A thoughtful designer-client collaboration transforms a dated Palm Springs home into a chic respite brimming with taste and character.
In the living room, a CB2 sofa, a Soho Home swivel chair and boucle ottomans from Burke Decor surround a custom travertine table by Lawson-Fenning. The drapes are from The Shade Store, the painting is by Casey Klein, and the design team sourced vintage accessories from Spaces. Photographed by Avery Klein & Clinton Meyer
When L.A.-based Jeff Consoletti and Rob Czechowicz purchased a lackluster 1950s property in Palm Springs, the couple knew they needed help transforming it into the home of their dreams. So Consoletti, an event producer and business owner of JJLA, and Czechowicz, an executive at Sony Pictures, turned to the Evan Shane Design-Build team for help. “We had always known each other and seen each other out and about, but this collaboration really brought us closer,” says principal and founder Evan Krenzien, who works with Roger Ein, principal and creative director. “It’s a special feeling to work on a project with someone you met over a decade ago—when everyone was starting out their careers and finding their place in the world. To be able to collaborate at this stage was really special,” Krenzien adds. “We also just completed a renovation of their new home in West Hollywood.”
Evan Krenzien (left) and Roger Ein of Evan Shane Design Build Photographed by Avery Klein & Clinton Meyer
“The first design directive was, ‘We want it to feel like you’re walking into an Aesop store,’” says Krenzien. “This was a welcome brief, emphasizing soothing, neutral colors and textures. We tried to keep the surfaces organic and natural but still very rich. There would be no poppy bright color accent walls.” The only pieces the clients wanted to incorporate were a series of black-and-white celebrity photographs from Consoletti’s collection, so all furnishings, finishes and decor were newly sourced for the project. “We tried to keep the palette still soothing and neutral but started bringing in richer jewel tones to play against the natural finishes in the home,” Krenzien shares.
After a series of uninspired renovations over the years, this home lacked the character Palm Springs is known for. “The homeowners really wanted this to be a respite from their busy careers and something that was unique and special to them rather than a bland or cheesy builder flip,” Krenzien explains, adding that style-wise, they wanted to stay away from anything too kitschy. “More than a second home, this was really to be a 50% primary residence. [They] had no intention of renting this property out, so it needed to be a jewel box mostly for themselves, but also for friends and family who may come out from the city on weekends.” The couple, who married in the area, wanted to open up the home and update all surfaces. “The biggest... change was figuring out how to open up the kitchen to the great room and raise the ceiling to mimic the roofline, something far more classically midcentury than boxy dropped drywall ceilings,” Krenzien says.
The kitchen features Basalt backsplash tile from Emser, Caesarstone Rugged Concrete countertops and a Dacor cooktop. Photographed by Avery Klein & Clinton Meyer
“The clients are meticulous and wanted the room to be free from clutter and unnecessary pieces, Krenzien says. “[It still] needed to read as luxurious and special relative to the two other guest suites, so an entire wall of Gucci floral wallpaper in relatively muted tones was the solution to elevate this space while still having it tie in with the rest of the home.” West Elm linens, throws blankets and pillows from Garde adorn the Rove Concepts bed, while nightstands from Soho Home and a rug from Burke Decor tie it all together.
Gucci wallpaper in the primary bedroom provides an exciting backdrop for the Rove Concepts bed, Soho Home side tables and rug from Burke Decor. The Ducaroy-style leather chair is from Manhattan Home, and the vintage charcoal art, vase, and wooden sculpture were sourced from Hommes Gardens Estudio. Photographed by Avery Klein & Clinton Meyer
“The primary bathroom was relatively small, so we wanted to go all out and make it serene and spalike and feel as open as possible,” says Krenzien. “We added a floor-to-ceiling glass door to a new outdoor shower to extend the look of the space, and carefully considered all elements incorporating a pocket door, a floating vanity with custom integrated stone slab sinks, and a wall mounted toilet to make sure every inch was thoughtfully utilized.” Phylrich fixtures, Portola Paints Roman Clay plaster wall finishes and light fixtures by In Common With add richness to the space.
