Vibrant Refresh

Vivid colors and bold patterns mix beautifully in this much- needed renovation, taking the home from disarray to retro- gorgeous.

There truly is never a dull moment for designer Tracy Turco. A true artist and Renaissance woman, Tracy’s interests include crafting her own teas, designing fabrics and clothing, authoring several books, developing and managing real estate with her husband Jerry and collecting retro pieces. “I can’t sit still— I have to create,” she says. An owner of several boutique hotels, Tracy has a passion for restoration. Recently, her creative energies found an outlet in the renovation of her 1961 three- bedroom, threebathroom home in Palm Springs, California.

GETTING STARTED

After honeymooning in Palm Springs, Tracy and Jerry fell in love with the desert city renowned for its Mid Century Modern architecture. They found a house that had been on the market for some time and purchased it. “It was in such a state of disarray— there were even skunks living in it,” Tracy recalls. While she and her husband had always done projects together, this time Tracy had the exciting opportunity to work on renovating the property as her own pet project. “It needed so much love and I knew I could do it,” she says.

PREVIOUSLY, THE WALL WAS ALL OAK CABINETS, BUT TRACY DECIDED TO CUT OUT TWO THIRDS OF THEM TO CREATE SPACE FOR A BAR AND SERVING AREA. SHE HAND- PAINTED THE GLOSSY ORANGE LACQUER DETAIL AND BRASS KNOBS WERE CUSTOM MADE FOR AN ATOMIC CABINET PULL.

With a timeline of three months before moving in, Tracy got to work right away. “I did things the oldfashioned way,” she says. Tracy rode her bicycle around Palm Springs, getting business cards from local vendors. For much of the renovation, Tracy was her own contractor, frequently opting for DIY projects for expediency. “It was my first time ever landscaping,” she says, “but I researched and did it myself.” Instead of waiting for furniture and pieces to be delivered to her home, she found local shops and made several trips to Home Depot to complete her renovation. “I’m very fast when I’m working and I hate waiting,” she says.

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW

Inside the house, the makeover was mostly cosmetic. Tracy’s fi rst step was to create opportunities for natural light to spill into the home. “I had to eliminate all the things that caused darkness,” she explains. This involved uncovering long boarded- up windows and looking for ways to maximize the open layout. She decided to keep the existing fl ooring and brought in new wallpaper to brighten up each room.

Refl ecting the eclectic feel of her style, Tracy’s collection of décor includes vintage artwork from the likes of Salvador Dali, Peter Max and pop artist Olan. Most of her retro items are from the vintage fl ea markets in Palm Springs, perfect for the mid mod enthusiast. “My husband laughs at how I seem to pull endless fi nds out of nowhere,” Tracy admits.

PLAYING WITH PATTERNS

Perhaps the most unique aspect of Tracy’s design is her intuitive use of color and patterns to establish a bright and fun retro vibe. As the self- labeled “queen of pattern play,” Tracy continues her theme of juxtaposition to bring together colors and patterns that others would shy away from. “I do a lot of mismatched patterns and integrate a spectrum of color,” she explains. You’ll also see tropical style mixed into the home, from vintage tiki mugs sprinkled throughout the kitchen to a bamboo valance in the guest bedroom.

With her mix of old and new elements, bold use of color and pattern, and décor derived from her vintage fl ea market collection, Tracy’s design is not only a fun, colorful take on mod style, but also a vibrant representation of her active and creative mind. The result is a fun, relaxing, retro- inspired space well suited for her love of hosting parties on warm, desert nights.

THE GAS LINE FOR THE FIREPLACE HAD TO BE ENTIRELY REDONE, BUT THE REST OF THIS LIVING ROOM SIMPLY NEEDED A RETRO FACELIFT. TRACY’S DESIGN BRINGS OUT THE CLEAN, MODERN LINES OF THE ORIGINAL ARCHITECTURE AND OPEN LAYOUT, PERFECT FOR HOSTING AND ENJOYING THE ABUNDANCE OF NATURAL LIGHTING.

TOP: TRACY REVAMPED THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE AND CARPORT BY REMOVING THE OLD, CLUNKY GATES AND INSTALLING DOUBLE DOORS IN THEIR PLACE, AND REPAINTING THE EXTERIOR. “IT IS AMAZING WHAT A BIT OF PAINT CAN DO,” SHE SAYS.

BOTTOM MIDDLE: TRACY’S CURRENT PROJECTS INCLUDE OPENING A TIKI- THEMED TEA ROOM, HOTEL AND SHOP IN PALM SPRINGS. THIS IS HER TREASURED 1966 CANARY YELLOW T- BIRD SHE RESTORED.

