A 1950s Home Restoration in Old Las Palmas

A 1950s Rambling ranch house in the historic Old Las Palmas neighborhood receives a respectful update honoring its origins.

Southern California’s Old Las Palmas is a storied Palm Springs neighborhood. In the 1920s, Hollywood movie stars such as Elizabeth Taylor, Judy Garland and Cary Grant flocked to this area in droves, snapping up the Spanish Colonial and modernist homes that sit against the majestic backdrop of the San Jacinto Mountains.

original dining chair and tables designed by William Manker in restored Old Las Palmas home — “Because it worked well within the home, the dining room was kept mostly intact,” H3K’s Howard Hawkes explains. The dining table and chairs are original and were custom-made for this house by decorator, color consultant and ceramicist William Manker. He oversaw most of the original decorating of the house.

Currently, Old Las Palmas’ offerings, from art galleries to tiki bars, along with its historic architecture, draw Mid Century Modern lovers. Estates in the area are enhanced and updated with careful consideration for their pasts.

Few designers do this better than Howard Hawkes and Kevin Kemper, founders and partners of H3K Home + Design. They, themselves, are huge fans of Old Las Palmas and Palm Springs.

indoor planter inside restored 1950s Old Las Palmas home — An indoor planter blurs the lines between interior and exterior spaces.

backyard pool in Old Las Palmas restored home — Life outdoors is a given with such a beautiful backyard. In addition to the work on the pool, Howard and Kevin replaced and redesigned the concrete layout and added an additional BBQ area and cover. “The concrete includes a diagonal design that was inspired by one of the original drawings for the house by famed landscape designer Tommy Tomson.

“We love that Palm Springs has a small-hometown feel but is also quite cosmopolitan in the way that its visitors and part-time residents are from all around the world,” Howard says. “One never gets bored with the scenery, weather and, of course, the architecture.”

A recent H3K Home + Design project in Old Las Palmas embodies this.

original poured terrazzo fireplace and wood paneling in restored Old Las Palmas home — The poured terrazzo fireplace is original to the home, as is the warm wood paneling.

U-shaped sofa with retro fabric pattern in restored Old Las Palmas living room — A U-shaped sofa curves beguilingly around the fireplace in the living room and is the same style as the previous one that used to occupy this space. Howard and Kevin found an incredible fabric in a retro motif that was the perfect color to anchor the room.

“We were hired to restore a 1950s rambling ranch house and also create a new kitchen,” Kevin explains.

The clients wanted to be sensitive to the original design and features of the house, but they also wanted to adapt it their 21^st-century lifestyle. H3K Home + Design was just the team with spirit and vision to tackle the renovation.

Perfect Partners for an Old Las Palmas Restoration

Howard and Kevin met in college and have been together ever since. After a few years pursuing various careers, they became active in home restorations and renovations in Santa Barbara, California.

sliding glass doors for easy indoor-outdoor access in Old Las Palmas home — Sliding glass walls allow for connection between indoor and outdoor living areas.

In 2004, they purchased a home in Palm Springs and fell in love with the abundant examples of MCM architecture peppering the area. Shortly afterward, they purchased a rundown MCM property that needed a little “love.” They restored and resold it.

green Bertoia-esque stools in 1950s Old Las Palmas restored kitchen — Bertoia-esque stools line the island and were chosen because of their slight silhouette and size. They were custom-ordered with seat and back cushions. The island has already become the hub of the house; it’s used to do everything from homework to food prep or laying out a massive, two-sided buffet.

original bar and barstools in Old Las Palmas home — Featuring a bar top in Formica, the bar is original to the home, along with the stools. All were in such pristine condition that they were left untouched. However, the glass divider wall had been replaced in the 1990s, so Kevin and Howard opted to put in a more MCM-era style of glass. “Not all the squares in the divider have glass in them, and we did this, because it allows you to get a peek of the backyard and pool as you enter through the front door,” Kevin points out.

restored kitchen in 1950s Old Las Palmas home with colorful geometric backsplash — After receiving the bulk of the renovation, the kitchen is a masterpiece that combines functionality with the MCM aesthetic. Selections were carefully made to give the kitchen an updated, yet period-accurate, feel. “For example, the tile feels modern, but it also has a mid-century flair to it,” Howard says.

“It was a success!” Howard says. “Soon, we began to work with clients who were in the process of renovating and restoring their homes.”

bedroom with custom built headboard — In honor of the original owner’s staff member who lived here, this bedroom is affectionately dubbed “Earnestine’s room.” It’s found in one of the casitas and operates as a guest cottage. It features a headboard that was relocated from the primary bedroom. (This headboard is its own piece of history: It was custom-built for the old primary bedroom and has its own building plans by William Manker).

blue accent wall and bedding in bedroom that opens out to backyard pool — Bright hues of blue envelop one of the bedrooms in the two-bedroom casita. It mirrors the brilliant blue of the pool, which is only a few feet away. “We all decided that the blue would be a soothing color to complement the pool right outside the door,” Howard says.

retro classic blue bathroom including powder blue sink — In keeping with the poolside theme, this classic blue bathroom maintains a timeless “retro” feel.

original green Formica countertop in Old Las Palmas guest bedroom — Keeping original materials as much as possible is a key part of a respectful restoration. In this twin bedroom, the original Formica counter was kept.