“The entire great room is visible from the moment you walk in the front door, so it all needed to feel cohesive, even though numerous seating areas—from the dining room to the kitchen bar, to the media room, to the more formal parlor/conversation space in front of the fireplace—all needed to also stand on their own,” Krezien says. The design team repeated similar tones and textures in custom carpets from Lester Carpets and velvets throughout.
The accessories were a combination of new and vintage, primarily sourced from local desert consignment shops and vintage purveyors in the Perez Road Art & Design District. “It was very important for us to connect the design to the place with so many amazing salvaged vintage items available,” Krenzien explains. A custom Lawson-Fenning Normandie table in travertine and walnut; a CB2 sofa; a Soho Home swivel chair; Burke Decor boucle poufs; and vintage accessories define the main parlor area of the living room.
Vintage accessories and new furniture mingle in the living room. Photographed by Avery Klein & Clinton Meyer
Since the great room’s den, or media room portion, is seen immediately after entering the home, Krenzien and Ein wanted to make a big design statement. “We went with an emerald green Mario Bellini replica sofa from Eternity Modern. Everyone thinks they will be uncomfortable, but this sofa is a classic for a reason; modular, sculptural, and incredibly comfortable,” Krenzien shares. “At first, the clients and we were trying to adhere to all neutrals, but when we saw this, we had no choice—it paired so well with the blacks, whites and wood tones going on in the finishes in the house.”
Custom pine acoustic walls create a warm, welcoming vibe in the media room, a Mario Bellini replica green velvet sofa by Eternity Modern and lucite tables by Industry West sit atop a custom carpet. Sean Lavin by Visual Comfort Co. sconces and vintage accessories from Misty’s Consignments and Spaces add personality to the space Photographed by Avery Klein & Clinton Meyer
“Shortly after all was complete, the couple hosted Thanksgiving Dinner at the home,” Krenzien says, noting that he saw photos of his clients enjoying the new space on Instagram. “As Roger and I sat down to dessert at our respective Thanksgiving dinners, we received very heartfelt texts from Jeff and Rob thanking us for the partnership in designing this home for them,” he shares. “In a fast-paced world working with busy clients and dealing with the frustrations of construction, we rarely get these reflections on creating spaces that become the backdrop for major life moments, like Thanksgiving dinner. It was really special and made us all feel connected in that moment.”
“The house feels like you are in a classic midcentury home in Palm Springs without feeling like something you have seen up and down the block,” says Krenzien. “It’s soothing and quiet, dark and moody in places, bright and fresh in others. It nestles you, and despite relatively small square footage, has distinct living spaces that make it live large and spaciously in a relatively compact footprint.” Consoletti and Czechowicz love the space so much that they are considering building a second primary suite on an underutilized portion of the yard. Says Krenzien, “The sense of this as a generational home has made it a really special experience for both client and designer.”
TYPE
Single-family home
LOCATION
Sunmor Estates, Palm Springs
INTERIOR DESIGN
Evan Shane Design Build
evanshanedesignbuild.com
BUILDER
Ryan Pierce, Ultra Construction
ultraconstruction.net
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Water Wise Landscape
waterwiselandscape.net
BENJAMIN MOORE
Paint throughout
benjaminmoore.com
CB2
Living room sofa
cb2.com
DALTILE
Terrazzo tiles throughout
daltile.com
GUCCI
Primary bedroom wallpaper
gucci.com
HOMMES + GARDENS E-STUDIO
Primary bedroom vintage
decor and art
hommesandgardens.com
MISTY’S CONSIGNMENTS
Vintage art and
decor throughout
mistysconsignments.com
ROVE CONCEPTS
Primary bedroom bed
roveconcepts.com
SOHO HOME
Primary bedroom nightstands,
living room chair
sohohome.com
SPACES
Vintage art and
decor throughout
spacesonperez.com
THE SHADE STORE
Curtains throughout
theshadestore.com
Photography by:
