A Midcentury-Modern Home in Palm Desert Is Preserved to a T

The first thing to go is usually the layout. But Chris and Stephanie Salay honored architect Hugh Kaptur’s original vision, maintaining the floor plan, finishes, and fixtures of their 1962 post-and-beam.

Nov 4, 2022 - 20:00

A Midcentury-Modern Home in Palm Desert Is Preserved to a T

The first thing to go is usually the layout. But Chris and Stephanie Salay honored architect Hugh Kaptur’s original vision, maintaining the floor plan, finishes, and fixtures of their 1962 post-and-beam.

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Project Details:

Location: Palm Desert, California

Architect: Hugh Kaptur

Renovation: Chris and Stephanie Salay

Footprint: 2,323 square feet

Photographer: Cassia Hall

Project Description: "Hugh Kaptur’s career in architecture spans five decades, and notable works include the Steve McQueen house, Palm Springs Fire Stations #3 and #4, the Tahquitz Plaza as well as the William Holden Estate. The house on Covered Wagon Trail in Palm Desert is an authentic example of ‘the quiet elegance’ that Kaptur is known for.

"Meticulously restored by Chris Salay, the cabinetry, countertops, tile and color details have all been refurbished where intact and restored if not original. An expert in this field, Chris sought to maintain the integrity of the architect’s original vision while updating fixtures for modern living.

"Described as ‘architecturally significant’ by Palm Spring’s Modernism Week, this post-and-beam house is one of the few left in the Palm Springs area that has not been ‘reimagined’ by a developer. One can see the the influence of Donald Wexler on Kaptur, for whom he briefly worked. The home’s dramatic features include a double sided fireplace, block walls and floor to ceiling windows, with large patios that embrace indoor/outdoor living. The beams were scraped in order to uncover the original color, and the block walls were stripped and color matched. Even the front door is the original color, revealed when the door handle was removed to be polished.

"Unlike how designers often alter the footprint of similar homes, Chris only made changes that returned this home to its original state, removing any overhangs or additions to make it appear as it was in 1962. His goal? For you to enter the house and be transported to another era."