Merchant House

A Showroom of Global Art and Style in the High Desert

Former stylist and artist Denise Portmans has always had a love for unique spaces and beautiful objects, with a curator's eye for detail. One of three concepts designed and developed by the artist, this vacation home rental in California's high desert is born from a life of travel and design.

Inspired by her artist mother, Portmans teamed up with her daughter Sara Marlowe Hall to launch the Merchant brand, with the house, a gallery, and a Venice-based shop that doubles as an event space. The duo travel twice a year to Morocco and the Atlas Mountains in search of vintage rugs, baskets and objects, while most of the furniture and ceramics are sourced in California.

Portmans is a big supporter of local artists, and the spaces connect the past with present-day artists in an eclectic mix of home decor and art, lending the home individuality and character.

Located on five acres of untouched land overlooking desert landscapes, the house is a creative getaway and showroom of sorts, curated in an ever-evolving rotation of unique pieces, inviting guests to relax, unwind and be inspired.

Read an interview with the owners in our Stories section here.

Set at the end of the road at the edge of wild desert landscapes, this vacation home rental in California's high desert is a uniquely curated destination that draws inspiration from the mid-century era and around the world.

Situated on one level, the whitewashed adobe structure is a simple post-and-beam design, with a spacious and bright open-plan living area, ample natural light, and concrete that keeps things cool from the desert sun, with a fireplace for winter nights.

The kitchen is fully equipped, with an indoor dining area as well as shaded outdoor dining areas. There are three double bedrooms, with room for up to six guests.

Surrounded by privacy and lovely desert vistas, the grounds are a private oasis with a cold cowboy dipping tub, hammocks for lazy siestas, and multiple lounge spaces to share.

CALIFORNIA'S HIGH DESERT TOWNS AND WIDE OPEN SPACES

A half hour north of Palm Springs, the Morongo Valley is uniquely positioned to enjoy the city and all of the high desert's neighboring towns and wild open spaces.

Set within the boundaries of the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, the area lies 30 minutes south of Joshua Tree National Park, crisscrossed by hiking trails and 20 minutes from Desert Hot Springs mineral spas. There are miles of outdoor adventure as well as shops, cafes and galleries to visit, with several unique attractions including the historic old western Pioneertown, a kitschy Hollywood relic founded in the 1940s as an authentic frontier town movie set, and the ever-popular Pappy and Harriet's Pioneertown Palace. 

There are also a few interesting local museums and art venues such as the Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum, and the famed Integratron nearby. Indian Canyon and Palm Canyon are also within driving distance for getaways in the Coachella Valley area. 

Further afield, the San Jacinto mountains rise above the desert floor and are lined with miles of hiking trails at a cooler elevation. Indian Canyon and Palm Canyon are also within driving distance for rural getaways in the Coachella Valley area. Los Angeles is a two-hour drive.

LOCATION

Morongo Valley, California. Nearest Airport: Palm Springs International Airport (25 miles)

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Spring, Fall and Winter