Restoration of Historic Racquet Club Home of Arthur Elrod Set to Begin

Palm Springs, CA, July 04, 2013 --(PR.com)-- The Paul Kaplan Group announced today that yet another of the Mid-Century Modern homes is slated for restoration work in an effort to preserve these iconic homes as a historically significant piece of Palm Springs architectural history. Owner Paul Kaplan commented, “It is with great pleasure that I am able to make this announcement and to have the opportunity to actively participate in overseeing the project. The home, which was designed by noted Mid-Century architects Palmer and Krisel and built by the Alexander Construction Company in 1959. This home on Starr Road in the historic Racquet Club Road Estates, is particularly significant because it was built for interior designer Arthur Elrod who played a key role in its original development.”

Interior decorator Arthur Elrod (who is most famously known for commissioning John Lautner in 1968 to create the striking Elrod House in the private community of Southridge in Palm Springs) daringly used bold colors, patterns and textures in his creations. Prior to the completion of the Elrod House, Elrod kept a residence in the Racquet Club Road Estates, an early playground to the stars, earning his bread and butter by decorating the model homes of Mid-Century developments of Wexler, Palmer and Krisel, among others. A 1961 article in the LA Times described the modestly-priced homes as, “High in Style but Price is Low”, and it was at a very affordable $21,500.

Featuring 1,225 square feet, three bedrooms and two baths, air-conditioning, acoustic ceilings and fireplaces. Elrod, who did the interior design in the models, added personal touches to demonstrate how a modestly-priced home could be transformed into an enviable example of what was to become known as Palm Springs Modern Style. Little did he know that some sixty years later, his modest home-away-from home would command prices in the low $400,000s, nearly twenty times the original price, and as a fixer-upper at that.

To demonstrate how one could customize the vacation get-away homes, Elrod added and changed several design elements: the front wall height was extended by four feet across the entire width of the façade to add a touch of individuality. In the rear yard, he added a pool that was set diagonally for a dramatic view from the rear patio, added draped lanais around the periphery to provide shade, and enhanced the landscaping and exterior lighting to create an upscale feel. Rather than embracing the minimalist style which was en vogue, Elrod treated the interior décor with bold colors, using vibrant deep blues, oranges and yellows in mixtures of textures, fabrics, wall coverings, flooring, upholstery, and paint. Ceilings were draped with rich oranges, yellow and gold fabrics between the open beams, and the entry way was painted a deep, earthy orange to highlight artwork. The more formal feel was extended by enclosing a breezeway between the main house and garage to create an open-beamed dining room that was set apart from the main living areas. One of the mainstays of Mid-Century design is an open floor plan, with and open flow between the kitchen and living room, but Elrod bucked the trend by retreating to the more traditional concept of keeping the cooking area separated from where he would entertain his guests.

Still in the early stages of demolition and planning, the restoration will include many of the original elements while incorporating the addition of several elements to accommodate a more modern lifestyle. Kaplan continued, “Many of the finishes, such as the original bathroom tile and sunken bathtub, are still in excellent condition, while others were beyond repair. Still others had been replaced, such as the kitchen cabinets, were no longer serviceable, nor were they appropriate from a design standpoint, so those will be upgraded with cabinets that reflect and honor the original designs that Elrod had chosen.”

Kaplan, who is a strong supporter of the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation emphasizes the importance of restoring and preserving these important and iconic architectural works, commented, “I've admired this unique property ever since I started selling Alexander homes over 10 years ago. Surprisingly, I only recently learned about its connection to Arthur Elrod. I'm looking forward to renovating the home with modern conveniences, while preserving Elrod's original design wherever possible. I'm also exploring getting it listed on the Historic Register."

The Palm Springs Preservation Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is “to educate and promote public awareness of the importance of preserving the historical resources and architecture of the city of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley area.” For more information about the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation visit their website at www.pspreservationfoundation.org.

The Paul Kaplan Group is a real estate firm specializing in Mid-Century and Modern homes as well as vacation properties in the Palm Springs area. The Paul Kaplan Group can be reached at 760-459-1396 or through their website at www.PaulKaplanGroup.com.