Good Geometry
How to create killer curb appeal that looks good from every angle.
FAMED ARCHITECT DONALD WEXLER KNEW how to work a powerful line. In 1965, along with the Alexander Company, he created this modernist beauty and more like it in this quiet Palm Springs neighborhood of sprawling desert homes. Owners Dean Williams and Daryle Morgan, an HR executive and a landscape architect, have lovingly cared for the home since 2008. Their passion for mid century design runs deep, which is evident in their home’s strikingly stylish façade. Here are some lessons you can take away and apply to your home no matter what you’re working with.
Play to Your Strengths
Dean and Daryle kept all the original features they inherited with the home, including interior and exterior rock walls. Spiky agave and strong up lights emphasize not only linear forms but also add vertical design elements, which play against the home’s horizontal sloping silhouette.
Edit Your Landscaping
Outside, they removed the lawn and shrubs, choosing instead a more desert- friendly landscaping of gravel and succulents. They also painted the entire exterior, opting for a monochromatic palette driven by the color of the stones. A tone- on- tone approach is a surefire way to create a sophisticated and upscale look.
Keep Your Updates Within the Era
The couple added period- appropriate wood louvers in front of the bedroom windows for sun protection and privacy. Whether you’re in need of better fencing, wider walkways or a more eye- catching entryway, research local architecture, check with your local library or even take inspiration for mod designs from outside your region, for a solution with an authentic approach.