https://modernismweek.com/ – Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION.

Modernism Week: The West House

Palm Springs is the center of the World-Renowned Celebration of Midcentury Architecture, Design and Culture. Happy 20th Anniversary!

Beautiful grounds surround this property.

I was lucky enough to be granted a tour of The West House which used to be the desert hideaway for the original Batman; Adam West. Having always been a batman fan, I was so looking forward to this. I used to love the series as a kid and later the movies and all the campy characters.

This dynamic residence, located in the cherished Old Las Palmas neighborhood, was built in 1954 and has since been reimagined by Michelle Boudreau Design. It was renovated by renowned architect Albert Frey, who incorporated numerous modernism design features.

New owners Bruce and Lynn Gibson requested a complete transformation of the exterior and interior, blending revitalized aesthetics with an innovative twist, while honoring Frey’s legacy and Batman’s iconic influence.

The design features slick curves reminiscent of the Bat Cave, accented by warm tones and signature black edges. Custom designed interiors create a distinct narrative in each room, while expansive glass sliders frame breathtaking views. Lush landscaping by La Riviera Studios, water features and a putting green enhance the seamless indoor/outdoor living. This house is the embodiment of the Palm Springs lifestyle.

I especially loved the bathrooms. Check these out:

Photos: d. king

For tickets to events until February 23rd please visit:

https://modernismweek.com/

Art & Culture

Modernism Week Featured Home Tour: Wexler ‘54

Here in the desert there is no shortage of gorgeous homes, but for Modernism week our focus is to celebrate and appreciate the preservation of midcentury architecture and design.

Today I got to tour the Wexler house, which interestingly enough, is a short walking distance from where I reside here in Palm Springs. While I always admired the outside of the house and wondered what lay behind the white walls, I had no idea of its importance of retaining the best of mid-century style and elegance. Now I know.

This is a Donald Allen Wexler (January 23, 1926 – June 26, 2015) designed home. Wexler was an influential Mid-Century modern architect whose work is predominantly in the Palm Springs area. He is known for having pioneered the use of steel in residential design.

H3K Home + Design worked with preservation consultant Susan Secoy Jenson (AIA – American Institute of Architects) to take this home back to its historic roots while keeping the original vision along with being able to support today’s lifestyle. No small feat.

Celebrating the home’s elongated flat roof with walls of glass, they delightfully blurred the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces, drawing the eye to the historic slump stone walls and wonderful pool area. The outside area exemplifies desert living and the mid-century modern experience.
This home is a model of thoughtful architectural preservation enlivened by the best in modern design. It received a well deserved historic designation in 2022.

Photos: d. king

Modernism is on until February 25^th. For tickets please visit:

https://modernismweek.com

Art & Culture

Modernism Madness: The Shag House

My first home tour for Modernism week 2024 was a home I wanted to visit for a long time;

which turned out to be a fully immersive experience which felt like climbing into a 3-D painting. One painted by the artist known as Shag (Josh Agle), who reimagined this mid-century modern, tiki-inspired privately owned home to fit with his original designs.

If you’ve ever visited Palm Springs, you more than likely stopped by the Shag store on Palm Canyon. It’s a must-see on the visitors list as it contains an array of well curated limited-edition merchandise, original paintings, and fine art prints that span over 30 years of Shag’s career. I feel like it was all condensed into one home.

For this home, Shag drew upon his architectural studies and the aesthetic of his artwork to reinvent this classic 1958 home.

Modernist fans will recognize the core of the house, where Shag has preserved much of the original layout including the familiar 3-bedroom, 2-bath floor plan, as well as the tongue and groove ceilings.

While the centre of the home’s layout remains the same, everything else has been updated, expanded, and transformed, for the current homeowner, Brandon McBurney; who enjoys hosting philanthropic events.

In collaboration with Brandon and John-Patrick Flynn of Brandtopia, the Shag team has created an entirely new exterior offering grand curb appeal.

The front entry has been expanded and the original breezeway has been converted into a swank party lounge. Beyond the lounge, the addition of a casita offers a quiet retreat with a unique vantage point of the pool’s and surrounding areas.