April 5th 2024

In my 2018 renovation show ‘Buying Blind’ we worked on a home in Bilgola Plateau on Sydney’s Northern Beaches where the owners Mags and Tyson were looking for a Palm Springs bungalow X Art Deco vibe. And, while I’m a huge fan of both, they’re design styles that don’t necessarily make comfortable bed mates! I gave them an impactful Palm Springs-style facade with a bold yellow door and striped awning, while inside I leaned further into the desert aesthetic with clean lines, white walls, whimsical fabrics and retro appliances.

I drew on the Palm Springs aesthetic as a reference and a base for the design of the textural rattan and teak furniture pieces I designed for One World Collection, including coffee tables and the chairs pictured, left.

When people ask me about renovating homes mid-century modern homes I advise improving what you have for modern living. Unless you’re a real purist, restoring a 1960s-era home to its original state isn’t going to be practical for the contemporary Australian lifestyle, so emphasise the bones of the design, but don’t be afraid to modernise and make additions that will honour the era while creating a place you can truly call your forever home. Jimmy and Tam struck an excellent balance in their retro bungalow (left) on The Block in 2020.

When I think Palm Springs I think holiday vibes and I created my Montgomery Homes ‘Signature Collection Palm Springs to instantly transport you to a desert oasis. Classic Palm Springs homes live or die on their street appeal and this design welcomes you with a suitably grand facade, but don’t expect a kitsch, cartoon-style interior.

This design is Palm Springs meets contemporary Australia with crisp white walls accented with sherbet and blush pops of colour, Palm Springs-inspired artworks, brushed gold tap ware, stone-look floor tiling in the bathrooms and a few gorgeous curves for good measure. My hope is that as your feet cross the threshold, you’re instantly transported to a chic desert oasis.