Media Spotlight on Palm Springs Part 3: Hotel Lautner

I just wrote about the Lautner Hotel back on May 11th when some of us from The Paul Kaplan Group went for a looksy + some cocktails  as guests of Tracy Breckmann and Danny Heller.

The desert has been getting some serious love lately: Warby Parker, The New York Times, A book on the Palm Springs Lifestyle, and on and on. 

And the love continues: There's a show on Saturday Nights called  First Look TV  on NBC *** that airs after SNL and is hosted by  Audrina Patridge. 

The other night, lo and behold they did a segment on the HOTEL LAUTNER 

in Desert Hot Springs. 

Desert Hot Springs never looked so fancy. 

Very cool, indeed. 

Hotel Lautner getting some love as it should. 

My favorite is this: 

Danny and Audrina casually strolling through the grounds

in some everyday cocktail attire. 

And then, 

Toasting each other with the Hotel Lautner Signature Cocktail.

I love TV and how glamourous they make everything look. 

The hotel is really worthy of a visit if you make it out this way; steeped in architectural history, and truly unlike any hotel experience you will ever have, guaranteed. 

(though I can't guarantee Danny in a tux strolling  around with you)

For More Info on The Hotel Lautner go: HERE

***Thanks to my clients the Benders on the East Coast for alerting me to this and giving me the screen shots!

Cherry Pie, Earth WInd & Fire, John Lautner: And How Was Your Week?

Usually around this time of year, things start slowing down: the snow birds start packing up and heading back east (or to Canada); the frenzy of the weekends come to a manageable pace.

Not this year though; this week has been busy, busy, busy -- it seemed that people had forgotten to buy their houses before the season ended, and the week was spent running around quickly negotiating deals, handling inspections, and signing closing papers.

Much needed Pie Buffet at the 10:00am Paul Kaplan weekly staff meeting

Pie really makes any meeting all the better. I can't recommend it enough. 

Pie is the nectar of the Gods. 

 Later in the week, a few of us from the office headed out to Desert Hot Springs

for a work/play outing 

at 

The Hotel Lautner !

HUGE thanks for the invite by Interior Designer Tracy Breckmann and Art Bar Curator/Artist Danny Heller for a looksy and some cocktails.  

Making our way to Desert Hot Springs

The buildings were designed by the iconic Architect John Lautner in 1947

I encourage you to read the rich history on this historical hotel HERE

 Over the years, it changed hands, and in 2008, was saved and brought back to its much deserved glory by Interior Designer Tracy Breckmann and 

furniture designer Ryan Trowbridge. 

They spent 3 1/2 years meticulously restoring the property. 

Thanks to our hosts Tracy and Danny for a great time!!

This is a "must stay at" on the Desert List!

#TGIF:

Friday Night was a #TBF when some friends and I went out to Indio to see 

the GREAT

Earth, WInd & Fire!!!

Here are their  TOUR DATES.

GO SEE THEM. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.

THIS IS GUARANTEED FUN. 

If you do not have fun, you might want to see a therapist -- because that means there's something very wrong with you. 

The friends that I saw Earth, Wind, & Fire with own a clothing line called

 Ruffskin which have shops in the U.S. and one in Amsterdam. 

Last year, they shot one of their campaigns on my newly purchased wagon. Honestly, I had forgotten all about it until Friday night when they showed me the souvenir postcards that are placed in their shops for customers to take home.

Behold:

Note: the Washington Plates are still on.

Who knew a wagon could be sexy like this?! 

And to finish this crazy week, last night was dinner at my favorite 

Old School Palm Springs Restaurant: Lyons English Grille 

Here's Victor of Lyons Grille singing on the the last night of the season. 

Note Buckingham Palace Guard and Princess Diana in the background...

Bye Victor, have a great summer! 

I'm already looking forward to opening night next season!

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!

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!

New Listing, Indian Wells Country Club, $749,000

Bright Fun Resort-style midcentury home in prestigious Indian Wells Country Club. This house has many special features, among them being a view of four fairways and a second kitchen for party preparations or caterers. This 3 bedroom, 3 bath home features designer wall coverings and mirrors throughout maximize lighting. High clerestory windows in the entry hall lead to a living room (with fireplace!) that overlooks the Regency pool and golf course and mountain views. You'll enjoy waking up in the master bedroom with the same fantastic views.

