Houzz Tour: Neglected Midcentury Gem Transformed in Palm Springs
An architect restores his California desert home to its former glory in a yearlong remodel
Los Angeles architect Duane Smith was looking to buy a Palm Springs getaway he could turn into a rental. What he and husband Stefane Barbeau got instead was a major remodeling project and a home that is now their full-time residence. “We fell so in love with the area that when we were done, we decided to move there full time,” Smith says. After gutting the interior and doubling the square footage, Smith and Barbeau today enjoy unobstructed views of the San Jacinto Mountains from their remodeled midcentury jewel. An added bonus: Their home will be part of the signature tour at Modernism Week 2017, Palm Springs’ celebration of midcentury architecture and design.
One telltale sign of an architect’s touch was the multipaneled wall of glass in the living room, Smith says, which indicated to him that the home was custom-built. It was one of the few features kept during the remodel, though the rotted wood frames had to be redone.
The original Douglas fir ceilings were sandblasted and sealed with a matte varnish. Sandblasting is done with a high-pressure air gun that blasts the surface to remove old paint and coating that would be difficult to do with sandpaper alone.
Sofa: Aston sectional sofa in Flanders Gray, H.D. Buttercup; Buenos Aires side table, Jonathan Adler
The original Douglas fir ceilings were sandblasted and sealed with a matte varnish. Sandblasting is done with a high-pressure air gun that blasts the surface to remove old paint and coating that would be difficult to do with sandpaper alone.
Sofa: Aston sectional sofa in Flanders Gray, H.D. Buttercup; Buenos Aires side table, Jonathan Adler
Smith incorporated framed prints by street artists into the interior design, including this piece purchased at a gallery in the Venice neighborhood of Los Angeles. It combines images of Audrey Hepburn and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon actress Zhang Ziyi. Two 1960s Danish chairs from the owners’ collection flank a small marble-topped end table from Jonathan Adler. A paper lantern atop the television console is from designer Isamu Noguchi, whose 1950s light sculptures were an iconic symbol of midcentury modern design.
TV console: H.D. Buttercup; print: “Double Exposure” by painter Pure Evil, Cave Gallery
TV console: H.D. Buttercup; print: “Double Exposure” by painter Pure Evil, Cave Gallery
BEFORE: Smith does know the home was built in 1954. It was in such bad shape that when he first went to look at it, his real estate agent wouldn’t even step inside. It smelled, newspaper lined the floor and the wood window frames had dry rot. Despite the mess, Smith says, “we thought we could bring it back to its original glory.”
Renovation work was extensive. The rotted wood was repaired, the ceiling sandblasted and the interior walls removed. The original 1,100-square-foot structure had an illegal addition. Smith turned what was a bedroom into an entry courtyard, shown in the floor plan as the crook in the L-shaped layout — a feature inspired by original Southwest ranch house design.
Even though the home more than doubled in size after the remodel, it didn’t have a larger presence from the street, Smith says. The L-shaped footprint “nestles into the lot better.”
Even though the home more than doubled in size after the remodel, it didn’t have a larger presence from the street, Smith says. The L-shaped footprint “nestles into the lot better.”
A 15-foot-tall cactus dominates the new main-entry courtyard. The plant was growing on the lot but got in the way of construction during the renovation. It took four men using a pickup truck to drag the cactus to its current location.
Handsome double doors serve as the home’s main entry. Concrete pavers were custom-poured using an acid wash for a smooth finish. The gravel is a fine Arizona river stone. Smith notes that the color reflects the environment’s granite and complements the surrounding desert and mountains.
A new entry was created in an area that was once a bedroom. At about 10 by 12 feet, there’s plenty of room for guests and luggage, Smith says. The Darth Vader print is from a Los Angeles street artist. Barbeau painted the Rorschach artwork.
Doors: Anderson Moulding Doors & Windows; ceiling light: WAC Lighting
Doors: Anderson Moulding Doors & Windows; ceiling light: WAC Lighting
The main challenge of the project, Smith says, was the massive repair work and the fact that it cost more to fix than it would have to tear it down and rebuild. The result was a faithful interpretation of midcentury architecture combined with of-the-moment design touches. Here, the redone wall of windows lets an abundance of light into the dining room, which is furnished with a custom-made dining table built by Smith.
The Tyvek cloud pendant lamp above the table was designed by Smith and Barbeau, who were industrial designers with their own company and a brand called Vessel. The vintage industrial-style Pagholz stacking dining chairs, constructed of thin layers of wood veneer, are from Germany. The bunny sculpture was a Palm Springs flea market find. Original concrete floors throughout the house were recovered and polished.
A Los Angeles cartoon bear print hangs over a table with shelves designed by Smith.
Cabinets surrounding the refrigerator have custom-made fronts of wood-grain textured laminate. Smith installed the fronts onto Ikea base cabinets. Quartz tops the 4-by-10-foot custom-made steel island. To keep the room from feeling closed off, Smith avoided putting cabinets or shelving into the island, which can seat 12.
