, which has a 55 by 21-foot pool along with incredible views of the San Jacinto Mountains. It was designated as a Class 1 Historic Site by Palm Springs in March of 2018.

Pro Tips: The best time to visit Palm Springs is from February to April when the temperatures are around the mid-70s. In February, be sure to experience Modernism Week , it’s an 11-day festival with architecture tours, garden tours, parties, special events, and informative talks. All the events are open to the public, and many are inexpensive or completely free.  There are festivals and events throughout the year. Check here for a full listing.

Want to immerse yourself in Mid-century style? Check out our list of the best Airbnbs in Palm Springs , which features some classic Mid-century modern homes that you can rent for your desert getaway.

Learn more about Palm Springs with these articles:

• 9 Most Luxurious Vacation Rentals In Palm Springs, California
• How To Spend A Fantastic Day In Palm Springs
• Weekend Getaway In Palm Springs

Jeanine Consoli is a freelance travel writer, photographer, and foodie based in Washington Crossing, PA. A retired elementary school teacher, she used her summers to feed her passion for travel and kept journals of all the destinations she explored. Today, Jeanine is working as a writer full-time. She loves uncovering the history and understanding the culture of each location, including the local flavors of each unique place. She has traveled extensively in the United States and Europe and is excited to keep adding to the list, finding special places that are off the beaten path both at home and abroad. Follow along with her travels on Jeanine Consoli Travels .

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Palm springs offers both guided and self-guided tours featuing the work of midcentury modern architectural legends and those who lived there..

Staff Report September 12, 2022 Attractions , Current Guide , Modernism

Modern Tours Palm Springs offers a self-guided tour to take at your own pace. PHOTOGRAPH BY DANIELA STALLNGER

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You can safely tour more than 80 famous and architecturally significant modern homes and commercial buildings, guided by the Palm Springs Modern: Mid-Century Modern Architecture app. The app also presents in-depth profiles of 12 leading modernism architects among other features. palmspringslife.com/palm-springs-apps/mod-com-app

THE MODERN TOUR is the luxury architectural tour of Palm Springs.  We are the oldest architectural tour in Palm Springs.   The historical (including Hollywood) and geological context provide a perspective on the tours in which to view Palm Springs' astonishing collection of high-caliber MidCentury Modern architecture and design, and we will have a lot of fun doing it.

Michael Stern is the Author of the best-selling Rizzoli publication "Julius Shulman: Palm Springs, and the Director and Producer of the film "Julius Shulman: Desert Modern" which has aired on PBS.  He curated the exhibition "Julius Shulman: Palm Springs" which is the largest exhibition of Shulman's work that has ever been done, and the largest exhibition exploring Palm Springs' amazing collection of MidCentury Modern architecture and design.  He has lectured extensively, has appeared on "The Today Show" and has made numerous film and television appearances  discussing the joys of modernism and the Palm Springs modern style.  His new book, "Hollywood Modern" was recently released  and focuses on the relationship between celebrities and works of an extremely high architectural caliber, all done in the modern style.  He was close friends with several of the notable Palm Springs architects, including E. Stewart Williams, Donald Wexler, William Krisel, Hugh Kaptur...

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Tour Palm Springs’ Most Iconic Midcentury-Modern Homes by Richard Neutra, Albert Frey, and John Lautner

By Stefanie Waldek

If you ask any architecture enthusiast where to find the best midcentury-modern architecture in America, there’s a good chance you’ll get Palm Springs, California, as your answer. The resort town in the Coachella Valley first drew visitors at the turn of the 20th century, but modernist architecture arrived in the 1930s, when actor Gary Cooper commissioned a home there. Other Hollywood stars followed suit, and soon architects like Richard Neutra, Albert Frey, and John Lautner were busy working on Palm Springs homes. The new book Palm Springs: A Modernist Paradise ( $75, Rizzoli ), with text and photographs by Tim Street-Porters, brings readers on a tour of the city’s iconic properties, many of which have been impeccably restored by their new owners. “Palm Springs is seductive,” writes fashion designer Trina Turk in the foreword. “The air is fresher, the sunshine more intense, the stars at night are brighter, and the cocktails just taste better.” Take a look at of six of the properties featured in the book below.

The Leff-Florsheim House. Designed by Donald Wexler as the Florsheim family’s winter retreat, this 1957 home was restored by a new owner in the 2000s.

The Arthur Elrod House. Local interior designer Arthur Elrod gave architect John Lautner complete creative control of building his residence. The result is a stunning concrete-and-glass construction—perhaps you’ve seen it in the Bond film Diamonds Are Forever .

The Morrison-Strassner Residence. This 1970 hillside house was designed by Patten & Wild, and it was recently restored by designer-architect Tim Morrison and actor-producer Scott Strassner.

Villa Grigio. Architect James McNaughton designed this house in 1964, and today it’s owned by AD100 designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard.

Albert Frey House II. The Swiss architect Albert Frey, who studied under Le Corbusier in Paris, came to Palm Springs in 1934. This was the second home he built for himself here, in 1964.

Palm Springs: A Modernist Paradise , with text and photography by Tim Street-Porter.

By Prinita Thevarajah

By Sam Cochran

By Amir Capogrossi Badreddine

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DIY Mid-Century Modern Palm Springs Tour (& Celebrity Homes in Palm Springs)

Okay, so one of the most amazing parts of visiting Palm Springs is all of the mid-century modern architecture! Easily one of the best things to do (and one of my personal favorites) is hopping in a car (or a bicycle for those a little more ambitious) and doing a DIY mid-century modern Palm Springs tour oohing and ahhing at all the different neighborhoods full of gorgeous mid-century homes, colorful doors, and a healthy dose of celebrity homes from the Golden Age of Hollywood!

Whether the architecture here was high on your radar for your Palm Springs itinerary or an afterthought, I am hoping with this guide to mid-century modern homes in Palm Springs helps inspire you to enjoy a scenic drive through some of the most coveted neighborhoods of Greater Palm Springs and you enjoy hunting down these drool-worthy homes as much as we did!

Also, if it’s a really hot day, driving around in your air-conditioned car and doing a mid-century modern Palm Springs tour is a really great choice (and a quick break from one of the amazing hotels in Palm Springs pools!).

Oh, and if you end up loving MCM so much, you may want to consider coming during Modernism Week , an annual event celebrating mid-century modern architecture, design, and culture that gives visitors a chance to tour famous homes, attend parties, and exhibitions!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links

Why are there so many Mid-Century Modern homes in Palm Springs?

Palm Springs boasts the largest and best-preserved concentration of mid-century modern architecture and homes, making it the perfect destination for a mid-century modern Palm Springs tour. But why are there so many iconic homes, including celebrity homes, in Palm Springs?

In the mid-20th century, Palm Springs became a magnet for celebrities seeking an escape from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. This desert oasis, with its warm climate and stunning landscapes, drew stars like Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Presley. These celebrities not only frequented Palm Springs but also made their home here.

To match their glamorous lifestyles, architects embraced the mid-century modern aesthetic, characterized by clean lines, open spaces, and a connection with nature that blended perfectly with the desert surroundings. Sometimes, the style is also called Desert Modernism. It became popular post-World War II with access to inventive materials and construction techniques.

The desert attracted renowned architects like Richard Neutra, Donald Wexler, and E. Stewart Williams designed homes in the area.

Today, these famous residents and their exquisite homes attract lovers of mid-century modern architecture and those interested in what celebrities live in Palm Springs. Because when you embark on your mid-century modern Palm Springs tour, you’re not just seeing historic architecture. You’re also stepping into the glamorous world of Hollywood’s Golden Age celebrities!

Best Neighborhoods in Palm Springs for Mid-Century Modern Homes

There are really two ways to go on your own mid-century modern Palm Springs tour. You can aimlessly drive or bike around these neighborhoods to peek at the homes and famous Palm Springs doors . Or you can plug in addresses (like for That Pink Door or specific celebrity doors in Palm Springs) and head straight there!

We don’t suggest walking around neighborhoods because it would just take too long. And depending on the time of year, you might be in the scorching heat!

But it’s easy to drive between neighborhoods. And if you’re a guest at a Palm Springs hotel, many of them offer complimentary bike rentals that you can take advantage of. So, let’s first look at neighborhoods you can drive through.

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A great place to start your mid-century modern Palm Springs tour is in the historic neighborhood of Twin Palms. You’ll find it south of downtown Palm Springs, between E Palm Canyon Drive and E La Verne Way.

Developed by renowned architect William Krisel in the 50s, this neighborhood was Palm Springs’ first planned neighborhood. 

