Sol to Soul House

In Pioneertown, an Otherworldly Home Contrasts Beautifully with the Desert Scrub

At first glance, the white structure looks like it could be an art installation of Desert X, the premier, site-specific exhibition where artists craft works in response to the California desert's striking visual landscape. But it's better than that. It's a home you can stay in, set on 10 acres of cactus, boulders and those iconic, Seussian Joshua trees that have long drawn creative types.

You'll approach by dirt road and total desert immersion, and the gleaming minimalist structure will come into a marvelous view. Then, enter into the light-filled, open living area. To the east is a lovely place for conversation, featuring Christian Liagre chairs and his iconic Opium day bed. Later, take your meals on the teak table by e15 and Voxel chairs by Karim Rashid for Vondom. In the well-equipped chef's kitchen, you'll have Wolf Sub-Zero appliances. 

Modern at heart, the home is softened by vintage Moroccan rugs and art works selected by the Los Angeles-based owner, a writer who curated a selection of pieces by her favorite local and Venice artists. All of the living areas have views of the valley, with floor-to-ceiling sliders in most rooms that literally transition you into the landscape.

Once you've made that transition, it's a choose your own adventure of the meditative sort. Hop into the Hot Springs saltwater hot tub and stargaze, journal in the lounge area or try to catch glimpses of the lizards, hawks and cottontail rabbits.

In sum, it's a remarkable place to synchronize with the slow and soulful desert pace, and a chance to reconnect with nature in a respectful way. 

This vacation rental in Pioneertown is a modern two-bedroom house with one bathroom. 

The bedrooms have king-sized beds with My Green Mattress pure Dunlop Latex mattresses and pillow tops (all-natural and made from trees, with no chemicals or metal coils). The bedding is Egyptian cotton and Parachute linen. Floor-to-ceiling sliders allow you to sleep with a view of the moon and stars, or draw the black-out curtains if you prefer.

Environmental efforts are a top priority of this home. In addition to hydronic heating and cooling, energy is also reduced through low-e windows, low-flow fixtures, and passive solar orientation. It has Wi-Fi throughout.

For those who wish to entertain, there are seating areas aplenty: sun loungers on the master bedroom deck, and on the deck off the kitchen/living room, there is an outdoor sofa, lounge chairs and fire pit, in addition to a teak-dining table with seating for six. The indoor dining table has six seats, and the two tables can combine to entertain larger parties.

There is also an outdoor shower, propane grill and cowboy tub pool. The home is family-friendly, and the owner is happy to provide a crib and/or babysitter recommendations. There is free parking on the premises.

A TRUE ARTIST'S COMMUNITY AND NATURE HAVEN

Located just outside of Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree National Park in the Mojave Desert, the house is also within minutes of historic Pioneertown, a kitschy Hollywood relic founded in the 1940s as an authentic frontier town movie set. Today there are a few shops, cafes and galleries to visit including the famous Pappy and Harriets Pioneertown Palace. 

There are miles of outdoor desert adventure in the area as well as several unique attractions and interesting local museums and art venues such as the Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum, and the famed Integratron. Palm Springs is less than an hour's drive, and 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

Pioneertown, California. Nearest airport: Palm Springs International (43 miles)

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Year-round