Inspired by the concept of a boutique hotel, this vacation home located in La Quinta’s fabled Madison Club was designed for a sophisticated client who enjoys an indoor/outdoor lifestyle and loves to entertain when in town. These factors, along with the desire to take maximum advantage of the dramatic desert vistas and pay homage to “Old Palm Springs” through thoughtful, inviting interiors, served as driving forces behind the project’s design.

Upon arrival, one circles into the motor court and is greeted by a still dark water element that appears to rise from the ground, water shimmering down its sides. The home’s signature 5,000 sq ft canopy above, ideal for providing shade on hot desert days, connects the central gathering space to surrounding guest casitas and casts an everchang¬ing pattern of shadow reminiscent of the native Cholla cactus. The canopy is composed of Alusion foamed aluminum, a budget-friendly solution that came about when the project team looked up and noticed the material on their own conference room ceiling.

Walking across the steps that bisect the water element, one enters the central gathering 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 liv¬ing when the pool or views beckon. Gloster sectionals, a fire pit, William Haines Malibu Chairs, and a bespoke Cremo Delicato marble dining table complete the outdoor space.

Inside, the double-height central space includes a kitchen, great room, bar, and lounge that 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 there. Tucked behind is an intimate bar and conversation lounge complete with four vintage Pierre Paulin Groovy Chairs surrounded by metal architectural drapery that can be drawn for more privacy, its rings catching grazes of light that mimic the shadows of the canopy outside. Perhaps the most outstanding element in the main space, however, is the suspended theater above the bar, which includes a motorized wall that doubles as a movie screen. When closed, the theater is an intimate screening room. When open, it transforms into the perfect place for a live band or DJ to perform during parties, open to the entire home to enjoy.

Downstairs, a wellness spa and gym open to a sun-filled private garden. Just down the hall an entertainment room with six custom built-in bunkbeds and a large sectional provide additional space for family and guests to rest, with a smaller garden terrace just outside. To access each of the six casitas surrounding the main home, one passes through outdoor open-air hallways bathed in the soft light that peeks through the canopy above. Each casita includes a private terrace and fire pit enclosed by a wood-clad wall that can retract to connect to the neighboring casita for easy socializing. Each also includes its own bath with indoor/outdoor shower, mini fridge, coffee station, 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 – this home is an oasis in the desert.