Modernism Week Wrap up Part 2: Brise Soleil? Did someone say Brise Soleil??

The Desert Sun did an 11-Part mini web series titled "Modern Love" on Mid-Century Architecture for Modernism Week, and asked me to participate. I ended up doing four of these really fun, stylish, super short 00:59 (!) second videos.

Here is one where I discuss Brise Soleil  (Broken Sun)  the "fragmented" walls that are an architectural detail, but also provide functionality.

Example of Brise Soleil

Me in mid-desciption. Glad my jacket + shirt work, but in this screen grab, it looks like I have a little black eye! 

Bravo to Marilyn Chung who did the videos - they're stylish, informative, short, to the point, have fun music, and I had a great time doing them! And a big thank you to Lyn Lieu for the great write up!

Palm Springs Modernism Week 2014 Wrap Up - PART 1

Modernism Week 2014 was busier and had more events than ever before. Here are some highlights - more to come!

There was Fashion!

Deja Vu Vintage Finery put on a Fashion show titled
"Jet Set"

(Pan Am was a really great airline. Those were the days when Airlines actually enforced dress codes!)

Here I am looking a little like the Hawaiian Punch guy...

 Cars! Art! Rock N Roll!

I was honored to help curate a Feral Car show titled "Driven" with feralcars.com founder Bob Merlis at the Stephen Archdeacon Gallery

Photo courtesy of Paul Kaplan

Hosted by the legendary Billy F. Gibbons Founder and member of ZZ TOP, with drawings and paintings of the open road/car noir art*** by artist Eric Nash. 

DRIVEN co-conspirators: Matthew Reader, Bob Merlis, Billy F Gibbons, Eric Nash

Photo by Christina Patoski

The Artist Eric Nash in front of his Portrait of a Feral Wagon

Photo courtesy of feralcars.com

Cocktails!

Photo courtesy of FeralCars.comPura Vida Tequila for everyone! Poured by Sara!

Photo Courtesy of Eric Nash 

Thank you to everyone for joining us on this special night!

***Thanks to Bob  Merlis for the description of Eric Nash' art for the evening!

Quick Check-In from the Modernism Week Vintage Trailer Show + Mid-Century Yard Sale Tomorrow!

Great Day today at the Vintage Trailer Show!

My Silver Suitcase™ at the Vintage Trailer Show!

Tomorrow is part 2 of the show 10-3

AND

The Mid Century Yard Sale starts at 8:00AM SHARP!

(Photo Booth! Free Donuts!) 

Details for Both Events Below:

Mid Century Yard Sale

Paul Kaplan Group Parking Lot

1701 N Palm Canyon Drive

Palm Springs, CA 92262

Sunday Feb 23rd 8am-12pm

Modernism Week Vintage Trailer Show 

Hilton Hotel Parking Lot

400 East Tahquitz Canyon

Palm Springs, CA 92262

Sunday Feb 23rd 10am-3pm

The Silver Suitcase™ is going to be in a Book + Featured in the Modernism Week Vintage Trailer Show!

The Silver Suitcase™ has been very busy!

Since I swung open the door last August to reveal the renovation of an old Airstream that I made into my new home, The Silver Suitcase™ has garnered a lot of attention.

Whether it’s friends or clients asking for a tour, or receiving calls from as far away as the UK asking me how I did it, why I did it, and what is it like living in this 250 square feet silver tube?

And so, the curiosity continues. Nancy Baron, a noted documentarian came to photograph the Silver Suitcase™ in all its glory for her new coffee table book aptly titled: “The Good Life, Palm Springs”

Here’s a pic I took of Nancy in action at the Silver Suitcase™

(The book should be out next month, and will make an announcement of course!)

And if you are in Palm Springs this weekend, the Silver Suitcase™ will be featured in the Modernism Week Vintage Trailer Show at the Hilton Hotel parking lot on Tahquitz Canyon

Do come by to say Hello, I would love to show you around!

Details for Palm Springs Vintage Trailer Show here

Address of Trailer show below: 

Hilton Hotel Parking Lot

400 East Tahquitz Canyon

Palm Springs, CA 92262

760-320-6868

Sat  Feb 22   10-4

Sun Feb 23  10-3

POTUS is celebrating Modernism Week, Too!

Yesterday was a huge day here in Palm Springs. We had Valentine's Day, Obama arriving for the long weekend, and Modernism Week launched.

To say yesterday Palm Springs was buzzing is an understatement. The whole town felt like it had been chugging Red Bull non-stop.

So Welcome, to all the Love Birds who are spending a long romantic weekend, Welcome to all Modernists, and Welcome President Obama!

