Palm Springs, famous for its clear skies, gentle desert breezes, and the imposing San Jacinto Mountains, has long been a magnet for artists and Hollywood A-listers. When Los Angeles interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard and his partner Michael Green discovered this mid-century villa in the desert city, it was love at first sight.
“I fell in love with the drama of the architecture from the very first time I saw the house,” Bullard reminisces. “It has so much character and really makes the strongest impression on all who enter the home.”
An architectural marvel by James McNaughton, a Hollywood set decorator-turned-prominent-architect, the villa features towering six-metre-high arches that frame a circular bay window. With terrazzo floors both inside and out, a striking sunken fireplace in the living room, and an inviting pool, the villa was an immediate draw to Bullard and Green, and they made an offer after just a quick look.
Built in 1964 for Mr and Mrs Kramer as a holiday retreat, this stunning property has a storied past, having once belonged to Hollywood legends such as Roger Moore and Hugh Hefner. Nestled in The Movie Colony, Palm Springs’ most famous neighbourhood, it has been home to icons such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Curtis, Elvis Presley, Elizabeth Taylor, Gloria Swanson, Cary Grant, and Liberace, to name just a few.
With such a star-studded backdrop, the design naturally leaned towards the Swinging Sixties, with a hint of Seventies disco. “This house is really a mix between a mid-century party house and a Hollywood regency movie set,” Bullard explains. “It was originally built for a leading member of Hollywood, so it’s very apt that it has this glamorous vibe and theatrical flavour.”
With a vast collection of Italian, French, and American furniture from that era, Bullard decided to create custom textiles to match. “I wanted the house to feel very Palm Springs, capturing the essence of the 1960s when the house was built, while honouring the mid-century materials that were original to the house during the design renovation,” he explains. “The terrazzo, of course, is a big signature, and I used extensive wallpapers to really amp up the drama.”
The drama starts in the living room. This slightly sunken social hub boasts custom circular sofas that face a curved bay window, creating an inviting conversation pit. At the centre lies a striking coffee table adorned with a Nero Marquina marble mosaic from Ann Sacks, which cleverly transforms into a cosy fireplace during the colder months.
Behind the sunken area, an iconic photograph of Brigitte Bardot by Terry O’Neill adds a touch of classic glamour to the room. Vintage Kagan sofas, reupholstered in Summit indoor/outdoor linen, frame a 1960s Angelo Mangiarotti coffee table and a pair of chrome-based leather-strapped stools.
The floor is adorned with a large zebra skin rug that once belonged to Andy Warhol. In the background, a sunken dining room is highlighted by a Murano glass chandelier from Mazzega that the designer discovered in the Carré Rive Gauche in Paris.
“The main challenges were to make the house feel original, like it has never been touched, yet to update it in a way that truly works for today’s needs and luxuries,” he recounts.
The kitchen and bathrooms are the main upgrades. The kitchen now features sleek white lacquered cabinetry from Aran Cucine and houses state-of-the-art Gaggenau appliances, all beautifully reflected in the aluminum leaf ceiling.
The restored terrazzo floor gleams in its original colour, while the countertops are made of striking black Caesarstone quartz. Artwork by Keith Haring, and a ceramic bowl from Memphis, add artistic flair, complemented by a black and white marble bowl by Kelly Wearstler.
“All the colours were meticulously researched from original 1962 photographs, taking a great deal of time to source and select what felt perfect.”
The bar is a statement piece, adorned with metal plates designed by Bullard for Sacks. It features late 1960s barstools by Pierre Cardin and vintage Gucci glasses, adding a touch of retro sophistication.
The dining room’s ebony shelf showcases a curated collection of artworks, including a self-portrait by Warhol; Damien Hirst’s pink pills; a green piece by Ellsworth Kelly; a pop art sketch by Keith Haring; a 1970s poolside Polaroid by Tom Bianchi; a 1960s fashion photograph by Richard Avedon; and a drawing by Richard Serra.
This eclectic mix is accompanied by a distinctive plastic bubble mirror from the 1960s. The table and end chairs are designed by Paul Evans, while the lucite chairs are by Charles Hollis Jones.
The outdoor spaces, shrouded by palm trees for the needed privacy, feature a generous spa and a half al fresco lounge area. Majorelle cement tiles, designed by Bullard for Sacks, frame the entrance to the spa, while Brown Jordan outdoor furniture is accessorised with Perennials fabric cushions and Missoni towels.
In the master bedroom, a Charles Hollis Jones canopy bed is flanked by Karl Springer bedside tables and chrome skyscraper lamps by Curtis Jere. The ceiling shimmers with silver Mylar, while a custom screen upholstered in Raleigh Stripe linen from Atelier Martyn Lawrence Bullard adds a touch of elegance.
The walls feature photos by Marc Hom, works on paper by Bridget Riley, and a piece by Jean-Michel Basquiat. The room also boasts a dressing area with bespoke black and white lacquer cabinets.
The powder room stuns with graphic wallpaper by Oscar de la Renta and a striking black and white lacquered sink. It’s illuminated by 1960s Gino Sarfatti wall sconces for a vintage charm.
One of the guest bedrooms features a chequered terrazzo floor, topped with a Dhurrie rug from the Rug Company. The walls are adorned with Schumacher’s palm leaf wallpaper.
“It’s a very special house in a very special place,” concludes Bullard, “and has made me love Palm springs so much.”
