A Palm Springs-Inspired Home Feels Like Being on Vacation

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(Image credit: Brant Williams)

Name: Brittany Curtis and boyfriend Patrick
Location: Los Angeles, California
Size: 1,100 square feet
Years lived in: 14 months, renting

My home is my dream come true. When I first moved into my apartment building, I was living in a small studio that I loved. My boyfriend, Patrick, came over one day and as he was walking down the hall noticed a sign that read “Unit 200 Please Come In.” He walked through the empty unit and came and got me so I could see it as well. The moment I opened the door I was in love! The place was huge in comparison to my studio. It had original hardwood floors from the ’20s, windows on pulley systems, and a kitchen that I saw myself actually cooking in. This apartment was everything I could have ever wanted, the price tag was not!

(Image credit: Brant Williams)

The unit sat available and unlocked for close to year. Every Sunday, Patrick and I made a tradition of making a cup of coffee, walking down the hall, and daydreaming inside the lovely apartment. I imagined where all the furniture would go, where I would want to put flowers and what kind of barstools I would want to sit on while enjoying a glass of wine. Almost a year of this sneaky routine and the price finally dropped! We immediately wrote a check and moved in. I couldn’t believe that the home that seemed so unattainable was now mine! All my daydreaming was going to become my reality.

(Image credit: Brant Williams)
(Image credit: Brant Williams)

We knew immediately that we wanted our home to feel like how we felt when we were on vacation. As lovers of Palm Springs, we wanted to capture color, mid-century design, and classic charm all in one. Painting my front door pink, and mixing Harry Bertoia-style chairs and a leather Chesterfield sofa really set the stage for our home. With every visit to Palm Springs, we became more inspired by mid-century furniture and bright colors. From Jonathan Adler and Kate Spade to flea market favorites, the ultimate goal was to create a space that no one would tire of looking at. I wanted it to be layered with old and new and to really show both mine and Patrick’s personalities.

(Image credit: Brant Williams)

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Living inside a vacation dream.

What is your favorite room and why? My favorite room is definitely the master bedroom. It’s inspired by the Beverly Hills Hotel with a swaying palm motif, pink and white cabana stripes, and some vintage Russell Woodard spun fiberglass patio furniture. The goal I had for designing my bedroom was for it to feel like a hotel suite. I wanted to wake up feeling like I was on vacation and go to bed as if I had just spent the day at the pool.

This room is my sanctuary. Acting as my own personal office, the room offers a sense of energy that always has me coming up with new visions and ideas for our home.

(Image credit: Brant Williams)

If you could magically change something about your home, what would it be? The location! I wish I could fold it all up and move it to Palm Springs.

(Image credit: Brant Williams)

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? Being an addict of home decor shopping, I can’t quite remember the last thing I purchased. However, I will never forget the first thing, the item that inspired every square inch of my home: A white ceramic and brass pineapple lamp from the ’60s.

With the pineapple being the recognized symbol of hospitality, I thought this would be the perfect item to put in my new home. Not only does it look amazing in every single room, it adds so much charm and brings me so much joy.

Which fictional character would be most at home in your place? Blanche Devereaux from “The Golden Girls.”

(Image credit: Brant Williams)

Any advice for creating a home you love? Please don’t be afraid of color. Mix, mix, and mix some more. The more eras you can mash up, the more unique your story is. The home should not be a catalog but rather a reflection of the lives who occupy the home. Have fun with whatever you choose to do. To quote the woman who inspired me, Dorothy Draper: “I believe in doing the thing you feel is right. If it looks right, it is right.”

Thanks, Brittany!

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