December 2016

With lush greenery, cheery citrus trees and a modern firepit, the dreamy outdoor living space at this updated midcentury condo at Garden Villas East, presented by The Paul Kaplan Group, is enough to win you over right from the start.  Accessible from every major room in the home, the oversized patio is also steps away from the community pool and spa!  

Stepping inside, the recently renovated unit is warm and light-filled. We are particularly fond of the kitchen design and we've awarded extra points for the clean and organic cabinetry choice, with plenty of counter space to satisfy a chef.  Your dinner guests can flow onto the patio before and after dining to enjoy the western mountain views – and the best part is, you'll never miss a beat

At The Paul Kaplan Group, we love to spread the word about the many unique sights and traditions of Palm Springs, like Robolights. Started by local resident Kenny Irwin Jr. in 1986 when he was just 12 years old, Robolights is a robot-themed light display at the Irwin family home in the Movie Colony East neighborhood of Palm Springs, not far from Frank Sinatra’s Twin Palms Estate. 

Robolights grew out of Irwin’s affinity and talent for making robots, using found objects and whatever materials he could get his hands on. Irwin, who attended the California College of Arts in Oakland, has continued creating art over the years and grew Robolights to become an annual tradition, save for a few skipped years.

2016 marks

Coming soon.... we at The Paul Kaplan Group are currently working on a Tiny House Community to be located in sunny Palm Springs, California-

With the recent popularity of the Tiny House movement, and our Palm Springs history of mobile home living, the timing is right to create a modern community of tiny homes, here in the desert.

Although the homes won't be TINY, they'll be SMALLER - with floor plans starting around 500 SF-  we think that's  more livable- and will include a spacious outdoor area for indoor/outdoor desert living.

Floor plans are currently being finalized.  The community will consist of a  common area pool and spa, meeting rooms, outdoor lounges and bbq space, plus dog park.  Oh yea, there will be shuffle board too.  Prices

At the Paul Kaplan Group in Palm Springs, we not only have a passion for real estate, but also the history of architecture and design in Palm Springs and beyond. 

One of our favorite spots in Palm Springs is the Palm Springs Art Museum's Architecture and Design Center, Edwards Harris Pavilion. The Architecture and Design Center, or “A+D Center,” is located in downtown Palm Springs in the historic 1961 Santa Fe Savings & Loan Building, which was purchased by the Palm Springs Art Museum from a real estate developer about five years ago. The building, originally designed by renowned architect E. Stewart Williams, underwent renovations led by the firm of Marmol Radziner to transform the former bank into the museum. The international style building

The holidays are upon us, and The Paul Kaplan Group has curated a Palm Springs gift guide with finds that are sure to please any architecture and design lovers on your list!

Mid-Century Modern Architecture Travel Guide, West Coast Edition by Sam Lubell, photography by Darren Bradley (Phaidon)

Enamel pins by Mid Mod Pin

René planters by Boyce Studio

Sunnylands: America's Midcentury Masterpiece, by Janice Lyle

Bargello Hex throw pillows by Jonathan Adler

Smeg retro small appliances

Terrazzo objects by Besler & Sons (can be used as bookends, doorstops, serving platters or just decorative objects)Acrylic coasters and drink stirrers by California Lustre

Palm Springs > The Good Life Goes On, by Nancy Baron (Kehrer Verlag)

EO2

This light and bright mid-century stunner presented by The Paul Kaplan Group is the epitome of indoor-outdoor Palm Springs living, with the open concept living area's expanse of glass doors leading to a spacious and immaculately landscaped back yard with exotic fruit trees, a glittering pool and the most spectacular mountain views. 

Designed in 1958 by Charles Dubois for Alexander Construction Company, this Vista Las Palmas gem has been a bastion of cool since its early days, originally owned by Chick Iverson, the first Volkswagen and Porsche dealer in Orange Country, who also just happened to be best friends with John Wayne. 

While retaining the vintage charm of its days as the playground of Iverson and Wayne, upgraded elements

Nestled into the San Jacinto Mountains just seven miles outside of Palm Springs, The Paul Kaplan Group is excited to present Snow Creek; a village of only 39 homes and has drawn artists, authors, musicians and adventurers since the 1800s, serving as a source of inspiration and a place to get away from it all.

This stone cabin, dubbed "Hermit Springs," presents the rare opportunity to own a part of this elusive enclave. Originally built in 1950, the home is located just off the Pacific Crest Trail and has been thoughtfully updated with solid mesquite floors, a chef's kitchen and a custom travertine Roman bathtub with dual rain shower heads fed by mountain water.

Wood burning stone fireplaces in the living room and master

Frey House II

by:  Katy Carrier

The Paul Kaplan Group is grateful for architects like Albert Frey, FAIA, who have helped shape the “Desert Modernism” movement in Palm Springs. 

Born in 1903 in Zurich, Switzerland, Albert Frey was the only child to a pianist mother and business-owning father. Frey grew up encouraged to study architecture and did so at Winterthur’s Institute of Technology in Winterthur, Switzerland, completing his architectural degree in 1924 and subsequently beginning to practice throughout Europe. The budding architect quickly built a name for himself, landing roles at Eggericz and Verwilghen in Brussels and Le Corbusier’s atelier in Paris. Despite succeeding in these European ventures, Frey ultimately dreamed of working in