Text by Kovac Design Studio
Located in La Quinta’s fabled Madison Club, this vacation home was designed for a sophisticated client who loves to entertain family and friends when in town.
Inspired by the concept of a boutique hotel, the project sought to take maximum advantage of the dramatic desert views and, through its interior design, pay homage to the Golden Hollywood era of nearby Palm Springs.
These factors along with the client’s love for entertaining and indoor/outdoor living served as driving forces behind the home’s design and articulation by Kovac Design Studio.
Upon arrival, one circles into the motor court and is greeted by a still dark water element that seems to rise from the ground, water shimmering down its sides.
A commissioned Rogan Gregory sculpture will sit atop the water, just under an oculus that pierces through a web-like overhang above.
The overhang, ideal for providing shade on hot desert days, connects the main living space to six surrounding casitas, ideal for guests, and casts a pattern of delicate shadows that changes with the day’s spectrum of light.
Walking across the steps of the water element, one enters the main living space and is immediately welcomed by a dramatic view of the surrounding mountains.
The back of the house is composed of nearly frameless motorized glass doors that perfectly frame the landscape and retract to make the most of indoor/outdoor living when the pool or views beckon. Outside, Gloster sectionals, a fire pit, William Haines Malibu Chairs, and a locally sourced Cremo Delicato marble dining table that seats twelve complete the outdoor living area.
Inside the home, the kitchen, great room, bar, and lounge are entirely open to one another, ideal for easy entertaining. A Tufty Time sectional by B&B Italia, Platner Easy Chairs by Knoll, and bespoke Armadillo rug furnish the great room and provide luxurious comfort to all who spend time in the main house.
In the bar tucked behind is an intimate conversation area complete with four vintage Pierre Paulin Groovy Chairs. Metal architectural drapery surrounds the lounge and bar, its rings catching grazes of light that mimic the shadows of the overhang outside.
However, what truly makes this space outstanding is the suspended theater above the bar that boasts a motorized, movable wall that doubles as a movie screen. When closed, the theater is a perfectly enclosed screening room. When open, it becomes the perfect place for a live band to play during parties, the screen open for the entire home to enjoy.
Downstairs, a wellness spa and gym opens to a private garden. Just down the hall an entertainment room with six cus-tom built-in bunkbeds and a generous sectional provide additional space where family and guests can relax and sleep, punctuated by a wall of greenery just outside.
To get to each of the six casitas surrounding the main home, one passes through outdoor open-air hallways, again shaded by the overhang above, the walkways dappled with delicate shadows. Each casita boasts its own private patio and fi repit enclosed by a mechanical fence that can retract to connect to the neighboring casita for easy socializing.
Each also includes its own bath with indoor/outdoor shower, mini fridge, and bar so guests can enjoy a drink without going to the main house whenever a private escape is wanted. There is no better place for an escape from the stresses of daily life – it is a true oasis in the desert.
Photos by Roger Davies