Sol 1 in Palm Springs is part of an Ultra Modern Development in Central Palm Springs.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I’ve been watching the development of this complex with great anticipation during the last year.  With the majority of the units now in escrow, it’s safe to say that Sol in Palm Springs is a resounding success.

This model home has a simpler vibe than the other town home that I wrote about, however, there’s still so much to like about it. For starters, look at the simple yet effective color palette the designer chose. Turquoise and orange are used very effectively in every room of the home. Orange is used primarily as a ‘spike’ color, while the turquoise/pale blue is used to cover larger volumes, from wall paint to linens. The biggest variable in this equation is the hand painted wall in the dining room, which also uses shades of brown and beige. This mural is one of the first things you see when entering the home from the pool/patio area. Therefore, it has tremendous impact.  The other basic principle about this palette that is so easy to overlook, is the fact that blue and orange are opposite each other on the color wheel. This creates a dynamic tension that gives a lot of bang for the buck. When a designer uses a color palette that is analogous, meaning  colors side by side on the color wheel with no opposing color, then the vibe created is very calming. Think red, red orange and orange, or blue, blue violet and violet. Regardless of how saturated or diluted these tones are, when they easily flow into one another visually, the overall effect is usually calming.   You can see by looking at the photos above how much tension is created when the orange and turquoise are placed next to each other.  Thus they’re  energizing as opposed to calming.

I LOVE the master bathroom in this home. What you can’t see from my photo is that fact that there’s an outdoor shower that you can access through the indoor shower, just beyond the lux bathtub. There’s nothing more relaxing then taking a shower outdoors once the temperature hits 100 and beyond… and yes, it’s very secluded so you won’t have to worry about the neighbors prying eyes.

As you can also see, this town home has excellent views of the San Jacinto Mountains. Since the living room and kitchen are positioned next to the patio, with doors that slide back like an accordion, you can take full advantage of the indoor outdoor living that Palm Springs is so famous for. There’s nothing like an evening cocktail party in one of these environments as the night sky turns violet blue once the sun has set. And speaking of which, if you’re one of the new home owners at Sol and you’re reading my Design Diary, feel free to send me an invitation to your next soiree.