Twin Palms is filled with many mid-century modern gems, each with Krisel’s recognizable butterfly roof designs and floor-to-ceiling windows that define the most classic mid-century modern aesthetic! You’ll also find a veritable rainbow of Palm Springs doors. But what makes Twin Palms truly iconic are the signature twin California palm trees that were included with each lot.

Racquet Club Estates

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For those with an appreciation for architectural history, Racquet Club Estates is a must-visit destination in Palm Springs. It’s located north of E Vista Chino Avenue, between Indian Canyon Drive and Avenida Caballeros.

The area was developed in the 60s as a destination for those who frequented the historic Palm Springs Racquet Club Resort.

Racquet Club Estates showcases the innovative designs of iconic architects like William Krisel and Donald Wexler (famous for the Wexler Steel Houses). Though you’ll find a variety of homes as you wander the neighborhood, they all feature elements of the mid-century modern style.

In fact, the Raquet Club Estates is credited with making the architectural style synonymous with Palm Springs! To see the modern beam-and-post homes, weave along the side streets between the three main streets: E Via Escuela, E Racquet Club Road, and E Francis Drive.

Vista Las Palmas

Once called the Beverly Hills of Palm Springs, Vista Las Palmas boasts several classic mid-century homes, including famous former residences of Dean Martin and George Hamilton. You can also see the house where Elvis and Priscilla spent their honeymoon!

Vista Las Palmas is also known for its stunning desert mountain views and beautiful Mid-Century Modern homes. Developed in the 1950s, you’ll find the iconic butterfly roof designs and bold desert landscaping that capture the essence of the mid-century modern era.

This neighborhood is considered roughly by Stevens Road to the east, Monte Vista Drive to the west, and Via Colusa to the south. The northern boundary of Vista Las Palmas is typically considered to be West El Chorro Way.

Indian Canyons

An essential neighborhood to visit on any mid-century modern Palm Springs tour is the Indian Canyons neighborhood. Not to be confused with Indian Canyons (which is an excellent nearby preserve for hiking and one of the best things to do in Palm Springs outdoors), the prestigious neighborhood is part of the Indian Canyons Golf Resort.

The area was a favorite among Hollywood celebrities in the mid-20th century because of its breathtaking location nestled in a valley among the towering San Jacinto Mountains. There are several architecturally significant homes here, including an array of some of the best Palm Springs doors!

Indian Canyons is where you’ll find the infamous That Pink Door in Palm Springs. That one is at 1100 E Sierra Way, but along the same stretch of road, there are several more doors you’ll want to check out. Some good ones include a stunning turquoise door at 2244 S Yosemite, and a few blocks away, 2063 Madrona Drive features an incredibly unique palm leaf-style door.

Deepwell Estates

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The history of Deepwell Estates goes all the way back to the 1920s when it was an apricot farm in Coachella Valley. Named for the well that kept the farm flourishing, the owner sold it off as a subdivision in the 1950s, when it became a luxurious neighborhood and home to some big names in Hollywood, like Eva Gabor, Jerry Lewis, and even Oscar Mayer.

Today, you can find a mix of modern and traditional designs throughout the neighborhood. Palm-lined streets feature California Ranch-style homes and charming mid-century modern homes. For some of the best examples, drive down Calle Marcus and Calle de Maria, though you’ll find gorgeous homes throughout Deepwell Estates!

Old Las Palmas

Home to some of the most beautiful and famous houses in Palm Springs, the neighborhood of Old Las Palmas should be at the top of the list of any mid-century modern Palm Springs tour.

As early as the 1930s, many celebrities called this exclusive neighborhood home, including Lucille Ball, Donna Reed, the Douglas family, and Liberace. You’ll find these names and more on our list below of celebrity homes in Palm Springs to visit!

Today, Old Las Palmas is a frequent stop for those interested in checking out the most famous homes in Palm Springs to visit! For architecture lovers, pay attention to the mix of Spanish-Colonial Revival and Mid-Century Modern, which creates a unique blend of styles.

Little Tuscany

Probably the most exclusive and unique neighborhood in town, Little Tuscany is tucked away between Old Las Palmas and Chino Canyon in North Palm Springs. Situated in the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains, it’s known for its scenic beauty and celebrity allure.

You’ll understand when you drive through the hilly roads that make up this tiny neighborhood! Little Tuscany gets its name for its blend of Mediterranean-inspired homes, desert landscapes, and breathtaking mountain views. Many homes feature terra-cotta roofs and stucco exteriors, while others are mysteriously hidden behind tall gates and lush privacy hedges. 

The neighborhood has been home to a diverse range of notable residents over the years, including Zsa Zsa Gabor and Austrian composer Ernst Krenek. And at the entrance of the neighborhood (at 700 W Panorama Rd) you’ll find one of the most striking Palm Spring doors!

Movie Colony

Movie Colony is where some of the biggest names from the golden age of Hollywood made their homes. It’s an essential stop for any mid-century modern Palm Springs tour! In fact, this neighborhood gained its name because it was such a favored residence for many Hollywood stars.

Notable former residents of the Movie Colony include legendary stars like Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant, Estée Lauder, and Marilyn Monroe. Today, the neighborhood’s legacy has also drawn a handful of boutique hotels to the area.

The Movie Colony features a variety of architectural styles, but it is particularly famous for its well-preserved Mid-Century Modern homes. Prominent architects like William Cody and Albert Frey have left their mark on this neighborhood, contributing to its architectural significance.

Famous Homes to See on Your Mid-Century Modern Palm Springs Tour

Now, you may want to see specific Palm Springs doors or hunt down the home of your favorite celebrity. There are so many it would be impossible to list them all, but here are are few of our favorites that we spotted while driving around and exploring the homes of Palm Springs!

Marilyn Monroe House

Address: 953 Avenida Palmas & 1326 N Rose Ave

One of the most famous celebrity homes in Palm Springs is the sprawling  Sand Acres Estate  in Movie Colony. This stunning Spanish-style home is rumored to be where Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio spent time together!

Today, it’s a coveted vacation rental you can book a stay at this stunning estate! It comes complete with a private tennis court, an inground pool, and 4 bedrooms, including a king-sized main bedroom. You can book Sand Acres Estate here .

Another property associated with Ms Monroe is located in Vista Las Palmas (near many other celebrity homes in Palm Springs) that is easy to identify by the road from the gorgeous pink mailbox. This home is a masterpiece by Charles DuBois and built-in 1961. However, due to the year being built, many speculate that this home being tied to Monroe is a rumor only.

After peeking at both homes associated with Marilyn Monroe in Palm Springs, be sure to visit the giant 26-foot statue in front of the Palm Springs Art Museum.

Elizabeth Taylor’s House

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Address: 901 N Prescott Dr

One of the most stunning modern structures in Palm Springs stands out in the Los Palmas neighborhood. It was owned by Hollywood royalty, Elizabeth Taylor.

The stark white color and sharp corners of the minimalist home are quite a sight among the mountains and palm trees that surround it! And while it’s not open to the public, the home has  recently come on the market  for a mere 4 million dollars.

Dinah Shore Estate

Address: 432 Hermosa Place

You’d never know it, but the Dinah Shore Estate in Las Palmas is owned by Leonardo DiCaprio. When he’s not staying there, he rents it out and also offers tours through the  home’s website .

This famous home is a favorite for fans of modern architecture, being one of the few Wexler Steel homes designed by Donald Wexler in the 1950s. Today, it’s a stunning example of the innovative mid-century modern design.

This home is said to be owned by Leonardo DiCaprio now making this celebrity home in Palm Springs tied to big names in different eras of showbiz!

Frank Sintara’s Twin Palm Estate

Address: 1145 E Vía Colusa

A favorite stop on a Mid-Century Modern Palm Springs tour is Frank Sinatra’s  Twin Palms Estate  in Movie Colony. Designed by E. Stewart Williams, this estate was Frank Sinatra’s Palm Springs residence and is known for its piano-shaped swimming pool.

These days, Twin Palms is a vacation rental offering guests a chance to live like Ol’ Blue Eyes himself! The home retains its Old Hollywood charm while also offering guests the best of modern amenities, including 4 luxurious bedrooms, a state-of-the-art kitchen, and a heated pool. You can book a stay at Twin Palm Estate here .

Walt Disney’s House

Address: 2688 S Camino Real

Walt Disney owned a few homes in Palm Springs over the years and was often at the Indian Canyons Golf Resort. So, it was no surprise when he purchased a home in the heart of Indian Canyons, right off the 2nd hole!

Today, the home is a private residence, but you can see the classic California Ranch home from the street in all its retro glory.

Zsa Zsa Gabor’s House

Address: 595 W Chino Canyon Drive

Another one-of-a-kind home in Palm Springs is The Arches, built by architect James McNaughton in 1969. Some call it the Gabor House, since the actress was rumored to have lived here (and in several other homes in Palm Springs!).

