Mesa Modern

At the base of the Mount San Jacinto Mountains, nestled in the Palm Springs neighborhood called “The Mesa” is an exceptional home highlighted by an extraordinary desert-scape and luxury design. We dubbed it the “Mesa Modern.”

The Mesa neighborhood was originally created in the 1930s by Edmond Fulford, a successful Los Angeles-based businessman, who envisioned this as a quaint and private community. As one of the first gated communities in the Palm Springs area, The Mesa hosts an array of home styles, including the butterfly-style homes designed by Mid-century modern architect Donald Wexler.

The neighborhood has quite a storied history and has been home to entertainers such as Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Sonny Bono, Barry Manilow, and Natalie Wood to name a few.

The “Mesa Modern” is a newly created estate — situated so every room enjoys the gorgeous mountain vistas, as well as seamlessly integrating into the surrounding environment. The landscape surrounding the property celebrates Palm Springs outdoor living at its finest.

Many of our clues for the site and landscape were extrapolated from colors and textures selected for the interiors.  The landscape’s architecture is an obvious extension of the house, where it would appear to have been designed of one hand. Regional context always plays a big part in our projects wherein they so necessarily connected to nature. There is no turning one’s back on the Mount San Jacinto Mountains, which seemingly rise from the home’s backyard.

You couldn’t ask for greater drama to activate this space, naturally, than the quickly ascending rocky terrain of these mountains. We deliberately open views through the main chord of the home, using 8’ tall garden walls and palms to flank and direct views across the 50’ long pool with the mountains beyond.

Reflections of the sky from the pool’s surface are as tranquil and surreal as the desert setting beyond, and are enjoyed from a great many vantage points in the seven discernible gardens on this site. The grand openness through the home’s large windows and massive pivot doors allows the interior to seamlessly flow to the exterior. It truly allows you to appreciate the unique Desert Lifestyle.

Although the property is quite large, the design allows you to have multiple areas to enjoy, with discovery and delight at each different area. The interior design has been carefully curated with unique custom details, shapes and textures inspired by the local geographical elements, and has an impressive art collection throughout.

The newly constructed home is an exploration of modernist perspectives on California elegance with an edge, in addition to subtle nods to the past. The 3,200-square-foot home and 700-square-foot guesthouse site squarely on this 1/2-acre lot.

The “Mesa Modern”is deeply inspired by a global perspective on art and architecture, as well as both traditional and forward-looking interior and landscape design.

With a Design Show House such as this home is, timelines of production and communications were required to be met with accuracy given the project’s very short duration. There was no room for error. The process, organization and details had to be orchestrated with complete precision to meet the event time frame. You cannot miss a beat and the show must (and did) go on!

Check out our in-concept design renderings too.