The Estrella House Provides a Sneak Peek of Modernism Week 2018

Tickets for the February event go on sale November 1.

Modernism Week, Palm Springs’ annual homage to all things mid century, is still a few months away, but a Fall Preview let fans get their fix until February rolls around. One of the highlights of the preview was the debut of the Estrella House, designed by Thomboy Properties.

Jackie Thomas and DeeAnn McCoy, a Palm Springs power couple, currently own the home. Jackie spent a career at Nike, while DeeAnn has an agency background. When they moved to Palm Springs several years ago, they got into real estate and haven’t looked back.

“We got a notification from Redfin alerting us that the house had just received a significant price reduction,” the couple shares. “Not only were we surprised that it had been reduced but we were surprised to learn that it had been on the market for about four months. How had we overlooked this gem? We immediately reached out to our agent and drove back from Idyllwild the next day to see the house.”

Designed in 1975 by architect Hal Lacy, this custom-built 5,000-square-foot home located on a corner lot in Indian Canyons is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Once you enter this stunningly private property, with majestic custom carved 10-foot-high double entry doors, you are immediately transformed into your own world and completely secluded within its walls.

“We had to spend a fair bit of time listening and being in the space to decide which elements and features of the architecture we wanted to elevate and use as part of our design ethos,” they say.

The four bedroom + den, five bathroom home (all ensuite) features a three-car garage, an open floor plan with sunken living room, beautiful beamed ceilings and a large sunken bar. The formal dining room offers built-in shelving, a butler’s pantry and access to a front interior courtyard.

The gourmet kitchen boasts beautiful Thermador appliances including 60” of refrigerator/freezer, dual dishwashers, 48” range, prep sink and a wine vault adjacent to a laundry room. The master suite boasts multiple closets, dressing and sitting areas. The master bath offers a floating tub, dual vanities, a cedar sauna and an amazing 45-square-foot walk in shower with dual heads, rain shower and thermostatic valves. Two guest bedrooms and library are located in the main house. All rooms feature atriums and skylights.

There is also a private 600-square-foot guesthouse accessible through the interior courtyard or via private entry. And the piece de resistance is a walled courtyard with a private pool and spa, outdoor shower, outdoor kitchen and fire feature. While the house is thoroughly modern, the architect created tremendous drama by adding magnificent touches that harken back to Morocco, from the details in the entry and master doors to the decorative medallion cutouts and the metal screens visible from the street, to the geometry of the angled walls.

“The landscape designs and plant materials for the size and scale of this home proved a bit daunting,” says Jackie and DeeAnn. “The partnership we formed with Mountain States Nursery and their vision for our landscape, which surpassed, and at times challenged, our perceptions of desert plants, hues and forms was nothing short of remarkable. Wendy Proud introduced us to plants that were varied, beautiful, colorful and manageable from a maintenance perspective. What else could a girl ask for?!”

The “Modern Moroccan” party on October 21 featured hors d’oeuvres provided by Palm Springs’ favorite Jake’s, showcasing exotic international flavors, paired with specialty cocktails and musical entertainment.

Wish you attended the Fall Preview? You can get your tickets on November 1 for Modernism Week, February 15-25, 2018. The schedule of events goes live today.

For more, visit modernismweek.com.