Located at the end of W Chino Canyon Drive at the entrance of the Little Tuscany neighborhood, the dramatic archways of the unique estate can’t be missed. Inside, the home is the epitome of desert living, with sky-high ceilings, terrazzo floors, and floor-to-ceiling windows that open up to the most majestic Greek-style pool you’ve ever seen.

Barry Manilow’s House aka Kauffman House

Address: 470 W Vista Chino

One of the most famous houses in Palm Springs, the Kaufmann house has a long history. It was originally designed by Richard Neutra in 1946 for Pittsburgh department store magnate, Edgar J. Kaufmann Sr., who previously had Frank Lloyd Wright design his home in Pennsylvania! The home was later owned by Barry Manilow, as well.

The modern steel, glass, and stone style of the Kauffman House is considered architecturally significant and was the subject of many photographers. It was actually the location of  Poolside Gossip (a famous photograph) and was used as a filming location in the 2022 film, Don’t Worry Darling  as Frank’s (Chris Pine’s character) home.

Liberace House

Address: 1441 N Kaweah Road & 501 N Belardo Road

The famous pianist Liberace lived well and was known to own many homes in California and beyond. He owned two different homes in Palm Springs, both in Old Las Palmas.

The Piazza de Liberace can be found on N Kaweah Road and was most recently purchased by diehard fans of the musician. The huge Spanish-style boutique turned home on Belardo Road, called The Cloisters, was the last place that Liberace called home.

Kirk Douglas House

Address: 515 W Via Lola & 1069 E Marshall Way

Another stunning Wexler Steel house is the Douglas family estate on W Via Lola in Old Las Palmas. This site was home to Kirk Douglas and clan for 40 years, from the 50s through the 90s. Today it’s a private residence, but it’s definitely worth a stop if you’re a fan of the actor.

But that’s not the only home Douglas lived in with his family in Palm Springs. Their first house on E Marshall Way is today a  popular Ranch-style vacation rental . You can find it in the Ruth Hardy Park neighborhood, adjacent to Movie Colony. The 4-bedroom home features modern amenities, including a wine cellar, an exposed fireplace, a fire table, and more.

Elvis Presley Honeymoon Hideaway

The Vista Las Palmas residence known as the Elvis Presley Honeymoon Hideaway originally claimed fame as the House of the Future before the Presleys ever stayed there. It was created by architect William Krisel in1960, who decked it out in all the latest technology, as well as George Jetson-style furniture!

Elvis and Pricilla purchased the home in 1967 to stay in during their extended honeymoon and continued to use it as a weekend house for another year after that. Today, the home is still eye-catching with its unique polygon-shaped bay window. This is a home that regularly offers tours during Modernism Week too!

Nat King Cole House

Address: 1258 N Rose Avenue

Today it’s a private residence, but if you’re exploring the mid-century modern beauties to be found in Vista Las Palmas, here’s another one. While it’s a private residence today, 1258 N Rose Avenue was the home of Nat King Cole for a short time in the 1960s. Perhaps you can snap a picture on a bicycle built for 2 in his honor (if you can find one in Palm Springs)!

Dean Martin House

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Address: 1123 N Via Monte Vista

Palm Springs was known to be a favorite getaway for all the original members of the Rat Pack, including Dean Martin. He bought his classic butterfly-roof house in Vista Las Palmas with his wife, model Jeanne Martin. You can see the monochromatic white Mid-Century Modern home with its sweeping lines framed by towering California palms on N Via Monte Vista.

The Lucy House

Address: 1194 N Via Miraleste

Whether you’re mapping out your mid-century modern Palm Springs tour or want to live like the Hollywood elite in the heart of Palm Springs, this next home is an essential stop! The Lucy House was once owned by Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz, this luxurious Spanish-style estate in Movie Colony is a cozy stay for a large group of up to 10 people.

Enjoy indoor and outdoor dining, a 35-foot pool, outdoor spa, BBQ grills, chaise lounges, a fire pit, and more! Each bedroom has French doors that open up onto the backyard. And the entire property is surrounded by 12-foot-tall privacy hedges for your comfort. You can book the Lucy House here .

Sonny & Cher House

Address: 210 W Camino Carmelita

While  Villa Carmelita  is best known for once being the home of Sonny Bono and Cher, it was originally built for Citizen Kane actor Joseph Cotton. The sprawling Spanish villa was renovated in recent years and turned into a vacation rental.

Now, you can stay in the lap of luxury in this home boasting dramatic details, 5 chic bedrooms, and cozy gathering spaces. Outdoors, you can enjoy gardens, fire pits, a heated pool, and more. You can book the Sonny & Cher house here .

That Pink Door

Address: 1100 E Sierra Way

Possibly the most famous of all the Palm Springs doors, That Pink Door at 1100 E Sierra Way is a popular stop on any Palm Springs tour. Its actual name is Villa Sierra, and it’s now a  vacation rental you can stay in ! Stay in the beautiful Indian Canyons neighborhood in southern Palm Springs and enjoy all the chic comforts this stunning mid-century modern villa has to offer. 

Don’t Worry Darling Cul-de-Sac

Address: 566 E Flor Circle

I know, this movie was a hot topic but we loved it, and seeking out the Don’t Worry Darling filming locations was really fun while we were driving around on our DIY mid-century modern Palm Springs tour.

We already mentioned the infamous Kauffman Estate, but another iconic film location from the film, Don’t Worry Darling (2022) is the main cul-de-sac where Alice and Jack lived. In real life, it’s located in Canyon View Estates, next to Indian Canyons. The entire cul-de-sac was another endeavor of Palm Springs architects, Dan Palmer and William Krisel.

When you turn onto E Flor Circle, the effect is a bit eerie! Each of the charming duplex condominiums lining the street features a beam-and-post construction, geometric facades, attached carports, and manicured lawns. All around, you’ll see the green palm trees native to Palm Springs, as well as the mountains in the distance, making you feel like you’re back in Victory.

Howard Hughes Mini Estate

Address: 2195 Rim Road

If you want to see the former home of American aviator and businessman Howard Hughes, go for a scenic drive a short way south of Palm Springs. Along a long stretch of Rim Road, you’ll see what looks like a small mid-century modern oasis, and that’s the Howard Hughes Mini Estate .

Hughes was known to relish luxury, as well as his privacy, so fans of the mogul will not be surprised at how isolated this property is! While it’s not much to look at from the road, the home is impressive, featuring 2 levels.

The open-concept home then extends another level down to the kidney-shaped pool below. Set on a hillside, the estate was designed to take in the breathtaking views of the surrounding valley, with viewing porches and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Better yet, you can stay here! See the gorgeous property and book a stay here .

The Hope Residence

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Address: 2466 Southridge Drive

Not far from the Howard Hughes Mini Estate is another stunner, Bob Hope’s House on the winding Southridge Drive. Designed by the famous modern architect, John Lautner, the house has been described as a giant mushroom or even a flying saucer. But the structure was actually inspired by a volcano and features a crater-like sky roof in the middle! The house was also created to take in amazing views of Coachella Valley.

Lautner was commissioned by Hope in the 1970s to build the house. At over 23,000 square feet, it was the architect’s largest creation! It’s quite beautiful, surrounded by grassy lawns and stone waterfalls. And while the road to the estate is private, avid hikers can get a good view of the house from the  Araby Trail .

Elrod House

Address: 2175 Southridge Drive

John Lautner was also the designer of another infamous structure along Southridge Drive in Araby Cove. At the very front of the private road is the Elrod House , which was immortalized in the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever (1971). It was also featured in The Big Lebowski (1998) before being donated to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 2016. Today, the house is only viewable during Modernism Week.

The modernist home is best known for its intense concrete dome fan that makes up most of the main interior. Inspired by his former master, Frank Lloyd Wright, Lautner designed the Elrod house using natural rock surfaces on the hillside. It’s considered an example of organic architecture, a branch of modernism that was made popular during the mid-20th century. 

You can actually stay here too! Check out the Elrod House listing to make a reservation .

Bing Crosby Estate

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Address: 70375 Calico Road

Located in Rancho Mirage, about 25 minutes from Palm Springs, you’ll find the 1957 Bing Crosby Estate. If you can get access to the super exclusive and gated Thunderbird Heights where it’s located, the low-slung mid-century modern home is a sight to behold! It features larger-than-life details, like walk-in closets, a massive stone fireplace, recess glass doors, and more.

If the walls of this retro home could talk, they would tell of the fabulous parties Bing Crosby was known to hold here! Guests of the sprawling estate included Marilyn Monroe and JFK. It recently  went on the market for a cool $ 4.5 million , one of the highest rates around, even for the exclusive neighborhood.