Palm Springs Modern Committee Fall Home Tour 2013

I spent part of Saturday touring homes for PSmodcom's Fall tour, with such homes as 1961 by Home Lab, the new Dee Residence in Rancho Mirage by architect Lance O'Donnell of o2 Architecture, and a recent renovation of a rear patio unit at The Ocotillo Lodge, which was designed by Palmer and Krisel and built by the Alexanders (one of my favorite condo complexes, there are plaques with celebrity names on the doors, harking back to when it was a favorite weekend haunt of celebrities).  This one had a "Dinah Shore" in gold on the door.  The Estrella Swim club house in Indian Canyons was a crowd-pleaser.

Paul Kaplan Group and The Silver Suitcase to Tour Northwest

Exciting news- The Paul Kaplan Group is planning a four-city tour to promote Palm Springs real estate and our chic casual lifestyle.  Look for upcoming parties in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles.  We'll also be making my Airstream a Joshua Tree mobile office on designated weekends!

If you haven't read the blog about the Airstream's renovation at The Happy Traveler RV Park in Palm Springs, check out: www.airstream365.blogspot.com

Jim Jennings House, Deepwell, Palm Springs

I went to the unveiling of the Jim Jennings-designed and Blue Sky Homes-material sourced materials home in Deepwell.  The party was thrown by Palm Springs Modern Committee, and really was a chic home- I was really impressed by the delicate details of the home's design- particularly the lacy perforated ceiling finish, which directs AC air through it entirely, rather than through single vents.  The house picks up right where the Wexler/Harrison Steel houses left off, and expands entirely.  The vertical steel walls around the courtyard look so much like the steel guest houses from the Alexander's Twin Palms development.  Very cool concept.  The house is listed for sale at $1.3 million, which is breathtaking in itself.  Can't wait to see it sell.

Sparrows Hotel Palm Springs

I was able to get to Sparrows Hotel yesterday- though their not opening until September, thanks to hang-ups in the renovation with the City of Palm Springs.  I can't wait to have a cocktail in the original barn on the property.  Once a western-themed motor court hotel that was built either in the late 1940's or early 50's depending on who you talk to, this is now a tony design-driven boutique hotel designed by the former owners of the Korakia hotel in Palm Springs.  Josie Smith, owner, was kind enough to give us a tour and show us into her on-site shop, which has opened in advance of the hotel.  Totally digging the summer camp hoe down chuckwagon dinner vibe!

Coachella Music Festival 2013

I went to Coachella this year with low expectations.  Anytime I hear a load of buzz about something, I figure that the sheep are at at it again, baa baa baa about something new.  Aside from getting in and back out (it's a long and difficult process, have patience), it was one of the most fun things that I've ever done.  It's like a combination rock concert, cocktail party, fashion show, and art installation.

For three days (12-hour days), I stood with friends and ate and drank and listened to some of the best live music I've heard in a long time- OMD, New Order, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs (my favorite), Rodriguez, Violent Femmes, Youth Lagoon, Stars, Divine Fits, Alt-J, Modest Mouse, La Roux...I think you get the picture.  The light shows with each performance was amazing, lots of space to move around and dance, and the crowds are very friendly.

When you get tired of the music, you can stroll around the Polo Grounds, taking in the major art installations: a midcentury moder-esque house with images projected on it at night, a HUGE lycra snail that creeps about the grounds after dark, a hippo-operated powerplant, and a praying mantis/crane/dj booth. 

The food is pretty great for a large-scale festival (over 80,000 people attend): Taiwanese bao with fried chicken, Pink's hot dogs, paella, french fries with a garlic aioli and crab meat- I spent a lot of time eating!

The best part of this whole thing is that everyone is SO YOUNG.  It's a whole new generation of people coming to Palm Springs to have a great time, and taking all these memories of their fun back home.  It's so great that this next group of really young people have re-discovered the magic of the desert.

I can't wait to get my tickets for next year!

Pompeii De Las Palmas: Palm Springs Pied-à-terre

Italianate Regency Midcentury

Enjoy Your Last Days In Pompeii

You don't have to be at the foot of Mount Vesuvius to have a smoking hot time- check out Pompeii De Las Palmas!  This is a short sale, will be listed at $160,000, but sure to go over asking price.  To see the prior listing from a few years back, click HERE.

Like its sister property, Villa Roma at the South end of Palm Springs, this was also built in 1966.  There is a very Caesar's Palace colonnade around the swimming pool with a magnificent view of the mountains from Old Las Palmas.  This is a one bedroom, two bath condo, approx 850 sq. ft.  There are only nine units in this complex on West Stevens Road.  HOAS are $275.00 monthly.

