Description

The Wexler Residence is one of Palm Springs’ most significant architectural offerings – a deeply personal work of modernism designed in 1955 by Donald Wexler as his own family home. Privately set on approximately one-third of an acre in Movie Colony East, this Class 1 Historic Resource is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and offers the valuable benefit of Mills Act property tax savings. Distinct from the industrial language of Wexler’s celebrated steel houses, the residence reveals a softer, more organic vision, shaped by his early work with Richard Neutra and William F. Cody. Its all-wood post-and-beam construction, open and flexible floor plan, floor-to-ceiling glass, and deep overhangs create a seamless relationship between architecture, landscape, and light. From 2007 to 2026, the home underwent a museum-quality restoration completed in three phases, preserving its architectural integrity while elevating it for contemporary living. In a rare full-circle collaboration, Donald Wexler himself, together with architect Lance O’Donnell and designer Darren Brown, helped shape a comprehensive restoration honored with the Palm Springs Modern Committee’s Residential Restoration of the Year Award. Original vertical fir siding and spun metal lighting were meticulously preserved, while terrazzo floors, marble surfaces, refined European fixtures, a new roof, updated HVAC, and solar were thoughtfully integrated. Hidden behind gates and a mature perimeter hedge, the grounds unfold as a private desert retreat with native landscaping, ancient boulders, a striking black-bottom pool, detached spa, and sweeping San Jacinto Mountain views – an extraordinary union of historic significance, architectural purity, and beautifully restored modern living.