Enjoyed this guide to buidling your very own mid-century modern Palm Springs tour? Bookmark for later or share the love below on Pinterest!

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Mid Century Modern Tours

Nothing like seeing in person how seamlessly Mid Century Modern art and furniture fit into a Frank Lloyd Wright, E. Stewart Williams or Richard Neutra designed home. If you live in a smaller city and can’t find an organized tour, consider connecting with your local American Institute of Architects (AIA) organization. If there’s not one for your city, there will be for your state.

Modern Architecture & Design Society Tours (MA+DS) – This organization conducts home tours throughout the year in the following cities: Austin, TX, Boulder, CO, San Diego, CA, Washington, DC, Houston, TX, Vancouver, BC, Portland and Seattle, WA.

You pay for tickets online, print out your tickets or save it to your mobile device. On the tour day, you arrive at the homes listed on the website. You’re allowed entry to all the homes listed on the tour. The architects, interior designers and possibly even the homeowners will be there to meet you and explain how they used Mid Century Modern Design to meet homeowners’ needs and aesthetic preferences.

Sacramento Mid Century Modern Home Tours (June) – Lasting just one day, Sacramento Modern Association facilitates a self-guided tour showcasing a variety of mid-20th century living throughout South Land Park, Land Park, and Hollywood Park neighborhoods. The tour stops on examples from minimalist to kitsch, ranch and modern homes. Tickets include a guidebook with the history of these homes and the Mid Century Modern movement. The event also includes modern and vintage products from local designers and vendors.

The Modern Tour Palm Springs – This company leads groups of six or less through Palm Springs homes designed by Richard Neutra, Donald Wexler, E. Stewart Williams and William Krisel. During the two-and-a-half hour tour, visitors enter the homes of Hollywood icons, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Peter Lawford and William Holden. The $200 fee isn’t cheap, but it includes a copy of the KPBS documentary Julius Shulmun: Desert Modern.

Chicago Architecture Center – Interested in the commercial buildings created by Modern architects? The Chicago Architecture Center runs a tour for private groups covering buildings by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Bertrand Goldberg and Harry Weese. The tour includes Marina City, the Daley Center, and the IBM building.

More Activities for Mid Century Modern Enthusiasts

Mid Century Modern Auctions

Mid Century Modern Events

Mid Century Modern Shows

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Cool cats and tiki treats: Inside the outrageous Midcentury Modern Shag House in Palm Springs

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In a neighborhood filled with homogeneous Midcentury Modern residences, Brandon McBurney’s Palm Springs home stands out thanks to its 10-foot-tall lime green doors that face the street.

“I wanted something that would stand up to the history of the Palm Springs front door ,” says Josh Agle , the artist popularly known as Shag, who designed the house and chose the lively hue. “There’s no such thing as too cheesy.”

Agle was referring to the Shag House , McBurney’s four-bedroom home designed by architects Dan Palmer and William Krisel for the Alexander Construction Co. in 1958. The house started as a whimsical idea by branding guru John-Patrick Flynn in 2021: Purchase a run-down Midcentury Modern tract home in Palm Springs and invite Shag to reimagine it as one of his artworks.

The front patio and the outdoor lounge at the Shag House. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

On a recent sunny afternoon, Agle, whose colorful artworks depict cool cats, Hawaiian tiki gods and martini-sipping swingers, had just put the finishing touches on the house, which will be open to the public during Modernism Week , which runs Feb. 15-25.

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“We built it exactly to his specifications,” says Flynn, who found the house along with McBurney and Agle after looking at 22 others. “Josh created a piece of art, handed it to us, and said, ‘Build this.’ And we did.”

The process was sometimes challenging. For instance, when Agle designed an outdoor bar topped with a round roof, the contractors told the trio it was impossible to build. However, the 61-year-old artist insisted. “He stayed true to his design,” Flynn says of the bar, now ready for cocktail service.

As the principal designer, Agle had the final say on the home’s design, with some input from McBurney, 46, who purchased the house in the Little Beverly Hills neighborhood of Palm Springs for $935,750 in 2021.

“I would do renderings, and they would often tell me it would be hard to do,” Agle says of the design and build process. “I changed some things. But I was unbending on the bar, especially since it was in the renderings, and they had shown it on social media.”

Although McBurney was OK with Agle’s tongue-in-cheek designs, including cat-, tiki- and Asian-themed bedrooms with velvet paintings and Googie-style lava lamps, he wasn’t initially sold on the home’s orange ceilings. But now he’s a fan. His only request? A hanging daybed and a Buddha statue overlooking the pool in the backyard.

Agle’s artworks tread between lighthearted joy and sincere nostalgia: Rat Packers spinning records and sipping martinis inside the John Lautner Compound in Desert Hot Springs; cocktail parties at Richard Neutra’s Kaufmann Desert House ; and a family picnic outside the Eames House in Pacific Palisades. His latest piece, “The Mammoth Martini,” was inspired by his father, who was in a fraternity at UCLA. The painting hangs over the bar in the game room and is fully realized in the Shag House’s backyard.

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“I’ve always been a fan of Shag’s art,” says McBurney, an e-commerce executive for supermarket chain Kroger who has been coming to Palm Springs for more than 20 years. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, he lives in the desert full-time and hopes to open his home for fundraising and charity events.

“How can I not share this house?” says McBurney, decked out in a Palm Springs-appropriate pink and green floral blazer by Mr. Turk. (McBurney describes the renovation as a “million-dollar” project, including what he spent and donations from sponsors Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, JennAir and California Closets, among others.)

He adds, sounding a bit wistful: “I’m so blessed to be able to live here. This house is iconic. It’s a beautiful representation of Josh’s art.”

Agle admits he wasn’t a fan of Palm Springs when he first came to the desert enclave in the 1980s. “It was pretty boring,” he says. “But the architecture was amazing — even the commercial buildings. You could see what it once was. I started painting not what it used to be but what I hoped it would become. I was painting the lifestyle I wanted to live, the parties I wanted to be at and the houses I wanted to live in.”

Today, past and present collide at the Shag House, which is a testament to sunny midcentury Palm Springs and the postwar optimism of that time. In fact, it’s hard to feel sad while experiencing the Shag House, which is a little like viewing a holiday light display: You can’t help but smile when you see it and wish it would stay open all year.

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Like Palm Springs itself, the house has a casual vacation vibe. “I didn’t want to take the house too seriously,” Agle says as he walks by an Operation game-inspired artwork depicting a Hennessy Heart, Bacardi Brain and Ketel One Kidney.

Clad in a chartreuse sport coat, white pants and a vintage-inspired shirt made from a fluorescent print fabric, Agle says, “There is a strong alcohol theme throughout the house, which plays into my art as well.”

Agle doesn’t drink anymore — he drolly describes it as “career research” — but he still loves to paint alcohol-fueled party scenes. “It points to a mythical lifestyle that Palm Springs encapsulates,” Agle says. “People from L.A. and movie stars would come to Palm Springs and start drinking at noon, have drinks at the clubhouse, go out to Melvyn’s and have a couple more drinks. Because they weren’t working, they could live that lifestyle, if only for a weekend.”

Regarding the home’s colorful interiors, which feature a glossy orange and green kitchen, blue Case Study-style daybeds and an Eames lounge chair in a custom orange fabric, Agle wanted to fight neutral trends like cream-colored boucle. “Ten to 15 years ago, you’d walk into a Midcentury Modern shop in Palm Springs, and everything was turquoise and green,” he says. “The colors I chose for the house — mostly orange, green and blue — are appropriate for Palm Springs.”

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The result is an upbeat and happy home that feels like you have somehow touched down in a surreal version of one of Agle’s paintings.

“It is no surprise that Shag is an icon in Palm Springs,” says Elizabeth Armstrong, an independent curator and former director of the Palm Springs Art Museum, in an email. While Modernism Week takes historic preservation seriously, Armstrong adds, “Shag has created a new kind of concept house. A Retro-Futurist known for his nostalgic take on all things Midcentury Modern, visitors can immerse in a totally seductive and surreal 3-D version of Shag’s take on Camp Modernism. It’s Shagalicious.”

Colorful lights and a classic Shag mural set the scene in the dining room. The side yard hosts a ping-pong table. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

After two years of supply chain issues, labor disruptions and weather delays, the Shag House is finally ready to open its doors on Feb. 15. Representatives for Modernism Week estimate that more than 4,000 people will come through the house, in addition to it hosting special events and parties for more than 300 people. As Agle prepares for the unveiling, he hopes visitors will “have fun and don’t take it too seriously.”

True to their initial concept, the home is a timeless treasure from a forward-thinking team that worked to preserve its past.

