Racquet Club Revival
Having seen many renovations throughout the years, this 1959 William Krisel tract home was transformed with warmth and personal touches from the current owners into the perfect Palm Springs getaway.
Palm Springs is surrounded by the San Jacinto mountains, which make a dramatic backdrop for this 1959 William Krisel home.
DESPITE THE USUAL HEADACHES OF HOUSE HUNTING, realtors Dane Kealoha and Christopher Johnson found their Palm Springs home on the first day of searching. “It was actually pleasant,” Christopher admits of the couple’s experience. Working with local realtor Paul Kaplan, it took only four or five viewings to find the perfect match. “We walked in and got as far as the back and said, 'This is it,’” Christopher remembers. Located on a corner lot in the Racquet Club Estates neighborhood, the William Krisel tract home was built by the Alexander Construction Company in 1959. “We wanted midcentury, but we weren’t specifically looking for an Alexander,” says Dane. “But it was more specifically the view and how it was laid out on the property,” Christopher says.
BACKYARD BEAUTIFICATION
After several renovations and updates, the interior had been mostly returned to its original blueprint by the previous owners (flippers) who also took care of systems updates to the property. With no major electrical, plumbing or AC issues to deal with, the couple focused their attention on necessary exterior updates when they acquired the home in late 2016. While the original deep pool was in good shape, the surrounding backyard area was barren. Hedges were planted around the border and, other than a small grassy area for their chocolate lab, Larry, the rest of the flora reflects the desert landscape. Keeping the budget down, the couple tackled most of the planting on their own. “We hired a gardener and he did all the irrigation and major trees, but every cactus and all those agaves and everything, Dane planted. And those aren’t fun to plant!” Christopher recalls of the prickly cactus gardening.
KRISEL CONNECTION
Though not original to the home, the now vibrant yellow shadow block wall was built with a nod to the designer, William Krisel. “The block that we got was actually a pattern that Krisel used on other projects around town,” says Dane. In one of the first projects tackled, the couple wanted to create a privacy wall for street-facing bedrooms. Though started early on, the wall ended up being the most time-consuming project due to the extensive planning and permit
process. Further delayed by unusually wet weather, the vibrant wall was completed in roughly four months. “Once that went up, it kind of made this whole place feel like a little compound, which is great, and it also adds color to the bedrooms by being that bright yellow,” says Dane. The couple was then able to start work on a front gate and pathway as well as further landscaping, all projects that had been dependent on the wall’s completion.
INTERIOR
Christopher and Dane were pleased that flippers had returned the home to its rough original blueprint, but the couple wanted to give the interior more personality. “They kind of went very contemporary and sleek, and we are now trying to bring back some warmth that would have been here originally,” says Dane. “Because it was so white, we needed to bring back color, wood to warm it up, and some softer textures. So that went into getting a shag rug and a velvet couch and these wood cabinets,” he continues. Because they rent the house out when they are not using it, the couple had the added challenge of balancing aesthetics with durability. While many of the larger furniture pieces are new, the décor is highlighted with vintage art and accessories.
“We wanted midcentury, but we weren’t specifically looking for an Alexander,” says Dane.
ON THE HORIZON
“There are some systems upgrades we have plans for; these are the original single-pane windows, and we want to do double,” Christopher says about their vision for the large, pool-facing windows. They also hope to add clerestory windows in the back of the house to mimic the originals in the front, and to replace the flooring with polished concrete. Other plans include a new kitchen backsplash, a spa addition and a possible upgrade to a foam roof. Originally a carport, the garage is now the perfect starting point for a future casita. “The back of the garage was converted to the third bath plus a storage closet, says Dane. Because there’s already plumbing in the bathroom, for us to add a casita it’s a little bit easier,” says Dane.
COME ON DOWN
When Christopher and Dane aren’t lounging in their Palm Springs paradise with their dog, Larry, the Racquet Club Estates home is available to rent. To learn more about the property, visit theavenidaps.com.