Base cabinets: Ikea; cabinet fronts: Cleaf Matrix textured laminate in Santos Blu, Dunsmuir Cabinets; refrigerator: Samsung; countertops: Blizzard, Caesarstone; hanging lamps: Tyvek cloud lamps, owners’ custom design
Base cabinets: Ikea; cabinet fronts: Cleaf Matrix textured laminate in Santos Blu, Dunsmuir Cabinets; refrigerator: Samsung; countertops: Blizzard, Caesarstone; hanging lamps: Tyvek cloud lamps, owners’ custom design
Smith expanded the original space, transforming it into a chef’s kitchen. The backsplash’s handmade cement tiles were laid in a striking geometric pattern. Smith says that he initially thought the tiles were “a bit of a risky thing” and that they were afraid of going too bold. He first saw them at a barbecue restaurant in Los Angeles’ Grand Central Market, so he dug around until he found the Nicaraguan tiles through a Los Angeles company. “They last a lifetime and they’re perfect for a backsplash,” he says.
Backsplash: 8-by-8-inch cement tile in Santander, Granada Tile; range: Verona; hood: XO
Backsplash: 8-by-8-inch cement tile in Santander, Granada Tile; range: Verona; hood: XO
Light streams into the house all day from windows on four sides, Smith says. Here, morning light comes in from new windows created to mimic the originals. A sliver window in the adjacent wall washes the fireplace with light, something Smith says was intentional when planning the new interior.
The baby head sculptures are from an artist in Bangkok. The Lane Acclaim coffee table is from the 1960s.
The baby head sculptures are from an artist in Bangkok. The Lane Acclaim coffee table is from the 1960s.
Another indication that thought was put into the original construction of the home, Smith says, was the way the external wall jogged in by the fireplace. This photo shows the sliver window from the outside looking into the living room and fireplace.
Dead-end hallways are one of Smith’s pet peeves. The stepped exterior wall lets natural light enter this interior hallway, so it doesn’t feel so much like a dead end, Smith says. “All rooms have multiple sources of natural light.”
There’s plenty of light in a guest bedroom from a set of double doors that lead to a private patio. The doors echo the home’s window detail.
Dresser: Nordic Oak, Ethnicraft; chair, antique midcentury Danish, owners’ collection
Dresser: Nordic Oak, Ethnicraft; chair, antique midcentury Danish, owners’ collection
Rusted steel walls provide privacy for a guest room patio. The Jonathan Adler ceramic-topped table has red duct tape from when the owners’ dog ran into it.
A mix of midcentury and current-day modern furnishings occupy the master bedroom, including end tables from the owners’ friend Ben Durrell and a Tom Vac rocking chair by Ron Arad from Vitra.
The owners’ rescue pit bull Sally gets a dog’s-eye view west directly to the mountains.
The master bedroom’s large doors open wide to a patio and the mountains just beyond.
An open section of roof over the patio allows for mountain views from the master bedroom and provides ventilation for the firepit.
Above the freestanding tub in the master bath is one of Smith’s favorite fixtures in the home: a tub filler in the ceiling. Large-scale 12-by-24-inch Italian porcelain tiles line the wall.
A floating vanity and a wall of cream-colored textured tile keep the bathroom light and airy. Other features include a 4-by-6-foot walk-in shower and a mirror with LED lighting.
Vanity cabinet: Ikea; vanity top: Caesarstone; sink: Nameek’s Scarabeo; toilet: Eago; fixtures: Purist, Kohler; tub: Legion Furniture; Italian porcelain tile: Mutina Pico in Up Natural Blanc, Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Stone Source; cream tiles: Cromie in Polvere 03 Matte, Refin Ceramiche, Stone Source
Vanity cabinet: Ikea; vanity top: Caesarstone; sink: Nameek’s Scarabeo; toilet: Eago; fixtures: Purist, Kohler; tub: Legion Furniture; Italian porcelain tile: Mutina Pico in Up Natural Blanc, Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Stone Source; cream tiles: Cromie in Polvere 03 Matte, Refin Ceramiche, Stone Source
Smith and Barbeau work side by side in their multifunctional office-yoga room, where Barbeau also conducts yoga classes. A door leads to a private patio.
Where the pool is now was once an empty area of dirt and a few plants. The pool is made of cast concrete and has a black gemstone finish, which appears as a teal color in the sun. “We wanted it to seem like the pool was carved out of concrete block,” Smith says.
A paloverde tree against the rusted steel fence is part of the natural desert landscaping that was inspired by the owners’ love of nearby Joshua Tree National Park.
A paloverde tree against the rusted steel fence is part of the natural desert landscaping that was inspired by the owners’ love of nearby Joshua Tree National Park.
Deck chairs surrounding a custom-made Cor-Ten steel fire pit are perfect for poolside lounging. The homeowners designed the lanterns on the pool wall. Cor-Ten steel fence posts allow for nearly unobstructed mountain views.
Chairs: Industry of All Nations; lanterns: Luau, Design Within Reach
Chairs: Industry of All Nations; lanterns: Luau, Design Within Reach
The owners left the boulders, which are just the right height for sitting on or leaning against while lounging at the pool. Guests often pull up pillows, sit at the edge of the pool and lounge on the boulders — a fitting way to take in the natural beauty of the outdoors in Palm Springs.
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Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Architect Duane Smith of Hundred Mile House and husband Stefane Barbeau
Location: Palm Springs, California
Size: 2,250 square feet (209 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
At first, Smith considered empty lots, finished condos and a few fixer-uppers. But when he saw the dumpy cottage in Palm Springs’ Chino Canyon area, he knew it was the one. With no knowledge of its history, Smith says he could tell the home had character. Though rough around the edges, it appeared that care went into its design, so he figured an architect must have been involved. He says the window detail and post-and-beam construction were reminiscent of a Cliff May rancho-style home.