“We added square footage, but you can still recognize that it’s an Alexander house,” says project manager Flynn. “I found a woman whose grandparents owned the house from 1968 to 1992, and I invited her and her stepbrother to come see the house. She stood there with tears and said, ‘I recognize my grandparents’ house. I see the magic that you have created.’”

Shag House events during Modernism Week

The Shag House Signature Home Tour, Modernism Week 2024: Feb. 15-25. Ticket: $40.

Poolside Fashion at the Shag House: The Style of Trina Turk: 11 a.m. Feb. 20. Ticket: $95.

Poolside Fashion at the Shag House: The History of the Caftan: 11 a.m. Feb. 21. Ticket: $125.

Swinging Mid Mod Cocktail Party: At the Shag House: 7 p.m. Feb. 21. Ticket: $250.

Poolside Fashion at the Shag House: The Style of Candice Held: 11 a.m. Feb. 22. Ticket: $95.

The Mammoth Martini Party at the Shag House: 8 p.m. Feb. 23. Ticket: $125.

For tickets to these events and more information, visit modernismweek.com .

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Lisa Boone is a features writer for the Los Angeles Times. Since 2003, she has covered home design, gardening, parenting, houseplants, even youth sports. She is a native of Los Angeles.

Mariah Tauger was a staff photographer with the Los Angeles Times from 2019-24. Prior to joining the team, she worked in the magazine, freelance and nonprofit world, specializing in lifestyle and features photography. For over a decade, she has covered topics ranging from the Olympics to celebrity chefs and her work has been featured in almost every major American publication. Originally from Colorado, Tauger is an avid environmentalist and outside of photography, her passion lies with animal rights and advocacy.

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Mad for Mid-Century: Palm Springs Self-Guided Architecture Tour

Palm Springs lays claim to the “Largest Concentration of Mid-Century Modern Architecture in the United States”. Let’s take a nostalgic self-guided architecture tour of Palm Springs and discover the magic of Desert Modernism.

What you’ll find in this post:

What is Desert Modernism?

• How did Palm Springs become the Mecca of Mid-Century architecture?
• Architects to know and love
• Palm Springs self-guided architecture tour itinerary

Hidden gems

• Other ways to enjoy Desert Modernism in Palm Springs

Palm Springs self-guided architecture tour map

• Download a printable version of the tour directions/addresses to take in the car

From highly customized mansions to suburban tract-housing, Palm Springs was at the forefront of American architecture during the mid-20th-century. Visionary architects working in the burgeoning Coachella Valley put their own spin on Bauhaus and the International Style, reworking it for the desert environment.

Desert Modernism, as it has become known, is an interpretation of the International Style that suited the Southern Californian and American Southwest climate and lifestyle. Architects adapted concepts of European Bauhaus to fit the local environment, à la Frank Lloyd Wright .

Desert Modernism, is recognizable by its minimalist, clean lines and use of mass-produced building materials. Roof lines are often flat, asymmetrical “skillion” or butterfly-wing v-shapes. Floorplans are open with lots of windows and sliding glass doors that bring the outside in and vice-versa. While breeze blocks and sun shades temper desert heat.

Mid-Century architecture in Palm Springs

So how did all this cool architecture end up in Palm Springs? The area first became trendy in the early 1900s. Dry air was thought to be good for tuberculosis suffers and so the desert town started to flourish with hotels and health resorts. However, the two World Wars took their toll.

After World War II, Palm Springs’ re-emerged as a popular winter escape, notably for movie industry elites and deep-pocketed industrialists from the east coast. It is said that Hollywood studios had their stars on a 2-hour leash, so Palm Springs was a local getaway that didn’t contravene their contractual obligations.

The wealthy brought their “keeping-up-with-the-Jones’” mentality with them, and the desire to have the latest, greatest design and technology for their holiday homes. They could back these desires with the fat wallets it took to commission the day’s foremost architects to design them something highly original and cutting edge.

Simultaneously, the masses rolled into the Coachella Valley and its population swelled. Builders struggled to keep up with the influx. Tract housing became the natural solution – you know, those Stepford Wives-esque, cookie cutter developments. The minimalism of Desert Modernism was perfect for developers trying to erect houses fast and cheap. Hence, downscaled versions of “it” homes and innovative new building materials trickled down to the every-person.

Some decades later the trend changed. During the 1970s and 80s, cheaper air fares and more flexible Hollywood working conditions allowed stars to travel the world. The local economy suffered and there weren’t the financial resources to demolish and rebuild structures that had fallen out of style. So, Palm Springs’ Modernist buildings lay preserved until trends turned back in favour of Mid-Century Modern in the early 1990s.

Architects (and builders/developers) to know and love

Before we embark on our Palm Springs self-guided architecture tour, let me give you a quick snapshot of a few architects and developers that were highly influential on the city’s streetscape and the evolution of Desert Modernism. If you want to crack on with the tour, click here to jump right in .

Richard Neutra

Austrian born, raised and trained, Neutra immigrated to the U.S. in 1923 where he worked with Frank Lloyd Wright and Rudolf N. Schindler before branching out on his own. Of the three homes Neutra designed in Palm Springs, his masterpiece is the residence he designed for Edgar Kaufmann in 1946.

John Lautner

Yep, the John Lautner that Dua Lipa references in the song, Future Nostalgia (although the video was actually shot in the Graham Phillips designed “Skywood House” in the UK–but I digress). After training under Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin West, Lautner moved to LA and focused on residential architecture. His combination of progressive engineering and dramatic space-age flair culminated in the Palm Springs homes for Arthur Elrod and Bob Hope.

Donald Wexler

Hailing from South Dakota, and studying at the University of Minnesota, Donald Wexler served in the Navy during WWII before moving to LA. He worked for Richard Neutra for a while, then relocated to Palm Springs where he was employed by William Cody. Wexler partnered with Richard Harrison for a time. Together they designed many school buildings and the Steel Development Homes for Alexander Construction Company. Other notable designs include the Dinah Shore Residence, Spa Hotel Bath House (demolished) and Royal Hawaiian Estates.

William “Bill” Krisel

Born in Shanghai to American expats, Krisel was raised in China until age 13. He studied architecture at the University of Southern California and became a licensed landscape architect. There are 30,000 residences in Southern California that can be attributed to Krisel.  As a personal friend of Bob Alexander, his name appears on many Alexander Construction Company developments.

E. Stewart Williams

Born in Dayton, Ohio the son of an architect, Williams studied at Cornell and the University of Pennsylvania. Some of his notable Palm Springs designs include the Palm Springs Art Museum, Coachella Savings and Loan (now a Chase Bank), Palm Springs Aerial Tramway station and Frank Sinatra Estate.

William F. Cody

Like Williams, Cody was born in Dayton, Ohio. He studied architecture at the University of Southern California before moving to Palm Springs in 1946. He designed the Del Marcos Hotel the following year and went on to work on several clubhouses and Country Club developments as well as projects outside Palm Springs. Among Cody’s celebrated designs are Abernathy House, Palm Springs Public Library and his contribution to the demolished Palm Springs Spa Hotel.

Albert Frey

Frey was born in Zurich, Switzerland and studied architecture at the Institute of Technology in Winterthur. He worked in Paris for Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret before moving to the US in 1928. While working with A. Lawrence Kocher on the East Coast for some years, a project brought Frey to Palm Springs. In California, he worked with John Porter Clark. Buildings of note include Frey House I and II, and the Tramway Gas Station (now the Palm Springs Visitor Center).

John Porter Clark

Born in Iowa, Clark studied architecture at Cornell and apprenticed with Garrett Van Pelt in Pasadena. He relocated to Palm Springs to find more work. In 1935, Clark met Albert Frey with who he partnered on eight projects. Frey left for a time to pursue projects outside Palm Springs and rejoined Clark on his return.

George and Robert Alexander (land developers and builders)

The Alexander Construction Company was founded by Robert Alexander financed by his father George. They specialized in residential developments, creating affordable tract housing estates in the Coachella Valley. The prolific developers helped to double the size of Palm Springs. Their homes are known colloquially as the “Alexanders” though they enlisted William Krisel to provide much of the architecture.  They also partnered with architects Charles Dubois and Donald Wexler.

Hugh Kaptur

Born in Detroit, Kaptur studied architectural engineering and served with the Marines in Southern California. His first built project was his in-law’s real estate office before working for General Motor’s styling division back in Detroit. He relocated to Palm Springs in 1956 and apprenticed for Wexler and Harrison. Kaptur designed the Triangle Inn, Fire Station #3 (with Robert Ricciardi) and #4, the Musicland Hotel and houses for Steve McQueen and William Holden among others. He is still active as of July 2019.

