Design Within Reach at The Desert Wave

From April 21 to August 31, 2025, the Desert Wave was the venue for a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Design Within Reach and Boutique, showcasing pieces from DWR Presents: The Paul Smith Collection, an exclusive line celebrating the vision of the legendary British designer. Guests were invited to book a stay and experience this unique meeting of creative minds for themselves.

The Desert Wave

Adrian Gaut for DWR

The Desert Wave

Originally built in 1955, the “Wave House” is known for its curving roof that mimics the nearby San Jacinto mountains. This mid-century Walter S. White-designed home was built as a getaway and sculptor’s studio for Miles C. Bates, who turned it into an artistic and social hub for the Coachella Valley.

In February 2020, it was opened to the public for the first time since its meticulous restoration by Stayner Architects, the current stewards of the property. The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated as a City of Palm Desert Historical Landmark.

We chose to launch the experiential aspect of the collection in the ‘Wave House’ because of the home's original and bold design

DWR Presents: The Paul Smith Collection

This exclusive line celebrates the British designer’s long-standing collaboration with Maharam, bringing their signature textiles to a curated collection of indoor and outdoor furniture from DWR. The selection features special-edition classics from Herman Miller® and Knoll® – including the Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair and Eero Saarinen’s Womb Chair in eye-catching Maharam textiles by Paul Smith such as the graphic Dots design – as well as DWR Collection bestsellers, for a fresh take on modern.

Adrian Gaut for DWR

“The Paul Smith Collection is incredibly versatile and can work across a multitude of geographies and architectural styles,” says Omar Nobil, DWR's creative director “However, we chose to launch the experiential aspect of the collection in the ‘Wave House’ because of the home's original and bold design that parallels the collection. The property stands out amongst the many iconic mid-century homes in the community due to the eccentric gesture of the roof design which is set amongst the dramatic landscape of the low desert. This allows guests to be fully immersed in this unique experience.”

Adrian Gaut for DWR

From sleek outdoor pieces which perfectly complemented the rental’s desert landscaping to the “Stepped Plaid” color palettes which wrapped the bedroom in texture and warmth, each element of the property was thoughtfully curated with design-forward discernment.

Adrian Gaut for DWR

With a signature flair for idiosyncratic yet refined combinations of pattern and color, the Maharam textiles by Paul Smith that adorn this exclusive set of furniture are reinterpreted classic motifs like stripes, plaids, and polka dots which play with bold color, scale, and proportion. Like the designer himself, these textiles evoke joy, whimsy, and humor – all with a sharp sense of sophistication.

Each piece of furniture was carefully chosen for its balance of modernity and tradition – much like Sir Paul Smith’s approach to design. The upshot is a curated collection that honors form and function through bold applications of pattern, color, and scale. All products are shoppable at dwr.com.

Adrian Gaut for DWR

Following the collaboration, the Desert Wave has been refurnished with the original mid-century pieces collected by its owners. It features a new events space (not pictured), and the entire property can be booked for both stays and events through Boutique. The Desert Wave is located in Palm Desert in southern California’s Coachella Valley, about 20 minutes from downtown Palm Springs.

STAY: The Desert Wave