Monday Mid-Century Mania!

Shhhhh....

These are our little secrets...

Nobody has to know...

Even the babe's lips are sealed!

Beautiful? Yes. Summer death trap? You betcha. 

Gramps is gonna love this shot. Go on with your baddass hat!

99% in head size up in this bitch!                               

Giving all new meaning to "patio approved." 

Nothin' goin' on here, just taking some random shots. Carry on. 

Oh, what's this? A fountain in the middle of the house? Perrrrfect.

Nope, this party did not suck. 

Gorgeous! 

Speaking of gorgeous...

Holy time travel, Batman. I swear I can't believe it's been almost a month since I left you guys. We got back from our "vacay" (a story to be told at a later date) about a week ago and since then have had one first birthday, 2 monsoons, 3 deadlines and a partridge in a pear tree. Er, something. You get it. Annnnnyway, today's post is dedicated to all things Palm Springs. My grandparents raised my mom there, I spent my childhood there and something deep within my soul says I'll find myself living there one day. (Hubs' soul says otherwise but mine tends to win such battles. Don't tell him I said that.) I don't know what it is about that place. It's the desert, and I live in the desert with the same heat, cactus and sunsets, yet somehow it's totally different. Maybe it's the small town vibe, eclectic peeps or magical mountain backdrop, but regardless, I feel totally at ease there. Always have. Which is why I was stoked when my cousin decided to get married there last month. There are all kinds of details I could get into about the events that took place, but for the sake of sanity (yours, I can assure you) I'm just going to give you the Cliffs Notes. Yes? Yes.

1.) We rented a fab condo designed by my mom's one-time boss and friend, Arthur Elrod. The pool was amazeballs, there were more light switches than I ever knew could exist, one of the bathrooms was totally mirrored (and I thought dressing room mirrors were unkind) and the front door may or may not have seared off my fingerprints. 

2.) The rehearsal dinner was held at THIS amazing house. I don't know what was better - the view, indoor fountain, retractable roof or sunken bar. I'm goin' view, mostly because I almost fell in the fountain because of the sunken bar. Thank you. 

3.) My favorite portion of the program was the architecture tour. You see, my cousin and her now husband are architects, as was my grandfather, so many of their guests were interested in seeing some good 'ole mid-centery masterpieces. We decided to skip every house but one. My grandparents' house, where my mom was raised and I created forts, sunburns and memories. I haven't seen it since I was in high school, and it's had two owners since then, but somehow my cousin gained access. Not only that, but we were able to hang out there, alone, for as long as we wanted. It was amazing. The only thing that's really changed is the expansive lawn that I once knew to be covered with my grandmother's flowers is now halved by a swimming pool. A STUNNING swimming pool I might add. I wish I could show you all the photos I snapped that day, but the owners were pretty specific about maintaining their privacy. I get it. But I can show you the exterior, right? And the fireplace because my kid is in front of it, right? Right?? Okay, good, let's keep that between us. 

4.) The wedding was beautiful and my cousin stunning. Held in the shade of the mountain and among the sculptures of the museum, it was everything I knew it would be and more. My grandfather would have been proud, and I'm sure he was. 

And with that, I'll take a breath. I'm sure I lost you somewhere before Indio, but what can I say? I'm a talker. Let's chat again in a couple days, okay? I promise I'll let you get a word in here and there. Word. 

Read more...

Mid-Century Marvel

Ummmm, can we talk about this house? Obviously I'm a lover of mid-century design and decor, but what I'm possibly even more obsessed with is the idea of indoor/outdoor living and of course, a patio approved space. I'm also a fan of "the hidden gem." You know, something that looks so-so from the outside but is nothing less than amazing inside. Like the perfect man, this house has it alllllll goin' on. Check out those sliding glass doors that allow the living room to spill out to the backyard. And don't even get me started on the textures. I love the exposed, unfinished beams, and the unexpected use of small-scale tile. And the view? Man, and I think I'm unmotivated now. My husband would be lucky if I ever got off the chaise and took a shower. Don't judge - you know you'd love to join me.

(Windows Vista - house first seen in Dwell magazine)

Read more...

Bring it Home

It was Modernism Week a few weeks ago here in the desert, and I was lucky enough to take part in their home tour. I loved snooping around people's abodes and trying to understand their differing tastes and points of view (some great in my opinion and some well, you know). Though I won't bore you with EVERY shot I ended up taking, I thought these offered some interesting ideas! Oh, and you'll have to forgive, my, ahem, photography skills and peeps in the background. Just try and think of it all as really artsy.

Things I loved most: the shelving and artwork display in that bedroom, the symmetry of the desert landscaping in the shot above, the handmade round fountain, and every single thing down to the nails of the glass house with rectangular pool. I was only allowed to take pictures of the exterior but trust me...STUNNING. Oh and it's for sale. For a cool 1.5 million.

P.S. Check out my mom in the white hat (she's an interior designer)...hand on chin...thinking...observing...taking it in. Ha. She'll looooooove that.

Read more...

In the Mood for Mod

I can't explain it, but my love of mid-century modern furniture runs VERY deep. My parents' house is filled with the most amazing "Palm Springs" pieces that always seem right at home in their space. It's a look that's harder to pull of in my condo, so I've taken to mixing styles in order to be true to the original structure and my mid-century love. If my husband could stomach pink, you'd better believe we'd be rockin' those sheets by Rubie Green, and thanks to the living room image from Oh So Beautiful Paper, I'm thinking of redecorating my living room. Joy!

(lucite desk from Pieces, custom white scalloped chandelier from Pieces, east village sheet set by Rubie Green, journals via Hable Construction, druggist soap dish from Jonathan Adler, image via Oh So Beautiful Paper)

Read more...

Desert Digs

(Photos by Julius Shulman and David Glomb via psmodcom.com)

I didn’t realize my grandfather, E. Stewart Williams, was an amazing mid-century modern architect until later in life. All I knew growing up was that lemons for martinis were picked from the tree in the courtyard, pocket doors left fewer hiding places, the indoor/outdoor fireplace was not a playground, and the fort we built high-up in the Tamarisk trees was rad. These days, it’s better known for its architecture, but it will always be Poppy and Nanny’s Palm Springs Paradise to me.

Read more...