An Effortlessly Chic Retreat In The Desert, $1.7M

by Philip Ferrato

Magnesia Falls Cove is a late ‘Fifties subdivision in the town of Rancho Mirage, a collection of low-slung desert classics that (compared to neighborhoods in Palm Springs) flies somewhat under the design radar. And it’s where Los Angeles designer Erika Brown deftly remodeled her family’s weekend and vacation retreat.

“…the house was a natural beauty before we touched it, built in 1958 and spared of any really major changes that would have ruined it. We were drawn to the horizontality of it – it just has great proportions.

The intention with the renovation was to emphasize what was already so wonderful about the property – the beamed ceilings, the stone cladding, the terracotta floors, the open layout – and address the interior areas that had likely undergone changes sometime in the 90s. This meant an all new kitchen that would open up to the living space, new wood french doors to replace outdated sliding doors, new wood casement windows, all new bathrooms, new electrical and lighting (all dimmable because lighting is everything), new plumbing, and new roof.

And then, the simple cosmetic touches that can make such a difference, like freshly sandblasting and lightening the wood ceilings and beams. Outside, new landscaping and lighting, new fire pit and bbq.”

What We Love: The uniform material and color palette throughout gives this house a hard-to-find serenity. There’s no “Throwback to the ‘Fifties” kitsch at work here, but instead, a sophisticated rejuvenation that’s greater than the sum of its parts.

When we asked her about the tiles in one of the bathrooms (below) Erika responded with “…these are tiles made in Japan by Wa-kei. When I see beautiful tiles, I cannot help but to buy them. So I actually had purchased these tiles a couple years ago and kept them in storage. This seemed like the right house for them.”

More: Go to the listing for additional images and details. An exceptional opportunity to own a beautifully renovated Mid-Century home, represented by April Kass at Backbeat Homes/ClarkLiving.