Houzz Tour: A Fun Boutique Hotel Feel in Rancho Mirage
A home built for a Southern California family plays up the desert midcentury aesthetic — and a Sinatra connection
Julie Sheer
April 16, 2017
Houzz Contributor; journalist with more than two decades of experience as a graphics editor and writer at the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune; outdoor guidebook author; lover of all things outdoors, nature and wildlife. Follow me at https://westcentric.wordpress.com/
Houzz Contributor; journalist with more than two decades of experience as a graphics... More
Palm Springs draws fans of the desert climate, midcentury modern design and all things Hollywood Rat Pack, including Frank Sinatra. This home in nearby Rancho Mirage was built on property once owned by Ol’ Blue Eyes and serves as a vacation house for an Orange County family.
The custom home was constructed on a plot of land that had never been built on, interior designer Brittany Stiles says. Walnut flooring and cabinetry, terrazzo and straight-set brick walls are architectural details that Stiles complemented with her eclectic take on modern style. Her mission was to meet the homeowners’ request for “a fun getaway with a boutique hotel feel.”
The custom home was constructed on a plot of land that had never been built on, interior designer Brittany Stiles says. Walnut flooring and cabinetry, terrazzo and straight-set brick walls are architectural details that Stiles complemented with her eclectic take on modern style. Her mission was to meet the homeowners’ request for “a fun getaway with a boutique hotel feel.”
Photos by Sam Frost
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: An Orange County, California, couple with four boys use the home as a weekend getaway
Location: Rancho Mirage, California
Size: About 3,200 square feet (297 square meters) on a nearly half-acre lot. The home has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a great room (living, dining, kitchen) and a wine cellar
Designers: Interior design by Brittany Stiles Design, architecture by Eric Olsen Design
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: An Orange County, California, couple with four boys use the home as a weekend getaway
Location: Rancho Mirage, California
Size: About 3,200 square feet (297 square meters) on a nearly half-acre lot. The home has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a great room (living, dining, kitchen) and a wine cellar
Designers: Interior design by Brittany Stiles Design, architecture by Eric Olsen Design
The wife surprised her husband with a 6-foot-tall poster of Sinatra’s 1938 mugshot, Stiles says.
He wanted to have Sinatra memorabilia throughout the home, an idea she wasn’t keen on, so she came up with this space in the entry as a “thank you” for the house, Stiles says.
The image is positioned above a midcentury-style console table from Dot & Bo and next to a wall of straight-set brick.
He wanted to have Sinatra memorabilia throughout the home, an idea she wasn’t keen on, so she came up with this space in the entry as a “thank you” for the house, Stiles says.
The image is positioned above a midcentury-style console table from Dot & Bo and next to a wall of straight-set brick.
The living area is designed for comfort. Stiles says her main challenge was the fairly tight budget, so she bought most of the furnishings from reasonably priced larger retailers, such as West Elm, Anthropologie, JCPenney, One Kings Lane and Room & Board.
“The challenge was to make it special and not look like we sourced from big, mainstream retailers. I did this through the use of interesting art and accessories and affordable custom items such as throw pillows,” she says.
Paint: White Dove by Benjamin Moore; sectional: Room & Board; ottoman: designed by Brittany Stiles, custom built and covered in Kravet fabric; hanging chair: Serena & Lily; chairs: JCPenney; table lamps: School House Electric and Arteriors; art on wall: variety of sources, including Wendover Art Group, One Kings Lane and Brittany Stiles
“The challenge was to make it special and not look like we sourced from big, mainstream retailers. I did this through the use of interesting art and accessories and affordable custom items such as throw pillows,” she says.
Paint: White Dove by Benjamin Moore; sectional: Room & Board; ottoman: designed by Brittany Stiles, custom built and covered in Kravet fabric; hanging chair: Serena & Lily; chairs: JCPenney; table lamps: School House Electric and Arteriors; art on wall: variety of sources, including Wendover Art Group, One Kings Lane and Brittany Stiles
Along with the living area, the dining room was “designed to be a big hangout area,” Stiles says. The sliding glass doors lead to the pool and backyard. The dining table was designed by the husband, with the quartzite top from a local slab yard.
