Tabla de contenidos para Spring 2025 en Atomic Ranch

THERE IS NOTHING QUITE LIKE a pop of color mixed with the clean lines, bold and unique shapes and sleek finishes of Mid Century Modern design. For designer Sarah Bronstein of Sukkha Interior Design, color is magic. With a passion for all things interior design and over 10 years of experience, she is also a real estate broker based in Western North Carolina. Though she's located on the opposite coast, when the owners of this Palm Springs home reached out to Sarah for help in a complete renovation, she eagerly took on the challenge. PANDEMIC & PLANNING Envisioning the property as a sunny and fun home to be rented out as an Airbnb vacation rental between uses, the owners purchased the home at the end of 2020 and soon took…

Tucked away in the iconic Little Beverly Hills neighborhood of Palm Springs sits a once-neglected Palmer & Krisel home. Today, it is a lovingly restored testament to their understated brilliance and architectural genius. Designed in 1957 and originally built by the Alexander Construction Company, this desert gem found new life thanks to the passion and dedication of architect Daniela Grozdich and builder Victor Grozdich. Purchased in 2022 as a second home for the couple and their two young sons, Luca and Milo, the family spent the next year meticulously preserving the home’s original spirit while introducing modern touches that align with today’s design sensibilities. MOVIE MAGIC MEET-CUTE Daniela and Victor’s connection to mid-century architecture runs deep. Over the years, the couple has explored Palm Springs’ architectural treasures. They fell in…

AS A STYLE OF Mid Century Modern design, Desert Modernism takes key mid-century elements like sleek lines and open spaces a step further by giving them a Desert Modern twist. But this style isn’t found just anywhere: True to its name, Desert Modernism is found most frequently in the arid oasis of Palm Springs, California. The sunny skies and year-round warmth of Palm Springs made it a vacation destination in the mid-century and its natural beauty didn’t hurt too much either. Because of this, the town adopted an informal and relaxed feel, and its architecture started to follow. Here, form followed function as expansive glass windows characteristic of the style showed off the picturesque Coachella Valley and dramatic overhangs protected the interior from midday heat. WHAT DOES DESERT MODERNISM LOOK…

“Palm Springs design is more than just a style—it’s a lifestyle that evokes a sense of relaxed luxury. When we blend our clients’ personal style with the classic ‘Palm Springs Look’ we focus on indoor-outdoor living (seamless transitions between the two as well as really creating outdoor rooms), bold and vibrant colors and keeping things light and airy as well as leaning into comfortable furnishings and natural materials.” —Kevin Kemper, H3K Home+Design “To achieve a Palm Springs interior design look, focus on clean lines, natural materials like wood and stone, vibrant colors, geometric patterns and a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.” —Michael Norpell, Michael Norpell Wall to Wall “The Palm Springs design style spans from its mid-century influence to eclectic and modern. Coming out to Palm Springs [many…

“Throughout the housing tract, the standardized ground floor plan was mirrored or twisted around so that none of the houses are the same and the street facades all look different,” Lilian says. “This was emphasized also through the different placement of the houses on the site.” ONE OF THE most fascinating aspects of architecture is the role geography and climate play in shaping the layout, look and structure of a building. With its extreme temperatures and rugged, breathtaking vistas, Palm Springs is one of the most celebrated gems of the Mid Century Modern movement and the location of much ingenuity by renowned architects and designers. In 1945, architects Albert Frey and John Porter Clark worked with developers Sallie Stevens and Culver Nichols to create a modern, affordable housing tract for…

Since 2016, the Atomic Ranch staff has called Palm Springs our home away from home. As a proud sponsor of Modernism Week, we’ve had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with the many things the city has to offer! So, here’s our list of top picks from the desert for anyone planning to visit and enjoy the historic sights and more. BEST PLACES TO STAY 1. Orbit In Hotel Enjoy a couple of Orbitinis around the boomerang bar or lounge by the bikini pool for a stay that is a true blast from the past at this small and private boutique hotel. Orbitin.com. 2. Del Marcos Hotel Opened in 1947 and designed by William Cody, this was one of the first hotel properties to depart from the area’s Spanish Colonial Revival…

The mark of a well-maintained mid-century home is its ability to live multiple lives, stories and aesthetics through various owners. For Santa Monica residents Matthew and Perry Helderman, their home on Orchid Street is one of those stories. “We love design, art, history and architecture, and Palm Springs was always really a retreat for both of us as we’re building our careers and our life out in LA,” Matthew explains. With his career in the film industry and Perry’s in ceramics and interior design, weekend escapes to the desert became a regular respite and the couple quickly started learning more about the history and architecture in the area. “We toyed with the idea of getting a house in the desert for a few years,” Matthew says. THE PERFECT FIT While…

VISITORS TO PALM SPRINGS don’t often hear about the ancient history of this fruitful desert area. For at least the last 5,000 years, the Cahuilla Indians occupied Tahquitz Canyon. Their name for the area was Sec-he, or boiling water, and the hot springs and creeks from the Tahquitz, Andreas and Chino creeks sustained the tribe, providing nourishment and spiritual healing. The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum is a wonderful place to start to build an understanding of the history of these deserts and the people who lived off its lands. The museum, located in Downtown Palm Springs, offers a permanent gallery that is nearly 10,000 square feet of space dedicated to the culture of the Agua Caliente people, their artifacts and ceremonial practices. The Changing Gallery space often features fine art…