Desert Oasis
Los Angeles Interior Designer and entrepreneur, Michael Berman, was originally drawn to Palm Springs in the late ‘90s when the mid-century modern craze was just beginning. Palm Springs offered a quiet respite from Los Angeles and conjured up the Frank Sinatra/Dean Martin suave, easy- living of the 1960s. Michael says, “I had always admired this home, built in 1964, because of its iconic location in the Indian Canyons neighborhood of South Palm Springs.” Destiny played a major role in purchasing this mid- century home when a friend happened to mention that he had a “pocket listing” for an amazing architectural property. Michael couldn’t believe his luck when this opportunity to purchase his dream home in Palm Springs became a reality. The home has an elegant L-shaped floor plan with local whitewater rock walls piercing from the exterior through the interior and incredible views of the Sleeping Indian mountain range.
The first piece of furniture Michael purchased for the home was the Milo Baughman chaise lounge in chocolate-colored velvet with a stainless steel base. This served as the starting point for all of his eclectic but mid-century inspired furnishings. “I decided to keep the white terrazzo floors naked from any area rugs to keep the cool and minimal feeling of the home,” according to Michael. Each bedroom and guest suite retains an atrium with white rock walls and privacy.
A scavenger by nature, Michael’s passion and hobby are one in the same: “shopping for the treasures left behind from a bygone era of martinis and go-go boots.” Black and white photography, as well as abstract studio art, serve as backdrops on the crisp white walls throughout the house.
The Palm Springs home has served as somewhat of a laboratory for Michael’s own furniture and product lines which are “minimal, eclectic, with a nod to mid-century styling.”
Interiors Editor Mike Ragan
Photographer Grey Crawford
Interior Designer Michael Berman, Michael Berman Limited