President Obama arrives at Palm Springs Airport
Photo Courtesy of Desert Sun

We love our President for  being Chief Modernist and maintaining all things modernism even while conducting business, and we thank him for that.

Photo Courtesy Sunnylands.org

President Obama is staying at  the quintessential modern estate, Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage which was designed by A.Quincy Jones in 1966 for Walter + Lenore Annenberg.

Photo Courtesy Sunnylands.org

The home was beautifully decorated by the late great Billy Haines. There is no one that can compare to Mr William Haines. No one. That said, his legacy continues in furniture design, and can be purchased here or you can try for one of the originals here.

If you get a moment, do take a tour of Sunnylands. Tickets can be had here

Mid-Century Home on Alejo newly listed, just in time for Palm Springs Modernism Week!

What's better than Modernism week which begins tonight?

Getting a listing for an incredible storied mid-century home with a glamorous Palm Springs back story!

1080 East Alejo Road Pool with hot tub and fire pits

This pedigreed home was custom built in 1951 by Paul Summers and Caroline Birge  (Hicks) the owners of the Ingleside Inn (home to Melvyn's!)  The Ingleside Inn has and continues to be a wonderfully oasis of Palm Springs Chic that will never go out of style. Martinis, Oysters Rockefeller, a Tuxedo Wearing Maître d', live music most nights, movie stars over the years who have called it home away from home, a glamorous pool with sexy bungalows - what's not to love?

The home remained in their ownership until 2003.The new owners took great care and respect  bringing all aspects up to date.

Located in the chic neighborhood of the Movie Colony and a few doors down from The Frank Sinatra Estate Twin Palms, the home is centrally located while preserving a compound feel.
Coming in at  little under 2500 square feet, on a little more than half an acre,  this spacious 3 bedroom 3 bathroom home offers state of the art modern amenities.

Some of the features are: vaulted ceilings, flagstone fireplace, gourmet kitchen, and walls of glass are a few of the magnificent attributes of this special property. Outside is a beautifully landscaped backyard with a swimming pool surrounded by 3 fire pits set against the dramatic backdrop of the mountains.

Apparently, we weren't the only ones who felt this way!  Today, The Desert Sun did a loving write up in honor of this special house!

Here's a walk through video of the home

Questions on this property? Give a ring 760-969-2270 or mrmodps@gmail.com

Questions on why to buy in Palm Springs? click here!

Top ***Five Reasons to buy in Palm Springs

Iconic Palm Springs Photo by Slim Arons 1970 at the Kaufman house designed by Neutra 

1.)    Why ask why when it’s 75 degrees in February? Anyone care for some Poolside cocktails? Tennis? World Class Golf? Don’t mind if we do.

2.)    Direct Flights to Palm Springs International Airport  (PSP) from NYC, Toronto, Vancouver, Seattle, and San Francisco to name a few. Did you know our airport is listed as one of the top 10 stress free airports in the world?  Wheels down, collect your bag with your swimsuit and you will be in the pool at your fab home in 15 minutes. BOOM.

3.)    Beautifully designed homes with architectural pedigree and a breathtaking mountain range as a backdrop.

4.)    Fabulous restaurants, bars and some serious entertainment that rivals Los Angeles + NYC. (Coachella, the McCallum or 4 star Gambling anyone?)

5.)    Weekly Stitch + Bitch cocktails at my fabulous AirStream home, the Silver Suitcase™ (See pics here) It's pretty marvelous, isn't it? 

***Notice we don't need 10 reasons?  Two would've been enough, but thought it was more fun to jazz it up.  

January Re-Cap: When Hollywood’s Glitziest + Most Glamourous Descended onto Palm Springs

The Palm Springs Film Festival kicked the year off with a serious bang and more International Press than you could read in a day.

Palm Springs has been a second home to the movers and shakers of Hollywood since the 1920’s. From the early silent movie days to studio contract players like Marilyn Monroe to TV stars such as Lucille Ball to Crooner Frank Sinatra and his buddies in the Rat Pack and 2014 was no different.

The Black Tie Gala, sponsored by Cartier and BMW rolled out the red carpet for a who’s who of Hollywood and beyond:

Bono + The Edge from U2, Matthew McConaughey, Bradley Cooper, Colin Farrell,George Clooney, Sandra Bullock, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks, and Leonardo DiCaprio to name just a few.  The town was buzzing and it was really wonderful to see Palm Springs glammed out. 

This is definitely a perk of living here. Anyone can attend the Gala as well as the films that are shown all over town. No matter how large the The Film Festival has become, it still embraces it roots of democracy for attendees.

Major Props to Mr Matthew McConaughey for embracing the Palm Springs style!

All photos courtesy of Michael Snyder/Desert Sun