This Palm Springs Home Is the Ultimate Poster Child for Modern Spanish Revival Style

Some home renovations require just a few updates—like a remodel limited to the kitchen, or maybe even an interior paint job and some new flooring. But other home renovations are complete overhauls that take multiple years to complete. For this Palm Springs home, it was the latter (and it took them two years to rebuild).

The homeowners—a mortgage broker husband and former model-turned-author wife—bought the three-bedroom, four-bathroom house from its original owner. And since the home had been virtually untouched when they bought it, the new owners decided to start completely over and take the whole structure down to the studs. 

Ryan Garvin

The couple have three young sons, are world travelers, and split their time between their homes in Idaho and Palm Springs. So, their goal was to create a space that was “comfortable, yet sophisticated; contemporary with a nod to the past; and easy to live in.” And they also wanted the home to honor the husband’s Hispanic heritage and reflect a modern Spanish design aesthetic. A tall order, but their designer, Newport Beach-based Mindy Laven, was up to the task.

“Because this home had virtually no updating, nearly every surface was touched,” explains Laven. “New air, heat, plumbing, electrical, etc. All of the systems were updated. The floor plan was opened up to reflect an open concept—more conducive to modern living. We were careful to give all of the bedrooms an ensuite to maintain privacy from the common areas.”

Ryan Garvin

And since the homeowners also have an accessories and furnishings import business, they were deeply involved in the design process. For inspiration, Laven and the owners used historical Spanish homes in the Palm Springs area as a guide, even touring several homes nearby to collect ideas for the project.

“The vision was to stay true to the Spanish architectural style that the home had been built in,” Laven says. “We used materials like Saltillo tile, hand-painted terracotta tile, distressed wood, and wrought iron to reflect this. We also used a limewash plaster on the interior walls that give this house an aged, historical vibe.”

Ryan Garvin

Many of the beautiful vintage pieces in the home were collected by the owners. “Our team also scoured estate sales for this installation. We sourced the cane back chair, small paintings, and many of the decor pieces in this way, giving authenticity and provenance to the design,” Laven explains.

Ryan Garvin

As you walk through the home, you see a space that is rustic and refined, with a lot of character. In the great room, the ceiling was raised and beautiful beams and tongue and groove were added. All the cabinetry and interior doors throughout the home were all built in a custom design with a custom stain. The Saltillo tiles were sourced from Rustico Tile—they’re authentic and imported from Mexico.

Ryan Garvin

In the kitchen, matte porcelain was used. “This material has the beauty of marble but is infinitely more practical for family living!” Laven says. “The kitchen was made larger with plenty of storage for a family of five.”

Ryan Garvin

And all the bathrooms have a combination of both traditional and contemporary tile. The powder bathroom has a gorgeous custom-fabricated porcelain sink that looks like a work of art.

Ryan Garvin

Of course, the beautiful details extend to the home’s exterior. “I love the hand-carved gate and arch at the street level of the property. It creates modern-day privacy but with a traditional design,” Laven explains. “I also love the tiles sourced from Arto Brick that we embedded in the plaster in several places on the exterior and interior of the home. I think it gives this space such a historic feeling! The homeowners had the exterior lights custom-made based on an original Spanish design.”

Ryan Garvin

The clients absolutely love the space. “They originally considered selling the property, but fell in love with it once it was completed and have decided to keep it as a family home!” adds Laven.

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