In 2017, Howard and Kevin opened their flagship Home Furnishings and Décor store in downtown Palm Springs, thereby adding their own “voice” to Palm Springs’ MCM style.

Kitchen Redesign

For this project, the home was like a family heirloom—passed down from one generation to the next. It was originally owned by the client’s grandfather, and it boasts a rich history. He had hired Edward Fickett to design it in 1952. It offers two bedrooms and three bathrooms in the main house and an additional three bedrooms and three bathrooms in two surrounding casitas.

two yellow doors lead to the backyard of the Old Las Palmas home — Multiple doors allow for easy access from the bedrooms to the exterior of the home.

The plan was to restore most of the house.

“We appreciate MCM architecture and design for its clean lines and enjoy the frequent use of organic materials paired with new synthetic or man-made products and architectural elements,” Kevin points out.

two twin beds and pink floral wallpaper in Old Las Palmas restored home — this private and cozy twin bedroom is Nestled within one of the two surrounding casitas. The room had the casement windows replaced with similar windows, and a built-in bureau with original “Boomerang” Formica on top was placed on the opposite side.

The home’s original features acted as a blueprint for the new plans and dictated a lot of the choices. An example of this is the fireplace in the living room, which is made of the original poured terrazzo surrounded by the original wood paneling.

green accent wall in bedroom of restored Old Las Palmas home — A bold palette balanced with warm wood accents and grounding neutrals blend together expertly in every room throughout the home.

One of the biggest parts of the renovation was the kitchen. The original kitchen was large but sectioned off from the house. A new one was created to be open to the dining room and the pool and patio beyond, giving inviting glimpses of plants and water. The new dimensions allowed for the addition of a 60-inch-wide range and 60-inch-wide refrigerator, making the kitchen a chef’s dream. Stunning trapezoidal porcelain tiles in hues of green and white were used, along with walnut cabinets (walnut was often used in mid-century furniture and cabinetry).

It’s All in the Details

Another area that showcases H3K Home + Design’s vision and attention is one of the bathrooms, which the team ensured was sourced with historically accurate pieces. The bathroom is brand-new and is created out of space that existed near the back door and laundry area.

retro pink sinks and Formica countertops in primary bathroom of restored Old Las Palmas home — Soft pink sinks add a fun touch to the primary bedroom’s en suite bathroom. “We salvaged the original double vanity and added on about 4 or 5 inches in height to make the sinks more user-friendly,” Howard explains. “In addition, we selected a new Formica countertop that would contrast and complement the pink basins.”

exterior front with brass lit address sign and blue door — “We refurbished the low-voltage-lit, solid brass address sign to the left of the front door,” Howard says. It was a fun surprise to the homeowners to see that low-voltage lighting technology was incorporated into this tiny marker sign that was added in 1952.

“The bathroom doubles as a guest bathroom, as well as a pool bath, via an entrance to the outside,” Kevin notes. “Howard and I searched the Internet for an original Crane sink and faucet hardware.”

exterior entryway to restored Old Las Palmas 1950s home — Because the front of the house never had an “official” entrance from the street, the only way to the front door was off the driveway. A new entrance was created and is a bit more grand and formal, providing nicer curb appeal. “We created new, large, concrete stepping stones and integrated the original smaller stepping stones right into the new concrete to pay homage to the original fragmented path,” Howard says.

They found one in a suburb of Chicago and had it personally delivered to Palm Springs via courier.

“Then, we sourced an original Crane sink basin stand and towel holder. It was brand-new in the box from the Early 1950s—a fun find!” Howard says. The authentic pieces are right at home.

wide angle view of backyard pool and jacuzzi in Old Las Palmas home — The boomerang-shaped pool was retiled and replastered, and a waterfall jacuzzi spa was removed. They replaced it with a new, separate jacuzzi spa that imitates the pool’s boomerang shape. A long, slatted wood bench was added for additional poolside seating.

partially covered patio with view to interior of restored Old Las Palmas home — “The plants and ground cover were also inspired by the original landscaping designed by Mr. Tomson,” Kevin notes. Kevin and Howard were able to save some of the original foliage, including a very old oleander tree—and, of course, many palm trees.

The residence, thanks to Howard and Kevin, is a wonderful addition to Old Las Palmas’ architectural canon and has all the amenities for modern life, along with all the old soul of a true MCM home.

To see more of H3K Home + Design’s work, visit Instagram: @h3kdesign. Check out more inspiration from their use of color in Palm Springs by reading How to Get The Colors of Palm Springs´ Doors.

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