Jack and Bernie Meiselman (land developers and builders)

The Meiselman brothers have a mysterious background. What we do know is Jack was a builder who worked with the Alexander Construction Company for a time. After a falling out with the Alexanders, Jack teamed up with brother Bernie, buying up land close to Alexander plots and building a variation on his former partner’s design. It is easy to confuse Meiselmans with neighbouring Alexanders from the outside, but each had their own distinct floorplan that could identify them from the inside. The Meiselmans built approximately 350 tract homes in Palm Springs, making them much rarer than Alexanders.

Joseph Eichler (developer)

Eichler was born in New York City in 1900 and studied business at New York University. He took a job for a San-Francisco based business owned by his in-laws and moved to California in 1940. Between 1949 and 1974 Eichler Homes developed tract estates, mostly in the north of the state. One of his principal architects was A. Quincy Jones. Eichler did not build homes in Palm Springs, but his Mid-Century designs have been licensed and built there in recent years (more on that later).

A. Quincy Jones

Jones was born in Kansas City, Missouri raised in Gardena, California and completed his Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Washington in Seattle.  Returning to LA, he worked with a slew of modernist architects including Douglas Honnold, George Vernon Russell, Burton A. Schutt and Paul Williams. It was with Paul Williams he later partnered on several Palm Springs projects including Palm Springs Tennis Club (1947), the Town & Country Restaurant (1948), and Romanoff’s On the Rocks (1950). He went on to work with the aforementioned developer, Joseph Eichler as well as William Pereira.

Palm Springs self-guided architecture tour

It only makes sense to begin at the Palm Springs Visitor Center, situated inside the 1965 Albert Frey-designed Tramway Gas Station. Take a look inside and chat to the volunteers about any questions you may have about specific homes, architects or things to do in and around Palm Springs. You may also find it useful to pick up a physical map, though I will provide a Google Map at the end of this post.

Racquet Club Estates

From the Visitor Center, take West San Rafael Drive east into the Racquet Club Estates for your first glimpse of the /Alexander Construction Company Steel Houses. Designed in 1960 by Donald Wexler and Richard Harrison, these pre-fabricated, all-steel homes were to fill an entire neighbourhood. However, after seven homes were built, rising steel prices made further homes in this style, cost-prohibitive. All seven homes are now Class One Historic Sites.

There are many other great homes in this area, many of which are Palmer and Krisel creations for the Alexander Construction Co – I’ve listed some of my favourite addresses below. Mid-Century Modern fans will be delighted with all the breeze blocks, vibrant front doors and the occasional kitsch touch like a flamingo mailbox. In the Racquet Club Estates you’ll also find the Hugh Kaptur designed Fire Station #3.

Wexler/Alexander Steel homes:

290 Simms Rd

300 and 330 East Molino Rd

3100, 3125, 3133 and 3165 N Sunnyview Dr

Fire Station #3:

590 E Racquet Club Rd

Krisel-designed homes:

325 Francis Dr

388 and 520 Desert Holly Circle

970 E Racquet Club Rd

455 and 483 E Francis Dr

Chino Canyon/ Little Tuscany Estates

Cross back over to the western side of the CA-111 to explore the Chino Canyon and Little Tuscany Estates. Note, if you go via 2311 N Indian Canyon N Drive, you might be able to glimpse a little of the Neutra-designed Grace Miller House from the street ( or just Airbnb the home if you have the budget), en route. Once over the west side of N Palm Canyon Dr, look for the 1951 Edward Fickett-designed Alexander-May House, built for George Alexander, co-owner of the construction company bearing his last name.

Be sure to stop by Neutra’s masterful Kaufmann House built in 1946 – you know the one from THOSE Slim Aaron pics entitled “Poolside Gossip” by the pool, the very definition of glamour. Yes, if Kaufmann sounds familiar, he is the same department store mogul for who Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Fallingwater in Pennsylvania.

Follow up with the rocky, cliff-dwelling, Edris House constructed in 1953 and designed by E. Stewart Williams. Almost directly opposite is the home of Intel Corporation co-founder Max Palevsky. He commissioned Craig Ellwood aka “California’s Mies van der Rohe” to design this home inspired by a Moroccan walled home. It is best viewed from the side street.

Finally, you can see just how timeless these Desert Modern designs are through the three new builds of a Hugh Kaptur design, in the appropriately named “Kaptur Court.” Mr Kaptur is almost 90 years old and still active in the Palm Springs architecture scene as of July 2019.

Grace Miller House: 2311 N Indian Canyon N Drive

Kaufmann Desert House: 470 W Vista Chino Rd

Alexander-May House: 424 W Vista Chino Rd

Kaptur Court: 262-266 W Vista Chino

Edris House: 1030 W Celio Dr

Max Palevsky House: 1021 W Cielo Dr

Franz Alexander House: 1011 W. Cielo Dr

Vista Las Palmas and Old Las Palmas

Make your way south into the Vista Las Palmas estate and explore the collection of “Swiss Misses” designed by Charles Dubois for the Alexander Construction Company. Though they were nicknamed to their resemblance to a-frame, Swiss chalets, they were actually inspired by traditional Polynesian architecture.

The House of the Future aka Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway (architect unconfirmed) resides here too. This neighbourhood is known for its many celebrity homes, which is a whole other tour . So, I’ll skip those on this itinerary unless they have significant Desert Modernist architecture worth note… enter the Dinah Shore Estate now owned by Leonardo DiCaprio, and designed by Donald Wexler in 1964.

The development of Vista Las Palmas was dominated by the Alexander Construction Co and business partner, builder Joe Dunas. Hence, there are lots of Krisel designs here to be spotted – again I’ve listed a couple of standout examples below. I’m also partial to the Merito Manor condos styled by Barry Berkus, with the folding plate rooflines and vibrant front doors with some amazing door handles.

Charles Dubois Swiss Misses:

755 W Crescent Dr

855 Via Las Palmas

797 Via Vadera

Dinah Shore Estate:

432 Hermosa Place

Merito Manor:

193 W Merito Place

967 and 983 N Coronet Cir

1111 Abrigo Rd

Palm Canyon Drive

As you continue on your Palm Springs self-guided architecture tour, let’s take a look at some more commercial buildings. Cruise down Palm Canyon Drive for glimpses of Kaptur’s Farrah Building/Las Casitas Restaurant.

You’ll need to take a slight detour off the main drag if you want to see the primary Palm Springs Art Museum building, designed by E. Stewart Williams. Return to S Palm Canyon Drive via W Tahquitz Canyon Way and you’ll find yourself at another Williams design, the Oasis Commercial Building at 121 S Palm Canyon Dr.

Right alongside is what’s left of the Oasis Hotel designed by Lloyd Wright, son of Frank Lloyd Wright, in the 1920s. The slip-form concrete building was one of Southern California’s first Modern-style hotels.

A little further and you will reach the Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center. I also encourage you to stop in at the Center to explore their rotating showcase of different architects and designers – allow 45-minutes to an hour. Opposite you’ll see the fabulous Alley Building, former Robinson’s Department Store (look for the BevMo!) designed by Luckman & Pereira.

Turn right at W Baristo Rd because you don’t want to miss the 1947-opened, Del Marcos Hotel, a William Cody favourite. If you can, the Del Marcos is a great place to stay while you’re in town appreciating all things Mid-Century Modern, along with these other authentic, Modernist hotels .

Turn left into S Cahuilla Rd and pass the new build (2009) Krisel butterfly home at number 421 and return to S Palm Canyon Drive via W Ramon Rd. On the corner you’ll see the E. Stewart Williams designed, Coachella Valley Savings & Loan Association (now a Chase Bank).

The blue, Bank of America that sits at the confluence of S Palm Canyon and Indian Canyon Drives, was designed by Rudy Baumfeld and inspired by Le Corbusier’s Chapel of Nôtre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp, France.

Continue down S Palm Canyon Dr for two Hugh Kaptur designs, The Five Hundred and Musicland Hotel.

Farrah Building:

362 N Palm Canyon Dr

Palm Springs Art Museum:

101 N Museum Dr

Oasis Commercial Building:

121 S Palm Canyon Dr

Town & Country Center:

146-174 N Palm Canyon Dr

Palm Springs Art Museum and Design Center:

300 S Palm Canyon Dr

Alley Building:

333 S Palm Canyon Dr

Del Marcos Hotel:

225 W Baristo Rd

Krisel (new build):

421 S Cahuilla Rd

Chase Bank:

499 S Palm Canyon Dr

The Five Hundred:

500 S Palm Canyon Dr

Bank of America:

588 S Palm Canyon Dr

Musicland Hotel:

1342 S Palm Canyon Dr

Tahquitz River Estates

Right after the Musicland Hotel turn left into East Sonora Road to see the Joseph Eicher rebuilds happening in this street.  Though developer, Eichler, was known for his tract homes in northern California, these new builds based on original plans fit seamlessly into the Desert Modern streetscape. Take a look inside the “The Desert Eichlers”, as they have been dubbed, by watching the videos on developer KUD Properties, website .

