I was beyond grateful for the opportunity to tour the Edris House during Modernism Week last month. Lifelong (well since adulthood) dream. Perfect is the only correct word to describe this dwelling. Utter architectural perfection. Built in 1954 by architect E. Stewart Williams, the house was meticulously custom built for his friends, the Edrises, who gave Williams free rein in design and budget. He obviously went to town and the result is, in my opinion, incredible and perfect. It’s a pleasure from top to bottom. Elegant, restrained but playful, organic, textural and impressively at home on the boulder covered hill where it sits. The epitome of desert modern. When it comes to houses, there is simply none better. I totally teared up inside and am only slightly embarrassed to admit it. Good architecture is moving and, man, did this house move! Did I mention P.E.R.F.E.C.T.I.O.N.?
(Note: This house deserves better than my crappy iphone photos…I thought about lugging my good camera along with me, but then thought why? A slew of extremely talented photographers with the correct equipment, Julius Schulman being one of them, have expertly captured this house many times so definitely check out their work! And I didn’t get a good shot of the kitchen space or the bar and those are must see features!)
So, just some details I want to make sure you didn’t miss: First, that mega floating vanity/dresser/mirror in the master suite. It’s double-sided and sits between a wall of closets and the bathtub. The side pictured is a floating dresser and the opposite side features a floating vanity with a sink. The light switch is under the mirror frame! Second, all the original beautiful sconces, inside and out. I think one of my favorite things about this house is how cohesive it is. Every room, wall, corner looks like it belongs to each other because only a few consistent, though interesting and sculptural, materials are used throughout, the lighting being a great example. Lastly, that indoor-outdoor flow! Nearly every room has a wall that extends seamlessly passed a wall of glass. In the master it is the Douglas fir wall, the living and second bedroom have a rock wall, and even the master bath’s tiled shower wall extends into a private patio, where original towel hooks hang on the exterior side of the sliding glass door. Woooo-weeeee!
I can’t give a big enough thanks to the owner of the home for opening it up to strangers (and their cameras!), not to mention for being an excellent steward of this amazing property (as far as I know, it’s still for sale and absolutely worth the millions asked!!!), and to the Palm Springs Modernism Committee for putting the tour together. You made this weirdo’s dream come true for $30. The best 30 bucks a weirdo ever spent.
SUBURBAN * POP 