Check out the Picture Perfect Exterior of this Krisel Designed Home

Architect William Krisel came out of retirement to breathe new life into this Twin Palms home, and make the exterior even more picture perfect!

Krisel designed the home, which was built by the Alexander Construction Company in 1957. It’s tucked into the vibrant and picturesque Twin Palms neighborhood in sunny Palm Springs. Over the years, the home had fallen into neglect and was in need of some work.

When realtor, Twin Palms neighborhood resident, author and Krisel expert Chris Menrad saw the home on the market in late 2011, he envisioned an opportunity to honor the home’s original design while giving it a refresh.

Along came author Heidi Creighton, who bought the home in 2012. While walking through the Twin Palms neighborhood, she came upon this home for sale, knowing right away that it was special. “I bought it from the street,” she says. “I knew it was the one for me.”

Krisel home refreshed by architect exterior — The T1-11 wall was in disrepair with several slats missing, so they restored it and painted it the original color Krisel used, “Sea Isle Blue.” The trellis was also restored to its original location. Playing with shapes and lines is a large part of Krisel’s design both inside the home and out, and a way of connecting inside and outside spaces. “You’ve got these lines on the ground that extend from the inside of the house and go out to the carport,” Heidi says. “Lots of lines and lots of play between shadow and light.”

Creating a Picture Perfect Exterior

On the exterior, the team gave the home a landscaping facelift, mixing the original design with modern materials. “The most important thing William Krisel did [during the update] was redesign the sun flaps to let in some light and a glimpse of the mountains,” Chris says.

William Krisel added a gap to allow light and views, while maintaining the original design feel of the exterior of the home. “We removed about 3 feet of the tongue-and-groove ceiling that extends out to the eaves,” Chris explains. “It improved the look inside and outside.”

classic car in carport of Krisel designed home in Palm Springs — Chris’s 1957 Plymouth Fury takes a break from the sun under the original carport. The space also houses the laundry room, a practical measure to ensure that the sounds cannot be heard inside the house. The carport remains exactly as originally designed. “There was one beam that ran across the front that we had to get replaced due to rot, but the rest of it was good,” Chris says.

exterior patio Krisel designed and refreshed home — The back patio serves as the perfect opportunity for enjoying the desert sunshine. “There are several little nooks where people may have suntanned,” Heidi says. “They are private spaces but don’t look confined.”

pool in backyard of picture perfect Krisel designed home — Large glass windows and sliders give a nice view of the outside, adding to the mid mod feature of seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. “It mirrors the front of the house with its simple design and lots of light coming in through the roof,” Heidi says.

To see the interior of this Krisel-designed, picture perfect home, read on here. Want to keep learning and seeing fantastic MCM design in Palm Springs? The Palm Springs Modernism Week Fall Preview weekend is right around the corner, from October 13-16. Get your tickets here!

And of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for more Atomic Ranch articles and ideas!