To schedule a showing (will be a one-day, blue-light special event), call Matthew @ The Paul Kaplan Group at 760-969-2278

Palm Springs Modern Committee: Desert Two Unveiling; Jim Jennings Architect

The Palm Springs Modern Committee invites you to an exclusive unveiling of a remarkable new all-steel home in Deepwell Estates designed by noted modernist architect Jim Jennings.

This first public showing of Desert Two (the second of Jim Jennings' desert projects) will take place from 6-8 pm on Saturday, April 27. Cocktails and light fare will be offered during the reception.

Desert Two is a serene, elegant and exquisitely proportioned steel and glass house that tips its hat to the iconic steel homes designed by Donald Wexler 50 years ago in Palm Springs. Come and meet the architect, Jim Jennings, and learn about this new home.  

Like the Wexler homes, Desert Two was constructed of prefabricated steel wall and roof panels. Blue Sky Building Systems developed the house (the photo of the home above is the Jim Jennings residence, built in 2000, and published in Architectural Digest in 2009).

The reception is a membership-building event for the Palm Springs Modern Committee to help strengthen its vital preservation and advocacy programs.  

Tickets are $15 for Palm Springs Modern Committee members and $20 for non-members.  The link to purchase tickets is HERE.

Palm Springs Real Estate Question: What Is Wind?

Invariably, when our looking at properties in Palm Springs, I get asked "What about the wind?"

I'm sure you've experienced wind before wherever you may reside, and wind here is no different.  No one dies of wind in Palm Springs.  Just keep in mind, that it's one of the few weather patterns that we get in the desert on a fairly regular basis.  Contrary to popular myth, even the South End of Palm Springs has extreme wind.  This photo was taken this morning in my backyard in Twin Palms, in the Southern end of Palm Springs.  The last three major windstorms have all come from the South, while at the North end (yes folks, even North of Vista Chino) was relatively windless (at first!).

The wind blew all my chairs over, flipped my glass top dining table over and broke it, and blew pillows all around the yard.  I hope we can rebuild without FIMA's help.

The simple fact is: we get wind.  We don't get snow; there's no ice storms;  there's no rain for weeks on end; there's no hail; no subzero temperatures, just wind.  Our airport doesn't close because of bad weather, you rarely have to reschedule picnics, there are no snow days at school, just wind.

Out With the New, and In With the Old!

Well, I am at it again.  Ebay is a curse and a blessing.  I finally decided that I had to have an Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser.  I found one (a 1972), and bought it late last night.  That means I have to sell my lovely (and often used) 1986 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser.  My clients LOOOOOOVE being shown around Palm Springs in a vintage station wagon (after all, these were de rigueur for all real estate agents in the day (before the advent of the Land Rover as more than a farm vehicle).  I think that wood paneling makes just about any car look better (new Land Rovers included).  Bring back di-noc for all SUVs!  Anyhow, my Vista Cruiser features three glass roof panels that give the back seat passengers a view.  These were inspired by the GMC Scenicruiser buses of the mid-late 1950's. 

I do love being a real estate agent in Palm Springs.  I get to look at cool midcentury modern houses all day, work with clients who are here to have a good time, and drive great vintage cars every day.

Carchitecture; Palm Springs

I really love Instagram.  I do have a BFA in Fine Arts with a focus on photography, but I've never taken so many photos as I do now with instagram.  My username on there is mrmodps if you'd like to follow me.  I really think that my cars look great with the midcentury modern homes here in Palm Springs.  The upper one is a Wexler/Harrison designed home in El Rancho Vista Estates, and my 1962 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight looks snazzy parked in the carport!  I think the black-and-white image looks like it might have been shot in 1962!  The lower one is a painterly image by another agent, Chris Bale.  He's captured my 1986 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser Wagon in the driveway of a Palmer/Krisel Alexander home in Racquet Club Estates.  Palm Springs just makes every image wonderful.

Airstream Dream

I am in love with Airstreams.  I am pretty intent on buying one in the next couple of months and living in it and writing about the experience.  I really love the nautical interiors with the aeronautical exterior.  I do plan on traveling with it, but first to locate the right one: Idealling, 26-30 feet long, rear bedroom, from the late 60's up through the mid 70's.  It's going to be fun- I grew up with trailers; first a Metzendorf, then a Scotty, then a Venture popup.  We did a two-week long journey from Ohio to San Diego and back in 1978.  I had a great time, my sister- not so much.

Palm Springs is the perfect place to try this little social experiment out!  I can totally see all my Bertoia kitchen chairs and my 1960's Brown-Jordan outdoor furniture out under the awnings!

UPDATE:  I bought one!  Check out my new blog about it http://airstream365.blogspot.com/