LAKEFRONT MODERN

My client was relocating from Scottsdale to Palm Springs to lead a brand-new department at Eisenhower Medical Center — a major professional milestone and a deeply personal new chapter. A physician with an intense, high-demand schedule, he sought a home that would feel grounding, soulful, and restorative. He purchased one of Palm Springs’ hidden architectural treasures in Mesquite Canyon Estates — an original Palmer & Krisel design — and approached it with both reverence and vision. Rather than gutting or overhauling the home, we chose to lean in and listen. The renovation was mindful and layered: a careful restoration that honored the architecture while tailoring it to reflect the man who lives there — humble, worldly, refined, and quietly bold. We replaced sterile white floors with a concrete-inspired porcelain tile that runs throughout, creating warmth and continuity. The original kitchen cabinetry was preserved and repainted, paired with new countertops to elevate the space without erasing its history. The primary bathroom was reimagined to include a calming wet room — a place to decompress after long days at the hospital. In the primary bedroom, enveloping grasscloth walls create a cocoon-like embrace at day’s end. Personal treasures were thoughtfully integrated alongside new furnishings and materials, resulting in a home that feels collected rather than decorated. The aesthetic is mid-century modern with depth — less disco, more soul. The result is a layered, sensual, and deeply personal retreat: a sanctuary that supports both the gravity of his profession and the richness of his life beyond it.

The main challenge here was how do we use the same cabinetry but not replicate the mood and aesthetic. The subsequent challenge was how do we create a contemporary feel inside a traditional dwelling. The stunning quartzite countertops are a show stopper, the subtle micro subway tile backsplash with a melange of matte and glossy finishes achieved the balance between overly slick and modern and created a transitional, contemporary kitchen. We had so much fun playing up the incredibly tall ceilings with stellar lighting! Replacing the clunky old world feeling fireplace mantle and hearth with Spanish ledger stone, added drama and texture along with an appropriate dose of modernity to this fairly traditional style home.

- Create space for their abundant, beautiful, orchids and plants to thrive. - A urinal. - A toilet that would warm your buns and keep you clean and fresh as a daisy. - An integrated espresso/cappuccino machine. - A two-person steam shower. - An easily accessible bathtub. (The original was built in and you had to walk up stairs to access) - Salvage the existing gorgeous marble floor. The game changer for this project was to rip out the existing tub, source a neutral grey porcelain tile that would compliment the veining in the existing marble floor and carry that into the shower. The new freestanding tub centered in the octagonal annex gave birth to a greenhouse and zen retreat for our athletic client who loves a quiet soak. Our clients, avid travelers, take stunning nature photos. We printed and framed these shots in black and white and strategically placed them so that they can enjoy and reflect upon their happy memories.

She is an avid tennis player and loves the beach. She desired a serene environment that could withstand a very active household. The home is located on Chicago’s North Shore, just a couple of miles from the lake. The beach house style and color palette of the interiors creates a staycation haven for this family. The living room cabinetry is original. We painted it, added wallpaper, and changed the hardware.Custom drapery in a subtle, shimmery, greige, frame the living room in sumptuous softness. The powder room is our favorite! The wallpaper reminded our client of her summer days spent at her parents' country club.

They told me they had been coming to Palm Springs their entire life, as their parents had homes here, and this Northern California dynamic duo, had just bought a vacation retreat for themselves recently in a newly constructed gated community in Cathedral City. They had chosen all of the materials with the builders, and they asked me if I would like to decorate the entire home from TTB, that’s top to bottom in skier language. I graciously accepted their invitation, and was pleased to find a very well designed, tasteful, neutral empty box, in a gray and white pallet. We face this quite often in resort communities: how do we take a home, built to attract all buyers, and make it feel like the owner’s personal haven? Our client, an executive for a company who has roots in Bali, had several interesting pieces she had acquired over the years. That served as a jumping off place, along with an impressive 9’ tall magenta Vasa sculpture that they had acquired from a family member. The couple requested a warm, modern aesthetic with pops of color. Here’s what we did: • Subtle , sultry Phillip Jeffrey’s wall covering in the living room, guest room, and hallway…..not the entire room, just select walls. • 3-dimensional Hex Roca tile on the bar backsplash • A soft turquoise painted island front • Neutral, light upholstered furniture covered in performance chenille’s and velvets • Hand blown Sklo kitchen pendants along with a juxtaposing dining room Moooi Random Pendant. Love the juxtaposition of the scale • Custom designed and upholstered beds and bedding— • Custom upholstered pillows and throws in every room • Cheerful, abstract art by Lynda Keeler and Steven Rudin, along with Joe Caretti pieces, Pablo lamps, and Kelly Wearstler. • A couple trips to Trina Turk in Palm Springs, added some playful accessories and objects of interest . • Solar shades to welcome the view, but keep out the damaging UV rays • Multi-Functional Rooms and Furniture: • Carved out work spaces in both the guest bedroom and the main bedroom so the two are able to squeeze in some productivity while enjoying the desert • Custom slipcovered sleeper sofa in Audrey’s office x guest room • 2 x Twins to King custom bed in the upstairs guest bedroom to accommodate a couple, or 2 amigos or amigas

