16 Apr 2012

Palm Springs Life!


The Easter holidays are over, the children are back at school, and we’re still adjusting to the time difference after a wonderfully inspiring holiday in Palm Springs.



Those of you who know my blog are aware that I am a fan of all things old, English country, painted and French, slightly shabby, very pretty and usually faded – hence my love affair with Hill House. However, sometimes an aesthetic can creep up and turn your head without you realising it, and suddenly your heart palpitates as it is drawn towards something that you would otherwise have passed by. Well, Palm Springs was a design epiphany for me. Now, don’t get me wrong – my heart will always belong to old English roses, Georgian houses and medieval church spires, but if one were allowed to stray once in a while, then the mid-century modern architecture and design ethic that shapes the city of Palm Springs wouldn’t be a bad place to start.

We stayed in a rented house a short walk away from the Uptown Design District of Palm Springs. Even I – a stalwart lover of blowsy white or faded pink flowers – was left in awe of the acid brights of our temporary garden – particularly as the flowerbed commanded the attention of several incredibly tame Humming birds throughout the day. In this climate, and with the light constantly streaming down from a hot sun, how could I not love the vibrant splashes of colour that feature everywhere from the furniture, to the soft furnishings, accessories and paintings – in gloriously sharp contrast to the severe lines of glass, steel and concrete that dominate the style of architecture. My brother-in-laws’ house (whose wedding we had come over to attend) is quite simply a breathtaking work of architectural art. Each room seems to appear straight from the pages of a magazine. One couldn’t simply walk through these rooms – we had to ‘waft’. One doesn’t merely ‘sit’ on an Eames chair – one ‘drapes’ – you get the picture? (Although, admittedly, even two weeks of glamorous wafting and draping can get a little tiresome, and as I sit here, back at home in jeans and wellies, ready to tackle the weeds in my garden, I can’t help but feel pleasantly relieved that I can now ‘stomp’ and ‘slump’!)

Ahhh, but back to Palm Springs! As claimed by the Mayor in the Design District publicity brochure, over the years, Palm Springs has become a “world-renowned destination for decorators, designers, and visitors in general who seek the unique, eclectic and eccentric.” – in short, a modern interior lovers HEAVEN!

Palm Canyon Drive is home to a host of vintage and modern furniture stores such as the divine Insolito Home, where they boldly (and quite rightly) claim – “It’s not just FURNITURE, it’s ART”!

And then there are the fashion boutiques like Trina Turk where you can make-believe that you are an extra from the film “Valley of The Dolls”, or art galleries, such as the stunning Michael H. Lord Gallery, and the fabulously named SHAG – the store, (a retail store and gallery dedicated exclusively to the artist ‘Shag’ – yes really!)

For friends and family back home, there are a multitude of gift shops, book stores and design shops, and as for people watching or testing out those Pucci prints – even the restaurants, such as at The Parker, celebrate the cities famed mid-century modern roots.

Nepotism aside, my favourite slice of retail therapy had to be found at the amazing pet shop PAWZ, owned by my brother-in-law Don. Not an ordinary pet shop, PAWZ PS is a truly modern pet boutique offering the finest doggy fashion, luxury pet items, doggy couture, toys, collars and beds etc. A veritable feast of doggy madness and canine glamour.

Naturally, Byron our Jack Russell, was the beneficiary of a suitcase full of mid-century modern doggy chic – although whether he will dare to wear any of his Palm Springs brights in the presence of his burly Norfolk farm dog friends is another story altogether!

Happy to be home!
Paula x

Images courtesy of; 1)Poolside of Kaufmann House by Slim Aarons circa 1970; 2,3 & 4) My brother-in-laws Palm Springs Home; 5) Our holiday rental pool; 6)Chair from www.insolitohome.com; 7) www.TRINATURK.COM; 8)SHAGTHESTORE.COM; 9) www.theparkerpalmsprings.com; 9)www.PAWZPS.COM; 10) BYRON!

The Diaries

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