BOTTOM LEFT: AFTER BEING TOLD IT COULDN’T BE DONE, TRACY DESIGNED AND INSTALLED THE DOORKNOBS IN THE CENTER OF THESE DOUBLE DOORS HERSELF. “I DON’T BELIEVE IT WHEN PEOPLE TELL ME I CAN’T DO SOMETHING— I ALWAYS FIND A WAY,” SHE SAYS.

BOTTOM RIGHT: THIS SCULPTURE IS A REPRODUCTION OF A TIKI CREATED BY ED THE “TIKI BROKER” FROM AN ORIGINAL MOLD MADE BY LOU WEBB, A MASTER MOLD MAKER FOR DISNEY IN THE ‘ 60S. THE ORIGINAL VERSION SAT IN THE JUNGLE CRUISE RIDE, LOCATED NEAR THE HIPPO ANIMATRONICS IN THE ‘ 60S AND EARLY ‘ 70S.

TOP: A FRESH COAT OF ORANGE PAINT WAS JUST THE THING TO SPRUCE UP THIS PATIO SPACE. “THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD ATTACHED A LANAI FROM THE CASITA CARPORT TO THE HOUSE,” TRACY EXPLAINS.

OPPOSITE, BOTTOM LEFT: “THERE ARE SO MANY COMBOS OF COLOR AND PATTERN, IT CREATES AN EXPLOSION, BUT IT ALL FLOWS TOGETHER,” TRACY SAYS.

TOP: TRACY’S COLLECTION OF ART AND LOCAL VINTAGE FLEA MARKET FINDS CREATE A FUNKY, FUN VIBE. “I BUY VINTAGE PHONES AND CAMERAS WHENEVER I SEE THEM,” SHE SAYS. “I HAVE LOTS OF BOXES FILLED WITH FUN ITEMS I LOVE.”

“THE KITCHEN’S FOOTPRINT IS ORIGINAL, I JUST REDESIGNED THE COUNTERS AND COUNTERTOPS AND ACCESSORIZED WITH NEW HANDLES AND [ A] MOD STAINLESS OVER- THE- STOVE VENT,” EXPLAINS TRACY. THE BROWN TILE BACKSPLASH BEHIND THE STOVE IS HANDMADE BY SINA, WHAT TRACY DESCRIBES AS A “TOUCH OF EXTRAVAGANCE” THAT ADDS A CLASSY AND TIMELESS FEEL TO THE SPACE. RIGHT: THE DINING CHAIRS WERE VINTAGE FINDS THAT TRACY REUPHOLSTERED HERSELF. “I JUST POPPED THE CUSHIONS OUT AND STAPLE- GUNNED FUN FABRICS,” SHE EXPLAINS. “NOW THEY ARE SO UNIQUE!”

ABOVE: TRACY’S USE OF ORANGE TIES TOGETHER HER MIXTURE OF PATTERNS AND TEXTURES IN THIS MAIN BEDROOM. BOTTOM, LEFT: IN THIS TWIN GUEST BEDROOM, TRACY DIYED THE VALANCES WITH BAMBOO FROM HOME DEPOT FOR A FUN ACCENT PIECE. THE FABRICS, AS WELL AS THE SKATEBOARD SHELVES ABOVE THE BED, ARE ALSO DESIGNED BY TRACY.

ABOVE LEFT: 1970S WALLPAPER AND A HARVEST GOLD SINK WITH MATCHING TOILET WERE USED IN THE HALL BATHROOM TO CREATE A STRIKING RETRO LOOK. THE FLOORING IS A MATTE FINISHED CUSTOM TILE BY FINA IN PALM SPRINGS. ABOVE RIGHT: MORE PATTERN PLAY IN THE GUEST BEDROOM CREATES A MOD VIBE WITH WALLPAPER, ACCENT PILLOWS AND A FUNKY LAMP. BOTTOM RIGHT: IT WAS IMPORTANT TO TRACY THAT HER DESIGN WAS ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS AS WELL AS VINTAGE FABULOUS. THE ASTROTURF AND ROCK GARDENS IN HER BACKYARD REQUIRE LOW WATER USAGE, PERFECT FOR THEIR ARID ENVIRONMENT WHERE WATER IS PRECIOUS.

WHEN HOMEOWNERS JASON AND LAURA ODELL FIRST TOURED THE A- FRAME NESTLED ON A WOODSY PLOT OF LAND IN BIG BEAR, IT WAS CLEAR THAT IT HAD BEEN LONG NEGLECTED— WHICH WAS JUST THE INSPIRATION THEY NEEDED. JASON SAYS, “OUR FIRST IMPRESSION WAS THAT IT WAS A PERFECT BLANK CANVAS THAT NEEDED TO BE COMPLETELY REDONE. I ALWAYS GET REALLY EXCITED WHEN I FIND A HOUSE THAT NO ONE HAS TOUCHED FOR MANY YEARS.”