As we were guiding Tom and Jay through our home, our conversation revealed that we both lived in Chicago and had homes in Palm Springs. They described their main bedroom suite at the Carlyle on Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive as beige, boring, dark, small and depressing. They wished to bring a pop of Palm Springs vibrancy to their mid-century, yet classic high rise condo. The stately, seriousness of the building and the unit needed to be honored, while incorporating color, light, space, and life. The bathroom was small with a single sink vanity and lacked a private water closet. The space between the bedroom and bathroom was divided by a hallway with a desk and entry to the walk-in closet. By opening the wall between the bathroom and the closet, enlarging the vanity by removing the the desk, carrying the new large format bathroom floor tile into the dressing area and closet, replacing the drywall shower enclosure with glass, and carefully turning the toilet, we created a space that was beyond our clients’ imagination. Enveloping the entire suite in the dreamy, serene Benjamin Moore HC-171 Wickham Gray, while varying the sheens on the walls and woodwork, served as the perfect quiet canvas for the artful inspired materials. We partnered with Hoiland Studios to replace recessed lights along the bed wall, built-in bookshelves and in the shower with linear cove lighting, as we drew attention to the design details and stunning quartzite. The materials and finishes we specified, walnut, satin brass, terrazzo inspired porcelain, subtly textured porcelain on the walls, and Aria Quartzite pay homage to the classic, stateliness of the edifice, while the shades of blue in the splashy Phillip Jeffries mural wall covering, and sumptuous Pindler and Kravet textiles, brought the element of sophisticated playfulness our clients craved to transport from their Palm Springs life.

The bathroom was in original 1950’s condition, and although the girls were still in preschool, we designed it to withstand the test of time, as this is their forever home. The veining in the porcelain floor softens and ties together the custom white lacquered vanity and the charcoal gray Spanishl tiles . The crystal cabinet hardware adds a touch of glam and whimsy. The large scale glossy bathtub surround adorned with chrome linear accents, serve as the perfect anchor to the vanity.

Our rock star client was seduced by the location and spectacular view in the Little Tuscany neighborhood. The charm, patina, and ruggedness of this two bedroom two bathroom vacation home drew our client to this special property, as well, and he wished to preserve its essence. The main bath received a complete renovation, as the client wished to have every surface refreshed. A custom walnut vanity and mirror, black bath tub with black stone accent wall, along with the satin brass hardware and plumbing fixtures create a harmonious palette of materials that are simultaneously edgy, while also soothing and luxurious. We restored the kitchen by refinishing the millwork in Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy, and rejuvenating the tile countertops. We relocated the washer and dryer from the kitchen to the hallway adjacent to the bedrooms. New to the kitchen: - Work wall featuring custom millwork and a full height pantry - Picket backsplash - Concrete painted tile breakfast breakfast bar facade - Plumbing fixtures - Appliances - Lighting The saltillo tile floors were restored throughout the home, as was the guest bathroom vanities, countertops and bedroom built in cabinets. New to the ranch: - Painted ceiling and beams alabaster white - Designed and installed wood panel wall in the living room - Landscape, fire pit, and a guitar shaped swimming pool - Exterior paint - Architectural interior and exterior lighting - Updated HVAC system - Motorized solar shades - Solar panels - Sliding glass doors and windows - A melange of vintage and new furniture, textiles, and art Our client has loved escaping LA, resting and relaxing in his beautiful retreat!

One loves to cook, and it was important to the other to hide as much counter clutter as possible, as they both work from home, and truly live in their kitchen. We opened up a wall and designed a bar centrally located a stone's throw away from the kitchen, family room, dining room, and living room. Making room for a round kitchen table allows for lively family discussion. A shout out to the Spanish kitchen furniture, crazy about their form and oh, those navy blue seat cushions! What we love about this project -- the juxtaposition between the razor thin countertops along the perimeter of the kitchen, and the beefy, 2.5” mitered island countertop.

