If it’s good enough for Leo DiCaprio, Frank Sinatra, and Queen Elizabeth…
Do you want to live like a celebrity? Now you can – sort of.
Design lovers flock to Palm Springs each year for Modernism Week, a celebration of the style that put the city on the map of mid-century modernism. But what if you had other things to do in February? You’re in luck: many of the most incredible homes welcome renters and visitors year-round. With a few caveats – these tours sell out fast and stays in the four figures are certainly the norm – here’s how you can peek inside some very exclusive properties.
The nickname refers to the “coaster roof” of the house.
Wave House by Tim Hirschmann
desert wave
If you’re looking for something special, rent Desert Wave, aka the Miles C. Bates House. Built in 1955 by Walter S. White (no, not that Walter White), it was Bates’ sculpting studio with unparalleled views of Palm Desert. The nickname refers to the “coaster roof” rendered in the design of a wave. Rent will cost you $1,000 a night, but where else can you stay in a bachelor pad straight out of a Bond film?
Leonardo DiCaprio bought this residence in 2014.
Visit Greater Palm Springs
Dinah Shore Estate
The Dinah Shore Estate in Las Palmas’ Old Town takes its name from the big band-era singer who commissioned architect Donald Wexler to design the home in 1963. It was bought by Leonardo DiCaprio in 2014 for a whopping $5.23 million, though it’s unlikely to see him there. Instead, the six-bedroom home serves as a vacation rental and features a private pool, tennis court, and grand piano. The house and separate guest house are available for a minimum of two nights for $3,750 per night, with housekeeping charged separately.
Franz Alexander Residence
In the Little Italy neighborhood of Palm Springs, the Dr. Franz Alexander Residence Built in 1956, also by architect Walter S. White, for the eponymous Alexander, a famous psychoanalyst, and his wife, an artist. What sets the home apart is the degree to which it has been designed to allow for seamless coexistence with the surrounding desert city landscape, with a domed roof that lets in ample sunlight. Visit in person with Modern Tours, with additional stops at other properties.
Estate of Frederick Loewe
If you snag one of the extremely limited tours of the Frederick Loewe Estate, you won’t soon forget it. Built in 1956, the 6-acre estate was the home of Broadway composer Loewe, known for his work on My Fair Lady and Brigadoon. In a 1960 issue of Time, Loewe called it its “airy, glass pleasure dome” because of the mountain views and abundance of desert plants. (And, uh, various delights he didn’t elaborate on.) Modern Tours also visits or rents out the Loewe property: $2,800 per night, with a three-night minimum stay.
The Frey House was Modernist architect Albert Frey’s second home in the area.
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Frey House II
Frey House II is named for famed modernist architect Albert Frey, who created local landmarks like Palm Springs City Hall. Managed by the Palm Springs Art Museum, this home was his second home in the area and was built in 1964 overlooking the Coachella Valley. The influence of the rocky surroundings is reflected in the living room’s exposed stones. Sightseeing is offered by Modern Tours as a supplement to the standard tour.
The nightly fee at The Lautner Compound is less than $500.
The Lautner site
The Lautner site
Celebrity architect John Lautner is known for his work in Los Angeles and Palm Springs, including Bob Hope’s residence, a futuristic home straight out of the Jetsons. This 1947 house is one of the few that you can actually visit, originally planned as a planned condominium. After the construction of the first prototype, the building stood empty for decades. Today it’s the Lautner Compound, a four-unit rental and events facility — the list of tenants’ chores is long, but at least the nightly fee is under $500 (note the two-night minimum stay). You can also join the seasonal Sunset and Sips Happy Hour, which includes drinks and tours.
Seven US Presidents, several governors and Queen Elizabeth have stayed here.
Sunnylands Center & Gardens / Mark Davidson
Sunnylands
Sunnylands was built in 1966 and has hosted a host of famous guests over the years including seven US Presidents, several governors and Queen Elizabeth – Frank and Barbara Sinatra even got married here. Owned by Ambassadors Walter and Leonore Annenberg, the house was designed by A. Quincy Jones with a pyramid-inspired roof. Today the property offers retreats for world leaders. Monthly tours are offered, but they sell out quickly.
Frank Sinatra lived here with his wife Nancy and later with the movie star and second wife Ava Gardner.
Visit Greater Palm Springs
twin palms
There is perhaps no home in Palm Springs more iconic than the Twin Palms Frank Sinatra Estate, the Movie Colony home where the crooner lived with his wife Nancy and later the film star and second wife Ava Gardner. Designed by architect E. Stewart Williams, the property takes its name from the iconic trees that stand on the property. The home is open for private tours and as a vacation rental through Natural Retreats — it costs $3,000 a night and sleeps eight.
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