2022 Desert Oasis Show House exterior. Landscaping design by John Feldman/Ecocentrix Landscape Architecture.
This past spring, Design Collaborative opened its doors to the Desert Oasis Luxury Show House, a 10-day production that offered a fresh spin on the typical design show house. Nestled in El Dorado Estates within Indian Wells, a Southern California community that is often synonymous with music festivals like Coachella and Stagecoach, the show house took place in a 4,350-square-foot residence architect John Walling built as a tribute to midcentury design in 1978. With sun-drenched, floor-to-ceiling windows; a rock-clad hearth; and dark wooden elements, this year’s assortment of designers were tasked with the unique challenge of showing off their own styles—with a Polynesian, slightly tiki twist.
“We wanted to do something original but have our own imprint on it,” Michael Berman, who acted as the lead designer for the project, told aspire. “That’s a really cool challenge.”
To achieve the vision, Berman was joined by 11 other designers. Admittedly, having a dozen designers tastefully interpret South Pacific style can be a tad overwhelming; however, the show house created cohesion with a unified palette that was inspired by a Polynesian menu from a 20th-century transatlantic luxury ship. From there, each designer was free to design the space however they pleased.
Designer Jen Samson embraced earthy green tones in the guest bedroom, but added a tiki flair with vintage furniture and a wall mural inspired by a hand-painted tapa cloth. For the family room, Shannon Palmer leaned into the home’s sunny disposition with bright surfboards, touches of yellows and greens, and a wooden bar in the corner. But, if a break from color is what you’re craving, Donna Johnson used the kitchen to double down on appliances sourced from Pirch, the show house’s presenting sponsor, and wooden accents. “I chose monkey pod for the species of wood. Monkey pod can be found in regions of Hawaii and is an exotic wood with a distinctive pattern,” Johnson told aspire.
Of course, great design was only one part of the Desert Oasis Luxury Show House. During its 10-day run, Design Collaborative hosted an assortment of events, ranging from tours of the home to philanthropic gatherings for three charities: FIND Food Bank, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and Special Olympics of Southern California. The mission? To reach a fundraising goal of $100,000.
“We’re so excited to create an inspirational gathering place where our fellow design-lovers can engage, learn, celebrate, and indulge,” Karen Okner, president of Design Collaborative and the show house producer, said in a statement.
Because, as the Desert Oasis Luxury Show House proves, there’s more to great design than what’s on the surface.
Photography by Chad Mellon.
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