And for the true Tiki-Afficionado, why not get a condo at Palm Springs’ historic Royal Hawaiian.

Here’s what the agent has to say about it:

“Wait ’til you see the original features in this mid-century gem: Stone fireplace, incredible tile work in showers, amazing original appliances in the party/pool room kitchen and decorative cement block on perimeter walls! Yes, she needs updating in places (you’ll have a ball picking your favorite foil wallpaper pattern and color), but WOW, what potential! Each bedroom has a private bath (two bedrooms are off the party/pool room wing) and the enormous master has two baths and giant walk-in closet. Located on a corner lot in Old Las Palmas, the L-Shaped home wraps around the pool on 2 sides allowing for uninterrupted mountain views.”

Living Room

Kitchen

Atomic Electric Stove (Covered)

Stove - Open

1960s Jenn-Air logo

Retro Ovens

Unique Bathroom Tile Details

Why don't they make yellow sinks anymore?

Stone inlay detail

Mosaic tile detail

I absolutely LOVE this tile installation!!

Pool and view

Unique decorative masonry wall

Offered at $795,000    Want this retro martini pad for yourself? Please call or text me at 760-285-8559 for a private showing.  Or email me at paulkaplanre@gmail.com for more information.

 Listing courtesy:  Windermere Real Estate 

With the boom and bust of real estate and the economy over the past 8 years, Racquet Club properties values have been in flux.  After peeking in 2006, the prices have been on a steady decline until this year.  After what appears to be the bottom in 2009, we’re  now starting to see prices starting to inch their way back up as per the graph below.

Racquet Club Road Estates Sales History

Interesting to note, is that the higher end of the market has still declined somewhat in 2010, with $450,000 being the highest priced home sold recently.  This however, is starting to change as well.  Currently there is a home in escrow in the high $500,000′s that is expected to close soon. 

Racquet Club - Price per square foot sales history

The average price per square foot for a home in Racquet Club, is still low compared to at the peak of the market.  However,  as noted on the graph, this number is starting to increase as well..  Buyers are recognizing the value in Racquet Club right now, and thus sales have been brisk.  With the addition of the strong Canadian dollar, there has been a recent resurgence of interest of buyers for Mid-Century homes in the past six months, and showings in the Racquet Club Road Estates neighborhood.

If you’re thinking of selling your home in Racquet Club, or know of anyone looking, please feel free to contact me.  I’m the neighborhood real estate expert, and happy to help anyone with Racquet Club Road Estates properties.

First open house:  Sat. April 24, 12 to 3 PM 
Offered at $430,000

“An Alexander on Alexander” located at 600 E Alexnader Way, Palm Springs

The Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas is hosting an opening reception for its newest exhibit, “Mid-Century Modern Las Vegas,” on Saturday, April 24 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The exhibit will feature photos of Mid-Century Modern architecture, as well as domestic and decorative art from the era.

Throughout the 1950s and ‘60s when Las Vegas was polishing its image as a premier resort destination, architects from throughout the country were drawn to the city by its free-wheeling, forward-looking modernism. These architects, such as Paul Revere Williams, Palmer and Krisel,

(Paradise Palms, Las Vegas, by Palmer and Krisel)

 Zick and Sharp, Wayne McAllister and Welton Beckett, designed some of Las Vegas’ most notable structures: St. Anne Catholic Church; the parabolic lobby of the La Concha Motel; the sleekly angular Sands Hotel; the futuristic terminal at McCarran International Airport; homes in Mason Manor; and the flying saucer-shaped Las Vegas Convention Center. Dozens of schools, banks, shopping centers, and medical and government buildings throughout Las Vegas were built in a variety of Mid-Century Modern styles.

(La Concha Hotel Lobby under construction, 1961)

Most of the photos featured in this exhibit are from the collection of noted photographer Jay Florian Mitchell. After a successful career in New York, Mitchell came to Las Vegas in the late 1940s and spent more than two decades documenting life in Las Vegas. With most of Las Vegas’ Mid-Century Modern architecture now lost to development, Mitchell’s collection provides an invaluable visual record of the city’s past.

The Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas is located at 700 Twin Lakes Drive in Lorenzi Park. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults and free to museum members and ages 17 and under.

The Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas is one of seven museums managed by the Division of Museums and History, an agency of the Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs. The Department serves Nevada’s citizens and visitors through cultural and information management, presentation and promotion of cultural resources, and education. The Department also includes the State Historic Preservation Office, Nevada State Library and Archives, and the Nevada Arts Council. For more information, call Teresa Moiola at (775) 687-8323 or visit the department’s web site at www.NevadaCulture.org.

Reposted from the Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs

April 14, 2010
Contact: Stacy Irvin: 702-486-5205 ext. 227
David Millman: 702-486-5205 ext. 231

I put together a quick search by price for those looking for a mid-century home in Palm Springs.  Pick your price range, and click the appropriate link-  and you’ll see the current homes for sale in Palm Springs.

Quick Mid-century Home Searches:

< $100,000
$100,000 to $200,000
$200,000 to $300,000
$300,000 to $500,000
$500,000 to $800,000
$800,000 to $1,000,000
$1,000,000 to $2,000,000
>$2,000,000

Sunday Champagne brunch for $15 is always packed with the local crowds…worth checking out!

These are some of my favorite “timeless” quotes noted in the article:

“”It is sickening,” he said, “that we are plagued with pseudo  Roman medal-stamp columns, large imitation wine jugs and Grecian villas and neo (and sub-neo)  classic design better fitted for a Hollywood back-lot ‘B’ picture.”

“Architecture must guide the future of our culture, a three-dimensional sculptured concept  conditioned by proportion, the secret of great building. Father to the arts, it embraces man’s  finest endeavors and, since the inception of time, has inspired progress and served to formulate  a better way of life”

 ”Fine architecture is not a product of automation. Great talent in any field is limited to the  very few. Therefore, some of today’s buildings are bad examples of contemporary design. The  demand for talent exceeds the supply. This is unfortunate because it has bred mediocrity. It is  appalling that 80 percent of the buildings constructed in this country are designed without  benefit of architects. The construction industry, largest in the nation, is lagging for behind  the advances in other fields.”

“Good contemporary architecture is a world wide expression, conditioned by the geographic  location, politics and economics of the various countries throughout the world. Here, on the  desert, it should flourish.”

Click here to read the full article on William Cody.

Saturday April 17, 2010 10 AM to 1PM

The Sunmor neighborhood consists of a collection of modernist atomic ranch style homes constructed in the late 50′s & 60′s, by the Alexander Construction Company and local builder, Robert Higgins. 

For more Sumor information, click here.

The Arts and Design Council is holding its anual ADC Fundraiser – (6:00 PM – 8:00 PM – Saturday, March 20)

This is a rare opportunity to enjoy the spectacular Hope House at a cocktail reception with fellow ADC members. The enormous roof, which echoes the surrounding hills of Southridge, hovers over an expansive patio and garden area where Lautner’s dramatic architecture can be experienced. Invitations will be mailed to ADC members.

Fundraiser
ADC Fundraiser at the Bob & Dolores Hope House, designed by John Lautner
$200 per person (ADC members only)

To make reservations, please call Brooke Devenney at 760.322.4818 or email bdevenney@psmuseum.org

SEE YOU THERE!