They desired a little nip and tuck for their kitchen, in order to bring it into the new decade. The cabinets were a warm espresso finish, with a medium toned granite countertop and a colorful glass tile backsplash. The gorgeous American natural walnut floors were not popping against the other dark elements, and our client wanted a white or gray kitchen. We assured her, “Brown is the new gray, and we got this!” Step One—Assess the assets and identify the challenges Assets: - The cabinets were in good enough shape, and it would have been completely irresponsible to rip them out and start over. - The appliances were all in ship shape. Challenges: - The backsplash was a tad busy. - The countertops were a bit dated. - The butler’s pantry was tricky, as the upper cabinets meet the countertop and we didn’t want to incur the expense of gutting the entire space. - The island pendants were skimpy in scale in relation to the hunky island. - The kitchen table, chairs, and counter stools were worn, and very, very brown. (I am a huge brown fan, I am a brown eyed girl, but this was a lot of brown.) Step Two—Implement our design plan - Color block the kitchen by painting the upper cabinets and island white and touch up the lower cabinets in the existing finish. - Change the countertops from granite to matte brittanica warm quartz with a full height backsplash in the kitchen. - Beef up the island by mitering the countertop edge to 2.5”. - Replace the satin nickel cabinet hardware with a curated combo of matte black and satin brass. - Swap out the milky white glass island pendants with sexy, smokey hand blown glass pendants. - Replace existing recessed lights with LED retrofit. - Repaint the entire kitchen. - Add under cabinet lighting. - Replace the heavy kitchen table, chairs and counter stools with natural, warm, light organic feeling elements, and of course, shades of gray, which are brown’s best friend. Happy clients. Happy SMI!!

A spacious five bedroom home, on a great block, with fabulous neighbors, were the big selling points, however, they didn’t love the kitchen or the first floor plan. How we worked our magic: - We removed the first floor guest bedroom that was tucked between the kitchen and garage, and created a spacious mudroom and breakfast nook with a custom banquette - Painted the existing cabinets white - Replaced the cabinet and interior door hardware - Designed a new island - Designed and built a homework desk that also doubles as a large pantry - Replaced and installed new quartz countertops - Installed a beautiful subtle damask Spanish porcelain backsplash - Updated the lighting - Removed the existing tile and carpet floors in the kitchen, and replaced it with matching hardwood that matches the rest of the home - Added windows to take advantage of their neighbor-less backyard and the fact that their home backs up to a gorgeous park Furniture, a family room rug, custom ottoman and art selections reflect our client’s bustling, casual entertaining lifestyle.

The time came when they were faced with the decision and the question, “Do we invest in and renovate our kitchen and main suite, or do we move?” Ultimately, our clients decided to stay in their home and here is a glimpse into what we created together with their architect and builder. Their home has a traditional floor plan with a kitchen that connects to the dining room. We purposely designed the dining room to have an inviting, casual yet elegant aesthetic. We wanted to create a dining room that could also function as a family kitchen table, a homework space, a cozy Shabbat dinner, and would eventually welcome an updated kitchen. Our client contemplated replacing their existing kitchen wood floor with tile, but we decided to preserve and refinish the wood floor to maintain continuity and warmth throughout. Because the kitchen is adjacent to the dining room and not to the family room, changing the floor to tile would have created a fragmented feeling and our goal was to create cohesiveness. The kitchen opens to the outdoor living space and swimming pool where wood is not typically a friend to wet slippery feet. Our clients said, “Let’s go for it!” and they have no regrets. We are mixed metal fans and love to play with scale. Behold the voluptuous island pendants, chunky island countertop, satin brass modern hex pulls and knobs, and a combo of cerused white perimeter flat panel cabinets with a gray shaker island. Our client desired to conceal the clutter, so the walk-in pantry and appliance garages came into play. The metal and wood floating shelves above the dessert bar provide display space for family photos, artwork, and seasonal styling. A second floor addition adjacent to the main suite accommodates a home office and a dreamy walk-in closet along with an upstairs laundry room and zen main bath complete with a steam shower, water closet that allows for TV viewing from the vanity mirror, a soaking tub, and a coffee bar.

