Houzz’s Bryan Anthony takes a look at a 1958 William Krisel-designed, 2,000 sq ft, 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, desert vacation home that takes its remodeled style clues and color inspiration from the owners other favorite vacation destination, Guatemala. The owners tasked the designers, Howard Hawkes and Kevin Kemper at H3K Design, with incorporating the colors, textures and spirit of Guatemala within the midcentury lines of this classic Palm Springs home.
At some point in the 1970s, the original William Krisel-designed home was remodeled and its street presence transformed with a large exterior stucco wall that prevented all passersby from having any idea of what existed on the other side. The stucco wall was replaced by art deco-inspired cement blocks, commonly used in Guatemala and in midcentury design, to bring in light and provide a more modern curb appeal.
Inside the home, gray porcelain tile meant to mimic the look of concrete covers the main living area floors, with thin grout lines in the same color as the tile used to provide a more uniform appearance.
In the living room, a coat of light blue Hammerite, a self-priming, rust-preventative paint, covers the original cement block fireplace. The 6- by 6-foot white bump-out in the center of the fireplace is a common feature found in Krisel-designed homes. The brown, red and gold glass mosaic tile surrounding the hearth was inspired by the volcanoes of Guatemala and imitates the look of flowing lava. Most of the home’s furnishings are vintage pieces collected by the owners over the years at midcentury-minded design stores in Palm Springs.
The house’s roofline was extended to create a dining area out of a former covered patio. The artwork over the vintage credenza is a piece of digital art created by one of the owners. What was the dining area is now used as a media room. A clerestory window was added to the back wall to take advantage of the mountain views.
The kitchen cabinets were purchased at Ikea and then covered with walnut veneer panels, which references the rainforests of Guatemala and is a popular material for midcentury furniture. The tile used for the kitchen backsplash is more commonly laid vertically, but the designers laid it horizontally to create a wave-like appearance. A different tile that includes pieces of broken mirror lines the wall behind the gas range and hood, adding a stylish shimmer.
The owners also wanted the guest bathroom to feel like a rainforest and the designers found the perfect tile for the job. The mosaic tile is only about ¼ inch thick and was selected in a variety of green and brown hues, reflecting the look of leaves interspersed with branches. A green painted skylight well completes the scene. The guest bedroom includes a large alcove above the closet, another feature commonly found in Krisel-designed homes. The designers extended the alcove across the entire wall and added overhead lighting to create a space for the homeowners to display their collection of white ceramic pottery.
Outside, in the rear yard, a spa was added to one end of the original pool. A new patio overhang that angles skyward was constructed to allow for unobstructed views of the mountain range from inside the house.
To read Bryan Anthony’s original article and view the accompanying pictures, courtesy of Houzz.com, please visit: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/50933980/list/houzz-tour-a-palm-springs-midcentury-home-with-central-american-flair
