Mid-century modern design is characterized by simplicity and functionality. In Palm Springs, the style has long been called Desert Modernism, defined by clean lines, glass walls and dedication to indoor-outdoor spaces. Both elegant and informal, this type of architecture is beloved by many as quintessential Palm Springs style and suits the desert climate and dramatic geography.
The Modernism era of the desert commenced with the Pearl McCallum commission of Lloyd Wright, son of Frank Lloyd Wright, to design the Oasis Hotel. It is thought to be the only Lloyd Wright-designed building in Palm Springs and unfortunately, little of the original structure remains. Still, many other famous architects such as Alexander, Wexler, Krisel and Frey have put their mark on Palm Springs. Several of these architects defined the building landscape in Palm Springs, producing hotels, banks, houses, schools and the Palm Springs Airport famously designed by Wexler and Harrison.
Some of the residential neighborhoods most famous for this style include Vista Las Palmas, Old Las Palmas and the Movie Colony. As the name indicates, the Movie Colony homed some of Hollywood’s biggest stars such as Dinah Shore, Cary Grant, Estee Lauder, Marilyn Monroe and Tony Curtis. These neighborhoods continue to be popular today, not only for their mid-century appeal but the close proximity to all the restaurants and shopping downtown Palm Springs has to offer as well as close access to green spaces such as Ruth Hardy Park.
Mid-century homes were built with what was considered new and groundbreaking in building materials and solutions at the time. However, in today’s world, we have an unparalleled selection of materials within windows and doors that can help increase these homes’ energy efficiency, and in some cases, enhance the mid-century aesthetic.
At California Window and Door, we carry a wide range of entry doors suitable for mid-century homes. In keeping with the indoor-outdoor living spaces of the mid-century style, many of our entry doors offer glass inserts elemental to this style of design. Front doors often take a beating against the desert sun and replacing an original door may provide substantial energy savings while keeping a look that pays homage to the mid-century style.
The right choice of interior doors can further enhance the aesthetic of your mid-century home like this Simpson with a glass insert. The juxtaposition of the different materials and non-traditional shape of the insert makes this a perfect choice of interior door for a mid-century home.
When searching for doors and windows that work with the mid-century style, consider looking for these distinguishing features:
- Functionality; form follows function
- Uncluttered and sleek lines with both organic and geometric forms
- Minimal ornamentation
- An exploration of traditional as well as non-traditional materials
- The juxtaposition of different, and sometimes contrasting materials
At California Window and Door, we have a wide selection of windows and doors suitable for midcentury modern homes as well as other architectural styles. Come visit our showroom at 75-100 St Charles Place or give us a call at 760-773-1053 to schedule a time to speak to one of our experienced window and door design specialists.