Eichler new builds include: 342, 398, 402 and 426 E Sonora Rd (there are now more, but I haven’t been able to confirm addresses)

The Mesa/Canyon Corridor/Twin Palms Estates

Continue south into Canyon Corridor neighbourhood and check out the Royal Hawaiian Estates which were a Donald Wexler and Richard Harrison collaborative design.  Travelling right to the base of the San Jacinto Mountains in The Mesa, sail by the Streamline Moderne home dubbed “The Ship of the Desert.” The original designed by Earl Webster and Adrian Wilson, was damaged by fire. Never fear! The home was purchased and lovingly restored by renowned Palm Springs-based fashion designer, Trina Turk.

Make your way east on La Verne Way and you’ll be close to the Insta-famous pink door. The owners have requested that the door no longer be photographed, but a drive-by can’t hurt. Then on to another Hugh Kaptur Fire Station, #4.

The triangle-shaped area between La Verne Way and East Palm Canyon Drive is the Twin Palms Estates and is absolutely chock full of Krisel’s. If you haven’t had enough butterfly rooves yet, try Apache Road, Aquanetta Drive and Caliente Road.

Royal Hawaiian Estates: 1774 S Palm Canyon Dr

Ship of the Desert: 1995 Cam Monte

That Pink Door: 1100 East Sierra Way

Fire Station #4: 1300 S La Verne Way

Deepwell Estates

Venturing north of East Palm Canyon Drive you enter the former apricot farm, Deepwell Estates. First, you will likely pass the gorgeous white-washed Werner Hogback House, a Hugh Kaptur design. Continue onto Calle de Maria where you’ll find various homes designed by E. Stewart Williams along with Donald Wexler and John Clark Porter.

Numerous developers, realtors and contractors lived in Deepwell Estates back in the day, so you know there’s going to be some good stuff here. That includes the work of lesser known, but equally fabulous Desert Modern architects such as Stan Sackley who is said to have been another student at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin architecture school. You will come across plenty more breeze bricks and sunny-hued doors in this part of town.

William Holden Estate: 1323 S Driftwood Dr

Werner Hogback: 1577 Calle Marcus

William Bogess House: 1366 Calle De Maria

Leo Koerner Residence: 1275 Calle De Maria

Sutter House: 1207 Calle De Maria

Fey House: 1120 S Calle De Maria

Stan Sackley:

1131 S. Driftwood Dr

1475 S. Paseo De Marcia

1325 Sagebrush Rd aka “Playboy Pad”

Sunmor Estates/Enchanted Homes

Further northeast, towards the Airport are William Cody’s St Theresa Catholic Church, and Palm Springs City Hall. City Hall was a star-chitect collaborative effort involving Albert Frey, John Porter Clark, Robson Chambers, and E. Stewart Williams. Crawl the Sunmor and Enchanted Homes estate streets which are just brimming with late 1950s homes designed by Wexler & Harrison and Krisel.

St. Theresa Catholic Church: 2800 Ramon Rd

Palm Springs City Hall: 3200 E Tahquitz Canyon Way

Krisel: 204, 205 and 206 N Airlane Dr

Wexler & Harrison:

2928, 2968 and 2980 Plaimor Dr

260 N Airlane Dr

1837 Aquanetta Dr

Movie Colony

Moving westward we finish our tour back towards the main strip, in the neighbourhood dubbed Movie Colony. Pass by Frank Sinatra’s Twin Palms Estate which was designed by E. Stewart Williams and is every bit as glamorous as you’d expect, down to the piano-shaped pool (check it out on Google Maps satellite view).  You might also want to take a peek at Palm Springs Convention Center, the work of William Pereira.

Twin Palms – Sinatra House: 1148 Alejo Rd

Palm Springs Convention Center: 277 N Avenida Caballeros

You may wonder why I haven’t mentioned some of the most iconic and groundbreaking homes of the Desert Modernist movement in Palm Springs. That’s because they’re a lot more difficult to see than just pulling up curbside. Here are a few ideas on how to get a glimpse of these elusive homes.

Two iconic structures dreamed into reality by architect John Lautner, are locked up in gated communities. However, if you’re willing to leg it up the Araby Trail , you might catch a glimpse of Elrod House (referring to interior designer Arthur Elrod) and Bob Hope House.

Frey House II is owned by the Palm Springs Art Museum, however bequest of the home to the Museum was conditional on it being used as a residence. Some fortunate staff member gets to call this place home! Occasionally tours are held around the property, but you’ll have to jump on those tickets fast because it’s guaranteed to be a sell-out season every time!

DOWNLOAD A PRINTABLE COPY OF THIS ITINERARY HERE:

More Desert Modernism in Palm Springs

Here are some more ways to experience Mid-Century Modern architecture in and around Palm Springs:

Choose a boutique hotel or vacation rental with Mid-Century roots to stay. We adored the Del Marcos, an adults-only resort designed by William Cody in 1947.

Take a guided tour. Just remember to book well in advance!

To get inside a Mid-Century Modern home in Palm Springs, look up real estate listings and open days. We got to see a beautifully restored Palmer & Krisel in the Racquet Club Estates.

Take a caffeine break at Koffi Central Palm Springs, located in Kaptur Plaza, so named for its architect.

Enjoy cocktails and/or dinner at the Tiki-kitsch, Tropicale Restaurant and Coral Seas Lounge at 330 E Amado Rd or Kings Highway diner at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club.

Ride the Aerial Tramway from the Albert Frey, Robson C. Chambers and John Porter Clark-designed Valley Station , all the way up to the E. Stewart Williams Mountain Station at 2485m (8516 ft).

Meanwhile,  E. Stewart Williams  was in charge of creating  Mountain Station  (1961-1963), a ski-type lodge, if you will, perched high atop Mt. San Jacinto (elevation 8,516 feet), with its own mid-century modern sensibility.

Time your visit for Modernism Week in February each year, or the autumn preview in October for additional mid-century themed tours and events.

Download the Palm Springs Mid Century Modern Tour App from Apple iTunes or Android Marketplace for $4.99.

Finally, if you just can’t get to Palm Springs, take the addresses provided and drop them into Google street view and go on a virtual tour.

Get yourself a copy of this Palm Springs Modern architecture map with suggested driving route taking in most of the properties on this list. Just click in the top right corner to open it in Google MyMaps and save a copy to use on the road.

Enjoy your Palm Springs self-guided architecture tour and let me know your favourite home, building or architect in the comments below. If you love Mid-Century architecture, you might also appreciate these posts:

• Streamline Moderne architecture of South Beach
• Sputnik Chandeliers and Soulful Souvenirs in New York City

Peace, love & inspiring travel,

How to Spend a Marvelous 72-Hours in Melbourne

How to spend an amazing week in paris | 7-day paris itinerary.

Hi there–I’d like to get permission to use a few of these photos for a program I’m working on. Who can I contact? Thanks for any information…

Hi Stephanie – You can drop me (Zoe) a line via the contact form here: ​https://duendebymadamzozo.com/about/contact/

I really want to read this guide but the website is virtually unusable on iphone because of the billion poorly managed ads. And the map doesn’t work. Mobile compatible is so important – bummer!

Thanks for taking the time to leave me that feedback and I am sorry you found the guide unusable. You might like to look at the downloadable pdf version here – it is meant to be printable, so there are no images and it is all black and white (no ads either). Would you mind sharing what issue you had with the map. It is all working fine at my end so the issue is difficult to diagnose without more information.

Cheers, Zoë aka Madam ZoZo

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Celebrity Homes Tour – 10 Best

About the celebrity homes tour – 10 best.

Frank and the Rat Pack, Elvis, several U.S presidents and Leonardo DiCaprio—the stars of today and yesteryear love both visiting and living in Palm Springs.

Get to know why Palm Springs became such a popular celebrity playground, by seeing the 10 best celebrity homes in the city. This is an ideal tour for those who want to see the biggest star’s homes in the shortest amount of time.

Tour Highlights

• Estimated Tour Duration: approximately 90 minutes – 120 minutes
• Explore some of the most famous celebrity homes including:
• where Elvis Presley hung out
• Leonardo DiCaprio’s legendary bachelor pad (and its previous celebrity owner) and
• Frank Sinatra’s iconic pad
• Gaze at the homes of the stars and reflect on the architectural beauty of the city from up close
• Learn how these homes and buildings came to be so important—and why Palm Springs was almost contractually obligated to become a star-filled desert paradise
• Navigate iconic neighborhoods like Vista las Palmas, Old Las Palmas and Deepwell Estates, and you’ll see plenty of other amazing homes and architecture as you travel through these areas. Have your camera ready!

