I’ve owned this home at 203 N. Monterey Road in Palm Springs for over a decade. When I bought the home it was still reeling from a 1980’s south western themed interior that included a rust and turquoise color palette with saltillo tile, wooden chair rails, and sand textured walls with rope trim. Yep, it was that bad. I mean no disrespect to the previous owner who was into horses and favored a more eclectic vibe, but mid-century is in, big time! It was time for a rescue job.
Exterior renovations included: an entirely new driveway, the replacement of a dilapidated eight foot high wooden fence with chic corrugated metal fencing, the addition of corrugated metal fences where none existed, a pool re-plaster (that included filling in the old ‘pit’ where the pool equipment had been, and relocating the equipment behind the home), a new pool heater, the removal of patio siding that made the home look like it belonged in a trailer park, and lots and lots of landscaping. Colored sand, rocks, trees, bougainvilleas, 3 x 3 concrete pavers, a 12 x 12 concrete pad in the backyard, and a sprinkler system.
Interior renovations included: new gray tile floors throughout , a new kitchen, a new master bath, the replacement of both sliding glass doors, new interior doors, new closet doors and hardware, new copper plumbing, new gas lines, the removal of a victorian themed front door, the addition of matching metal blinds throughout the home, new ceiling fans, improved lighting, a simple color theme that shifted the focus from the interior to the midcentury pool behind the home with the spectacular San Jacinto Mountain views.
When I renovated the master bath, I removed what I believed to be the original tub and vanity. In its place, I used the new gray floor tile, cut into thirds to repeat the brick pattern around the fireplace, tiling the wall up to the ceiling so as to accentuate the height of the room. Because the footprint of the room is so small, the only way to make the space feel larger was to play up its verticality.
One of the bedroom floors was raw concrete, so naturally I carried the new gray tile into that room, to help unify that room with the rest of the home. It also helped to add colorful artwork to the rooms to bring them to life. The Red Ball paintings seen below were inspired by photos I actually took around the pool several summers ago. These paintings can also be seen in my new book The Art of Romi Cortier.
Here’s a great shot of the back yard with the mid-century pool. The corrugated metal fence was previously the wooden fence that was literally falling down. It just goes to show how much beauty can be found in the simplest of details.
This home has been a labor of love for over a decade, and now it’s time for a new owner to take the helm. If you’re interested in this home please contact Carl Borey at 760 285-1281. The home is currently listed at $579,000.