My mom decided she no longer wished to live in Chicago without my dad, and as a new empty nester, I instinctively desired to be close to my mom after our loss. I got lucky when I found my condo in the historically significant William Cody Tennis Club Homes. I had hoped that if I ever bought in Palm Springs, I would be able to walk to town, join the PS Tennis Club, and live in a mid-century modern home. My diamond in the rough bungalow checked all the boxes, and I dove into a complete renovation, and embarked on reimagining the 1966 floor plan, while honoring the existing design and architecture. It was essential for me to absolutely feel enveloped in warmth, beauty, art, and nature. Creating an elegant, but not too precious, home where my two young adult children felt comfortable visiting, along with a robust group of friends and family for whom I entertain regularly, was my North Star. Cody’s intention was to have the exterior and interior of the home flow seamlessly. We achieved this by: - running the same terrazzo inspired porcelain floor throughout - replacing the glass block windows with transparent glass - removing the iron gate around the back covered patio - adding a tongue and groove wood ceiling overhang detail to the front entry bringing the outside in With my roots in the hospitality industry, cooking and entertaining is a thread in my fabric, we enlarged the galley kitchen by two feet and opened the kitchen to the living space. To achieve this, we: - borrowed space from the guest closet and bathroom - raised the ceiling height - re-engineered the support with an exposed black painted steel I-Beam - inserted a generous skylight - the 48” wide kitchen peninsula double duties: in the kitchen, the sink, dishwasher, and custom cabinetry reside while in the living room, it is the home to a bar, counter seating, and discreet storage. We now had a perfect design for entertaining as well as for solo living. Removing the skylight from the living room and the mauve fireplace marble was a constant healthy design debate between myself, my architect, and my builder. Ultimately, we decided both of those elements were limiting, and 86’d them. We replaced them with a textured white ledger stone and walnut ceiling fan. We had a field day designing the main bedroom suite by enlarging the actual bathroom without changing the footprint by removing walls and reconfiguring the closets. We designed a sliding glass exposed door that provided lightness and architectural interest while also affording privacy when needed. Light oak inspired laminate millwork, soapstone inspired quartz, luxe gold plumbing fixtures and cabinet hardware, Kelly Wearstler and Aerin lighting, and a stunning mosaic tile accent wall behind the bathtub add elegance and style. One can steam, soak, dress, and relax in this retreat with a mountain view and nestle into the cozy bedroom for a restful night’s sleep. We masterfully carved out highly functional space in a small footprint in the guest suite. We crafted a dramatic glass 8’ wide door that pockets into the closet for privacy and a dressing/staging area just outside the bathroom so more than one person can get ready at a time. We went old-school with twin beds for flexible sleep accommodations. We had selected decorative lighting fixtures and were originally going to replace the existing 6” recessed lights with LED retrofits, but felt that wouldn’t do the home justice. We collaborated with a brilliant lighting designer, creating a detailed, intricate, architectural lighting design to get it just right….and that we did!

One big conundrum was when we were charged with their kitchen / dining / living room renovation was what to do about the existing slate flooring. Their guest bathroom also needed some love, but they did not wish to embark on a full blown renovation. The clear objectives: “We would like to add a fireplace to the living room, open the galley kitchen to the living and dining space, so we can converse with our guests and each other, while admiring our spectacular view, and better insulate the the home, which has a charming exposed wood ceiling.” With the collaboration of our general contractor, we were able to tuck the new fireplace into the corner of the living room, face it with ledger stone, and carve out concrete inspired porcelain bench. The Art TV and pendants, along with custom bench cushions and pillows all contribute to the literal warming up of the previous cool space. We drywalled the ceiling, then added wood beams to maintain the Spanish charm of the original architecture. The walnut ceiling fan added yet another layer to our clients’ comfort. Maintaining a post in the peninsula permitted us to expose the kitchen to the dining and living space and avoid a major structural re-engineering. In the powder room, we replaced the existing countertop and plumbing fixtures with an integrated quartz sink, and dressed up the walls with a tropical vinyl wall covering, rattan Made Goods Mirror, new cabinet hardware, plumbing fixtures and sconces. Circling back to the big question: “What do we do about the existing slate floors?” I leaned into them and specified all materials around the rich, natural earth tones of the bold floor. Layers of decorative lighting from Visual Comfort including sconces, pendants, chandeliers, and flush mounted fixtures along with the brass hood, hardware, and plumbing fixtures, brought out the gold in the Cambria quartz, and married the slate floors, to their mountain. An incredible chef, our client craved an elevated kitchen with well engineered yet gorgeous appliances and plumbing fixtures that could take the heat. Monogram and California Faucets delivered! What we achieved and feel most proud of: the new space feels current yet timeless, bold yet elegant, substantial yet understated, and our clients absolutely are over the moon happy.