What to Know Before You Go

You will need your own vehicle for this self-driving tour (car, van, or bicycle, unicycle, skateboard). This tour features an audio tour guide with interactive real-time mapping and directions that guide you from stop to stop, plus many photos of interiors and exteriors, so you’re fully able to appreciate Palm Springs modernism—at your own pace.

In some cases you will see the home facades and outdoor spaces, in others, we will get you as close as possible to private, gated or other spaces. We are unable to grant access to gated communities, and some homes are off limits, but we want you to enjoy great spaces and great stories. Please note, some public spaces or hotel properties may close or restrict access without notice due to local health regulations.

This Tour Includes

• Guided driving tour
• Detailed directions to some of the most interesting architecture in Palm Springs
• Integrated Google maps to help you get around
• Enjoy clear voice narration from your guide
• Factual and fascinating information about mid-century architecture
• Original photographs of iconic buildings
• *We will get you as close as possible to private homes, gated areas or other spaces for the best views, however we are unable to grant access to gated communities or private property.

Health & Safety

We take the health and safety of our guests and all Palm Springs residents seriously. We have set a series of standards that we hope you’ll welcome in the spirit of ensuring everybody is safe and comfortable and can courteously enjoy the lifestyle of the desert together.

• Please be safe while cycling or driving.
• In your car, obey all traffic laws.
• On a bike, use recommended safety gear.
• Don't drive or cycle while distracted; use your phone only while stopped.
• Please do not trespass or bother the homeowners.
• Be sure to drink plenty of water. Desert heat can sneak up on you. While fainting was cool back in old Hollywood, it’s not today, so stay safe!

• Merchandise
• Book a Tour

Welcome to Modern & More Bike Tours

• 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours (approx.)
• Up to 10 Participants
• From $99 / person

click & hover over

©2023 Modern & More Bike Tours by APVENTURES LLC

All rights reserved., made by loopinx.

5 tips for restoring and decorating a mid-century modern home in Palm Springs style

P alm Springs is known as a mecca of mid-century modern homes designed by prominent architects such as Albert Frey, William Krisel and Hugh Kaptor, so it's no surprise that restoration is in vogue.

There are plenty of ways to restore a modern home that won't diminish its authenticity, sacrifice comfort or create a dull setting. A mid-century modern home is a blank canvas with endless possibilities, but it requires access to the right materials and a bigger budget than the average homeowner can afford.

Here are five steps to restoring a mid-century modern home in true Palm Springs style, regardless of where you live in the valley.

Step 1: Do your research

Thomboy Properties owners Jackie Thomas and DeAnn McCoy have restored many mid-century modern homes in Palm Springs, and the first thing they suggest is find out who the architect was and find a local organization focused on restoring properties through usmodernist.org

It does require some time, but it's a labor of love, and you can get information from around the country and the U.S. Historical Society," said Thomas.

Understanding the architect's original vision and intention can help in contemporizing the interior, designing an open kitchen or customizing other spaces in the home. McCoy also suggested another valuable resource for archival material: city hall.

"Often times, we go down to the city to pull the original permits and find out when additions were done. There's a lot of pockets you can mine for information," said McCoy.

Examining the exterior, interior and materials of your home also provides essential information for restoration, especially with historic authenticity in mind. Scraping the layers of paint might provide the original color to build a palette or help select a mid-century inspired tone.

Step 2: Consider the period of construction

There's a good chance the home you've purchased might retain its original structure that has never been renovated. Before you decide to take on any projects or hire a contractor, Hanson Remodels & Landscapes owner Anders Hanson said it's important to test for asbestos, a natural mineral and carcinogen that causes mesothelioma and was used before 1980 in building materials such as cement, vinyl flooring and insulation. This can be done by contacting a environmental consulting company or industrial hygienist.

Hanson said it's also important to have an evaluation done on the air ducts, HVAC system, plumbing and the insulation effectiveness of windows and sliding doors.

"You have to treat (mid-century modern) homes individually because some of them have been restored before and maybe it wasn't done properly and you'll have to start all over," Hanson said.

Restoration also means you'll find features inside and out that are damaged and no longer in production. Thomas and McCoy used an example from a 1948 Palm Springs home designed by architect Herbert Burns, who was prominent for using an exterior block known as "Arizona Sandstone." During the restoration, the couple found it was no longer made as a veneer and only available in a slab, which required a mason to cut it by hand.

"(Restoration) doesn't always work for everyone, but if that's what you want, there's always a way if you have a budget. There's also almost always a way to find the materials, it might just take a little bit longer. But if that's your aim, then there's always a path to getting it done," Thomas said.

Step 3: Find the right materials

With materials and budget in mind, Thomas said it's best to "value engineer" a property. If restoring a terrazzo floor at $50 to $70 a square foot is too costly, porcelain tiles are a cheaper alternative and will look just as good. Too expensive to replace the original kitchen countertop? Use formica to match the original countertop color.

"You can select areas that are going to have the most impact. Maybe you don't build out your primary closet because you've taken some of that money to put someplace else that will have more of an impact. You can balance the budget, but overall if you want to do a restoration, it's probably going to cost you more money."

There are many options for creating a kitchen in a mid-century home with modern appliances and cabinetry on the market. Manufacturers have stainless steel appliances that blend in with counters and wall spaces. For the purists who want a '50s theme, Big Chill has retro designed refrigerators, stoves, ovens, dishwashers, toasters and more.

Step 4: Pair furnishings and decor to create unique interiors

There's no shortage of mid-century modern interior and furniture retailers in Palm Springs. Whether your preferred interior decor is minimalist or eclectic, you'll find what you need. According to Hanson and H3K Home+Design Co-owner Howard Hawkes, one of the remodeling and restoration trends is the return of wallpaper. Hawkes said his preference for all four walls in a bedroom would be something conservative, such as a warm-toned grass cloth with gray, beige and taupe to blend with artwork, furnishings and headboards.

"If you're going to go with a bright color, harlequin pattern or some kind of organic scene palm frawns, I would do that type of wallpaper on just one featured wall in a room because too much of a good thing kind of spoils the whole look," Hawkes said.

But for a mid-century home, it's best to have a theme. Hawkes said previous clients have approached him with themes such as the 1968 film "Barbarella," Marilyn Monroe and James Bond. For a 1954 home designed by architect Donald Wexler featured during Modernism Week in February , H3K installed a theme in each of the four bedrooms. One room featured a mawkish '50s science fiction theme with toy robots on the dresser, another room was decorated with mid-century modern patterned wallpaper with abstract portraits of artists such as Salvador Dali, Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso above the headboard.

"I would say make a room your own first by having a portrait of an actor, movie poster or something over the bed (that) can really dictate the whole vibe of the room. Oftentimes, people will call the room like 'The Marilyn Room.' If it's a color, a lot of different greens or yellows, you call it the 'Yellow Room' or the 'Green Room.' Sometimes color itself can be a theme," Hawkes said.

For those with a minimalist theme, a large piece of artwork such as an abstract painting with lighting, a long sofa or an Eames chair can highlight the architecture of a space complimenting ceilings, large glass sliding doors, windows and more.

"If you make a room too minimal, you have a boring room," Hawkes said.

Step 5: Don't forget the exteriors

For all of the Thomas and McCoy's restorations, the element that defines the home is the exterior and where they focus the most on authenticity. The couple will seek old photos or study a neighborhood to determine how it was intended to look to restore exteriors.

For the patio, Thomas said "ask yourself how you plan to use the space." Mid-century modern often blends the indoors with the outdoors, so integrate spots for sitting, entertaining and relaxing by the pool into your plan.

"You see more concrete in the desert, whereas in Los Angeles you see more wood decks," McCoy said. "For utilizing that space, ask yourself questions like 'Which direction does the house face?' and 'What's the direction of the pool?' You need to have shaded spaces while having the notion of being able to lay back in the chaise lounge and relax while facing the sun."

Hawkes suggests taking advantage of any unique views when considering seating areas such as a pergola or seating with sun umbrellas.

"Not everyone has a pool, but it's nice to have poolside dining and make it a nice experience. If you have furniture that has mesh, it's a lot easier to take care of than a lot of fabric and cushions, so you want to be mindful of how much you want to maintain your outdoor furniture if you're going to leave it as is for a season. Instead of dusting cushions, consider things you can hose off."

Desert Sun reporter Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @bblueskye.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: 5 tips for restoring and decorating a mid-century modern home in Palm Springs style