Mr. Mod Palm Springs

Monday, September 3, 2012

A. Quincy Jones Condo In Palm Springs

I have to say, my 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado looks pretty breathtaking in the carport at the A. Quincy Jones-designed Condominium at 1969 Camino Real in Palm Springs. Both the car and the condos were designed about the same time, and are vaguely reminiscent of the servants' quarters at Sunnylands, The Annenberg Estate in Rancho Mirage. We have this condo listed for sale, and was recently featured on Curbed LA.

Paul Kaplan Modern Real Estate Group Shoot

We had the best time doing a photoshoot at the historic 1949 Herbert Burns-designed residence on Via Miraleste in Palm Springs. I sold the house a few weeks ago, but the owner was kind enough to let our entire real estate group do a photoshoot there a la Mad Men style- with vintage clothes and accessories from Deja Vu Vintage Finery on Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs. Look forward to seeing all the great photos! Here's a sneak peak of me (Matthew Reader) and fellow agent, Kris Rain, giving me a light.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Paul Kaplan Modern Real Estate @ Raymond|Lawrence

If you've not yet been to the new Raymond|Lawrence space on North Palm Canyon Drive in the Uptown Design District in Palm Springs, you're missing out! Among all the great vendors there, The Paul Kaplan Modern Real Estate Group also has a 'mod shack' kiosk there with open house guides, flyers for midcentury modern homes, a realtor on site to answer your questions, and books and maps that hightlight Palm Springs' rich architectural resources. It's located at 830 N Palm Canyon Drive.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Palm Springs Car Wash

I do love going to the car wash in Palm Springs several times a week. You never know what will pop up. This '61 Chrysler Newport is dreamy.

Palm Springs Designer Avanti to be Auctioned

The personal Avanti of Raymond Loewy will be auctioned off by Bonhams on May 11. Legend has it that this car was designed on a cocktail napkin by Mr. Loewy while in Palm Springs. Who says you can't mix business and pleasure? This is the second Avanti belonging to Loewy to be auctioned off in the past few months. This particular vehicle resided at Loewy's Parisienne address.

http://acn.liveauctioneers.com/index.php/features/grand-prix-cafe/7005-bonhams-to-sell-designer-raymond-loewys-72-avanti

Rooms from Yesterday's House of Tomorrow

Is anything better than looking at old idea books for home design. Does anything current look newer than these designs do?

Desert Lounge Tour; Courtesy Cocktail Lounge

Tickets are selling fast for the first event for The Desert Lounge Tour. Our first stop will be May 26 at The Courtesy Cocktail Lounge in Blythe. Part of the Googie architectural movement, The Courtesy was built in 1964 and retains a remarkable amount of its original finishes. Now that the I-10 has passed Blythe by, the Courtesy does not get the same traffic that it used to.

Join us for a swinging good evening at The Courtesy Cocktail Lounge! Ticket price includes Transportation to and from Blythe (with fun and games on the bus a go-go), Appetizers, Two Cocktails, Dinner, Dessert, Coffee, and Entertainment by The Gand Band. Tickets are $80 per person, click on the link below to purchase.

Call Matthew for any questions: 760-969-2278

Client Reviews of My Services

We used Paul Kaplan's Modern Real Estate group and have never had better service from any agent EVER!! Matthew Reader was a godsend and went well beyond the call of duty, in helping our home get set up, as I couldn't always be there. Time and time again, little issues still pop up and Matthew is still there helping us out even after the sale has long since completed! I wish everyone could have the amazing experience I had with Matthew and the rest of the Paul Kaplan group, uber professional and the best guys to work with. This is what home buying experience should be like! Bravo Matthew and Paul and all the other great agents at this firm. thanks Matthew!!

Liz M.
Vancouver, B.C., Canada

What else is there to say about Matthew Reader except ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS?! Use him as an agent, and it's like you get a bonus comedy act for free! The inevitable bumps of a home purchase can't be avoided, but he was able to make them almost enjoyable with his humor. He got me a great deal for a fixer in Yucca Valley (aka "Hooterville"), and I felt like he gave me the same attention as he would in one of his usual high end transactions in Palm Springs.
Not to mention, his outfits never fail to entertain as much as his witty repartee.

Why, Matthew makes the desert just a little bit brighter!

Kelly W.
Los Angeles, California

I recently had the pleasure of working with Matthew Reader to accomplish the purchase of a vacation property in Palm Springs. I have been involved in a reasonable number of real estate transactions over the years and would have to say that this was the best experience and most care free transaction I have had yet. Matthew responded quickly and efficiently on every issue that arose throughout the process. He also went above and beyond the call of duty to help me on a number of issues. Some of which occurred after closing, and which truly were not of a concern to him. I was truly impressed.
Matthew has proven to be very knowledgable regarding the Palm Springs and surrounding market and has been a good sounding board for advice and ideas as I look for another investment property. He also brings to the table a keen design eye that is useful in evaluating the potential of a possible property to suit ones needs.

Aside from his impeccable business etiquette, Matthew is witty, funny, and truly a nice person to be around. I could not provide a higher recommendation.

Mark M
San Clemente, California

We listed with Paul Kaplan's Modern Real Estate group and couldnt be more happier with the results and service we received! We received multiple offers and our condo sold for over asking . Matthew Reader was a pleasure to work with so we decided to use his services again when we purchased our cool new complex. Matthew exceeded our expections with his recommendations and his knowledge of the Palm Springs area past and present. He is a great resource to have and if you want to know anything about Palm Springs give Matthew a call!

Jeremy Z.
Vancouver, B.C., Canada

We became owners of a Rancho Mirage home, and Matthew was our agent! What to say? he was the perfect "fit", efficient, incredible knowledge, very stylish, and a great sense of humor. So what more to ask?......Cocktails by the pool maybe!
The whole experience was great, seamless and enjoyable.
Thanks Matthew!

Hubert P.
San Diego, California

Matthew Reader of the Paul Kaplan Modern Real Estate Group,did an outstanding job of assisting us as our real estate agent in our purchase of a home in Palm Springs . He was smart , insightful, and a pleasure to be around- in the future we will be using Matthew for all our real estate needs in Palm Springs. If you love mid century real estate , the Paul Kaplan group is the company to work with in Palm Springs.

Ben F.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

When my husband and I decided to start looking for a home in Palm Springs, we had heard of Paul Kaplan and his team. Between excellent recommendations and hearing of their superior knowledge of Mid-Century Modern architecture, we knew that they were the only realtors for us to work with.
Paul was a wonderful help during the process, and as first-time home buyers he helped guide us through the intricate and sometimes trying act of buying a home! He also introduced us to another member of his team, Matthew Reader, who wound up working as our realtor. Originally, my husband and I were dead set on buying a home in one specific neighborhood, but Matthew introduced us to a neighborhood that we had no previous knowledge of. It was exactly right for us! Even though the house needed some work, he helped us see the potential, and even went as far as to get us pictures of a friends home for us to see how great it could look. I don't think that without Matthew that we would have wound up realizing what a gem it was.

Needless to say, we couldn't be happier with our experience with the Matthew Reader of the Paul Kaplan Group for our new home.

I would recommend them to anyone looking to buy in the desert. Thanks to them again!

Samantha C.
Malibu, California

We had Matthew Reader help us and he was magnificent. He organized appointments to suit us. He was pleasant, personable and ready to answer any question we needed. He negotiated for us with the vendor and made the whole process of purchasing an apartment in Palm Springs a real pleasure.

I have never before in the purchasing of a property, and I have purchased many, had such wonderful help and such a pleasant experience. I could not have wished for anything better.

Mollie W.
Nevada City, California