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Photographs by Corey Gaffer
desert-bloom-header
Barely visible rooftop solar panels tap into one of Palm Springs’ most abundant natural resources—sunshine. The entire house runs on it. “It’s the right thing to do,” homeowner Betsy Vohs says. “Also, Palm Springs has an old grid and occasionally loses power, so that was another incentive.” Poolside, “Idle” white sun loungers from CB2—along with a Loll side table, a dining table by Blu Dot, and side chairs by KnollStudio—are an invitation to relax.
Betsy Vohs found her getaway “cabin” not in Wisconsin or the Brainerd Lakes Area but in Palm Springs, California, a few blocks from a house Frank Sinatra built. “I like pools, and I don’t like traffic, so this is perfect for me,” Vohs says. Her 1,295-square-foot rambler is a quick five minutes from the airport, in the storied Movie Colony neighborhood near downtown Palm Springs—an area developed in the 1930s and 1940s that was home to many Hollywood actors, especially those under studio contracts.
“Legend has it, they had to stay within a 150-mile radius from L.A. at all times,” Vohs says.
Although the movie stars have moved on, the neighborhood still boasts a few architectural gems, including several homes by modernist architect (and University of Minnesota graduate) Donald Wexler. Another appealing feature is the tall, thick hedges that separate properties, providing privacy and dampening sound.
“Palm Springs is a vacation land. The whole vibe here is good mood.”
–Betsy Vohs, Homeowner
Vohs, founder of the Minneapolis-based architecture and design firm Studio BV, fulfilled a longtime dream by purchasing this home last year as a vacation getaway for herself and her tight-knit family and friends. The outdoor space, as much as the house itself, sealed the deal, along with the clear view of Mount San Jacinto. “What really clinched it was the 100-year-old olive tree in the front and giant Bismarck palm in the back,” Vohs says. “I knew I could work with everything else.”
Making themost of thelandscape was a priority because Palm Springs’ weather is relatively mild from October until June and the house is small. Vohs thought about the front and back yards in terms of activity zones—cooking, dining, socializing, and working. For example, the new outdoor kitchen has a grill and refrigerator for poolside meal prep, the covered patio shades a dining table, and a variety of seating arrangements offer places to socialize and cozy niches for solitary laptop work.
Vohs was fortunate that the previous owners had done a fair amount of landscaping, but she wanted to bring in a wider variety of cactus species and flowers. She says a local landscape designer and gardener helped her learn more about desert gardening (zone 10a). They also installed artificial turf in the backyard to provide soft footing for swimmers and an environmentally friendly potty area for Fred and Sal (Vohs’s two Bernedoodles). All the plants are on drip irrigation so that no drop of water is wasted—a key consideration, especially in the desert.Conservation was also top of mind when Vohs invested in rooftop solar panels to power the home off the grid.
“I like pools, and Idon’t like traffic, so this is perfectfor me.”
–Betsy Vohs, Homeowner
And while the house embodies vibrant Palm Springs energy inside and out, Minnesota lurks everywhere, from the art by Merick Reed, Shelly Mosman, and Tiffany Lange; furnishings by Blu Dot; and tile by Mercury Mosaics to the friends and family who frequently visit, including her dad and his brother, who enjoyed the house this past winter for three weeks.
“That’s what life should be about,” she says. “You create a space, and you share it with other people. It’s the greatest thing.”
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pool
Scene Setter
An aluminum sculpture Vohs commissioned from Minneapolis artist Merick Reed is a crisp focal point poolside between two large agave plants and echoes the modern style of the house without detracting from the view of the San Jacinto Mountains in the distance.
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porch
Cooking Alfresco
An outdoor kitchen featuring Clé tile as a backsplash adds function and keeps swimmers from tracking water into the house to grab a snack or beverage. Three new dwarf cypress trees next to the poolside seating area remind Vohs of Italy, another of her happy places.
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kitchen
Clean Lines
Although Palm Springs is associated with bright pops of color, like coral, turquoise, and orange, Vohs wanted this house to reflect her more restrained modern style. In the kitchen, she paired white cabinetry and countertops with Mercury Mosaic tile in shades of green. The black vessel is by Minneapolis artist Cym Warkov.
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sitting-area
Modern Moments
A Maxalto Febo chair and ottoman from B&B Italia anchor a reading nook with a Stilt floor lamp from Blu Dot and Platner table by Knoll.
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dining-room
Vintage Mix
The vintage appeal of a Saarinen tulip table and chairs under a George Nelson pendant light evokes a sophisticated 1960s groove. White walls provide a gallery for Vohs’s art collection.
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yard
Rhapsody in Greens
A Bismarck palm tree with giant silver-sage leaves and a pair of chartreuse cacti offer shade and a tranquil study in green.
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house
Low Profile
Mount San Jacinto is the striking backdrop of Vohs’s ranch-style house, as seen from the front street-side view.
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patio
Outdoor Rooms
The front yard is made private with tall plantings and a garden door that opens to a massive olive tree as the focal point. Lush desert plants in sculptural shapes and comfortable seating invite lounging here as much as in the backyard.
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hall
Color Play
Although Vohs steered clear of a typical Palm Springs palette, she introduced color through some of her favorite artists. In the entryway are paintings by Jenny Keyser and Samuel Johnson. The rug is from a Joshua Tree boutique, and the red stool is from Hightower.
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chairs
The green Palissade lounge chairs and ottomans are by Hay, and the Montavilla “C-Side” tables are from Rejuvenation.
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Design: Betsy Vohs, Studio BV, 701 Washington Ave. N., Mpls., 651-335-3455, studio-b-v.com
