Palm Springs: A House in the Palms...

So just to be up front, this week is going to be all California...No East Coast this week - all west coast, all week - so put on some beach boys and enjoy! (and stay tuned for Holiday Week next week!)

Obviously, Palm Springs has it's own style, in case that wasn't already coming through.  And it's basically an architectural dream - there is so much that's well preserved.  It's interesting though, while I was always enjoying the architectural preservation (and to their credit, people in Palm Springs work hard to restore and maintain what they have for a totally unique look to the city), there's also a bit of a weird vibe you get from time to time.  You really notice how frozen in time Palm Springs is when you drive to some of the neighboring cities - and drive you have to because California is pretty much the heart and start of the American highway, even in the city itself it's four lanes across each way  (which of course pales to the eight lanes across each way as you drive on major roads between cities in CA - that's exotic America).   The neighboring cities quickly gave way to 80's style strip malls, modern-day generica and gated housing developments and you think "what a shame".  But the thing is, the root cause in all of that was the type of development you see in Palm Springs.  The late 50's/early 60's brought in a new urban era in the US of accessibility by car, individual homes designed for mass production and separated from community, and the absence of a central, walkable, commercially viable downtown.  One is simply a natural extension of the other.

But enough of that! Let's see some Palm Springs Glam, courtesy of Elle Decor. This is a house done in a typical Palm Springs style, restored by a cast member of Extreme Home Makeover.  I love all the white, and it seems like a nice cooling contrast to the desert heat, while the fireplace warms up the evenings.  I definitely wouldn't mind one of these in my repertoire - with that pool, it might even substitute a beach house!

All photos by Joe Schmelzer for Elle Decor.