Chairs: Restoration Hardware; rug: Loloi; cabinets: custom from Newport Custom Woodworking
Chairs: Restoration Hardware; rug: Loloi; cabinets: custom from Newport Custom Woodworking
White cabinets, straight-set backsplash tile and counters keep the open kitchen bright and airy. Walnut used for the flooring and on the island warm the space, while metal chairs and bronze and brass pendant lights add an industrial feel.
Countertop: Caesarstone; cabinetry: Newport Custom Woodworking; pendants: Visual Comfort/Circa Lighting; stovetop: Jenn-Air
Countertop: Caesarstone; cabinetry: Newport Custom Woodworking; pendants: Visual Comfort/Circa Lighting; stovetop: Jenn-Air
Colorful wallpaper and a mix of midcentury modern and contemporary furnishings liven up the guest bedroom.
Bedding: Pottery Barn; bed and pendant lights: West Elm; nightstands and chair by mirror: Anthropologie; mirror: Crate & Barrel; wallpaper: Zoffany; bench: CB2
Bedding: Pottery Barn; bed and pendant lights: West Elm; nightstands and chair by mirror: Anthropologie; mirror: Crate & Barrel; wallpaper: Zoffany; bench: CB2
A comfortable corner of the guest bedroom contains a midcentury settee, a tripod table of mango wood and iron and an arrangement of framed geometric art on the wall. The transparency of an acrylic chair keeps the space feeling open.
Acrylic chair: Amazon; tripod table: Anthropologie; settee: Dot & Bo; floor lamp: CB2; art: Wendover Art
Acrylic chair: Amazon; tripod table: Anthropologie; settee: Dot & Bo; floor lamp: CB2; art: Wendover Art
The bed linens, soothing green grasscloth wall covering and gray wool looped carpet help the master bedroom achieve the boutique hotel look the homeowners were after. They wanted something different from their home in Orange County, Stiles says. “We used a lot more color and pattern” than in that residence, she says.
The grasscloth is surprisingly easy to maintain, as long as it stays away from water, Stiles says. “The texture hides a surprising amount of dust, dirt and knicks. It can be brushed and vacuumed clean.”
Wallcovering: Onna Sisal in Aqua, Schumacher; bed: Room & Board; bedding: One Kings Lane; nightstands: Crate & Barrel; credenza: West Elm; bench: custom, Brittany Stiles Design; wall art: Wendover Art; sconces: Visual Comfort; lamp: Crate & Barrel
The grasscloth is surprisingly easy to maintain, as long as it stays away from water, Stiles says. “The texture hides a surprising amount of dust, dirt and knicks. It can be brushed and vacuumed clean.”
Wallcovering: Onna Sisal in Aqua, Schumacher; bed: Room & Board; bedding: One Kings Lane; nightstands: Crate & Barrel; credenza: West Elm; bench: custom, Brittany Stiles Design; wall art: Wendover Art; sconces: Visual Comfort; lamp: Crate & Barrel
A window over the slipper tub acts almost like framed art in the master bathroom.
Stiles used fun wallpaper in the kids’ room, whose bunkbeds were built by the husband. “He wanted to construct something special for his boys,” she says.
Orla Kiely wallpaper from Harlequin; beanbag chair: custom, upholstered in a Zoffany fabric; drapes: custom in Robert Allen fabric; storage baskets: Ikea
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Orla Kiely wallpaper from Harlequin; beanbag chair: custom, upholstered in a Zoffany fabric; drapes: custom in Robert Allen fabric; storage baskets: Ikea
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
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Having a big window behind the bathroom mirrors is genius. I'm a big fan of natural light, especially in a bathroom. Nice mid century flavor through out. We have a winner!
Gorgeous! Wonderful design. Love the way elements are carried through the house. Example, dining room rug relates to the tiles in the master bath.
I love the living room. One of my favorites