Weekend in Review: Fall Preview 2017

In modernist terms, less is more.  But when it comes to Modernism Week Fall Preview, sometimes more is just better.

New in 2017, Modernism Week extended the annual preview weekend by one day resulting in record crowds over 10,000 for four days of festivities.   Read on to enjoy the Weekend in Review.

We eased into the weekend with a day of bus tours, walking tours, and neighborhood tours, capped off with a poolside cocktail party at the West Elm House hosted by Acme House Company to celebrate the newly appointed design touches.  A few bright pop of colors, a refresh on art work and bedding, and the West Elm House, which debuted at Modernism Week 2017 feels like a completely new house.

On Day 2, the Palm Springs community came out in force to celebrate this City’s doyenne of architecture, design, preservation, and culture.  Former curator of architecture and design for the Palm Springs Art Museum Sidney Williams was honored with the 419th star on the City’s Walk of Fame, located directly in front of the Palm Springs Museum Architecture and Design Center that she was so instrumental in creating.

In addition to a busy day of bus tours, neighborhood tours, and home tours, the day capped off with the Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale Preview Party at the Convention Center.  More than 300 guests flooded the show floor to get a peek at what over 40 premier exhibitors from across the U.S. and Europe presenting and offering for sale rare and beautiful vintage furniture, lighting, sculpture, paintings, silver, jewelry, ceramics, glass, rugs, prints, photography, vintage clothing and accessories reflecting all design movements of the 20th century and especially highlighting midcentury modern design. We noticed a plethora of particularly fantastic textiles and wall hangings this year.

The Framed Spaces tour on Saturday took guests inside some of the most memorable Coachella Valley modernist homes, from Rancho Mirage to the iconic Vista Las Palmas neighborhood in Palm Springs.  From beautiful midcentury gems by unknown architects to Palmer & Krisel Hollywood Regency stand-out homes (replete with sunken living room and swim up bar), this was an experience in time travel and a peek into midcentury culture.

Many ended their evening at the Dunn Edwards Green Hour cocktail celebration and Moroccan Modern Party at the Thomboy Properties’ just-unveiled jaw-dropping residence, Casa Estrella in the Indian Canyons neighborhood.  Dunn Edwards celebrated their color of the year, which adorns the beautiful dining room in Casa Estrella, as well as many other hues which are visible throughout the home.

On Sunday, Modernism Week took guests back in time for the Cul-de-Sac Experience, a new tour just added this year.  One of the Canyon View Estates neighborhood cul-de-sacs opened their doors to the public, pairing their Krisel-designed architecture with vintage cars to re-create a true midcentury experience, replete with orange creamsicles.