Laurie Berger
text+photos by Laurie Berger
2019 Modernism Week Sneak Peek
Get out your cat-eye glasses and baby-blue Caddy.
If you’re a fan of mid-century modern—the “jet-age” design style of the 1950s and 60s—there’s no better place to experience the iconic homes, furnishings and utopian “vibe” of that period than at Modernism Week in Palm Springs.
A living mid-century museum, the desert city will be in full “mod” mode February 14-24, when more than 125,000 architects, designers, homeowners and collectors gather for the 11-day event.
The annual fete is among the fastest-growing modernism showcases in the country. You can browse, buy and immerse at 350 citywide events, including tours, talks, films, exhibits and sales. There are even vintage cars cruising Palm Canyon Drive and attendees decked out in their mod-est outfits (martini glasses in hand!).
Homes previously owned or occupied by Bob Hope, Elvis Presley, Gene Autry and other celebrities of the era will be open to the public. All have been faithfully restored and updated for 21st-century living, including those designed by such mid-century architectural icons as Albert Frey, Palmer & Krisel, Donald Wexler and Richard Neutra.
Two newly redone homes that will be open for the first time—and not to be missed: La Vie En Rose and Green Gables.
FIRST LOOK: LA VIE EN ROSE
Jet set goes desert modern at this new Rose Avenue show house in the upscale Vista Las Palmas neighborhood. Renovated by Christopher Kennedy of CK Boutique, the sprawling 1958 home showcases the designer’s signature style and offers uninterrupted views of the desert and Mt. San Jacinto.
Now, expanded to include a spacious master suite and casita, the 5-bedroom, 4-bath home features a 15-foot retracting glass wall providing expansive views and indoor-outdoor living space. It’s furnished with classic reproductions, wood ceilings, grasscloth wallpaper, earth-tone colors, and a James-Bond-in-Palm-Springs vibe.
Kennedy is the author of two books on mid-century style and has been featured in Architectural Digest and the Los Angeles Times. He also appeared on HGTV’s House Hunters Renovation in summer 2017 and hosted the Mid Mod, Then and Now web series last fall.
Coachella Magazine sat down with Kennedy at La Vie En Rose to get the inside scoop on his latest project.
What is your approach to renovating and preserving classic homes?
Christopher Kennedy: With all Palm Springs houses, I respect the classic balance but also update them with the best modern technology.
We take the ideas of these great architects and designers and move them forward (in their spirit). After visiting one of our houses, architect Donald Wexler’s wife said, “You’ve done everything that my husband wanted to do, but we didn’t have the technology.”
I get goosebumps even saying that.
What’s the home’s history?
CK: It was designed in 1958 by architect Charles Dubois for the Alexander Construction Company, which built thousands of homes all over Palm Springs, “The Alexanders,” as they’re known. The homeowners bought it from Jackie Autry, Gene Autry’s widow. They were generous enough to open it up for Modernism Week to inspire and delight people around the world.
What improvements did you make to the house?
CK: The house now lives much larger by today’s standards. A new master suite and casita took it from 2,000 square original feet, to 3,600 square feet.
We added pocketing and accordion doors, to open up the indoor-outdoor space, as well as Sonos speakers throughout the house.
The colors are more restrained than other Palm Springs renovations. What was the intention behind this one?
CK: We wanted it to be more “organic modern” because the owners are from Canada—and he’s a guy’s guy. We kept the exposed, sandblasted wooden ceiling, which was very popular in the 90s. (The muted colors) honor the organic (aspects) of mid-century design, which have been overlooked for the white and turquoise glossiness that’s popular these days.
What would you like us to know about the decor?
CK: Our projects are always an eclectic mix. We use vintage furniture and affordable new pieces from places like West Elm, CB2 and our shop.
And the master bath? (Jacuzzi®)
CK: We wanted to achieve a mod Joshua Tree boho vibe. It’s very current now but also timeless. It feels like you’re bathing in a private garden.
How did your client like the redo?
CK: She hadn’t been a part of the process a whole lot. Her husband is a contractor who spearheaded the project over the summer. When she came in from Toronto for the big reveal, we greeted her at the door with champagne, just like on TV. She walked through and loved everything.
What appeals to younger homeowners and millennials?
CK: Younger clients want it to be very personal. They want to collect things over time, and make their homes unique. In this house, wallpaper sets apart each room, as well as a fun mix of furniture.
I’m bringing back wallpaper!
Do you have to educate homeowners about preservation vs. renovation?
CK: Yes. Clients from other parts of the country don’t necessarily know or understand this architecture. If, you’re from Long Island, NY, for example, you might see the house as flat piles of brick.
It takes time to appreciate these homes. They don’t look grand or expensive by other cities’ standards. Once you live here, however, you feel the magic of Coachella Valley. It has a great history of healing and rejuvenation.
What: La Vie En Rose
Where: 783 North Rose Ave.
When: Feb 16-18, 2019
Price: $30
More Information: modernismweek.com