A Tamarisk West Home in Palm Springs Gets Carefully Renovated

Meet Dave and Tracy Folks, whose enthusiasm for architecture is so effervescent that they can’t stop restoring homes.

exterior looking into 1964 Rancho Mirage home in Tamarisk West, Palm Springs — When asked how they choose between vintage and new furnishings, the Homeowners share that it all comes down to aesthetic. “We try finding pieces that work together regardless of age or condition, so finding the right pieces often necessitates restoration,” says Dave. “It’s not always easy to find unusual vintage pieces, but we’d rather hold out for something we love than settle for something that just fits.”

In Palm Spring’s Tamarisk West neighborhood, this 1964 Rancho Mirage gem by S. Charles Lee is home to Dave and Tracy Folks. Their philosophy is, “Whenever possible, we will restore rather than replace.” Dave, a professional photographer, and Tracy, a regional office manager, designer and artist, treat their homes like a large-scale art project—mindfully curating, crafting and cultivating a period-appropriate aesthetic. Their Tamarisk West home is their 11th masterpiece, and it certainly won’t be their last.

Architectural purists typically cringe when they discover that a wake of renovated homes comes with their new neighbors. Fears of builder-grade “improvements” and the loss of period details flash before their eyes as the real estate agent’s sign is ripped from the front lawn. Purists, you can loosen that grip on your pearls because Dave and Tracy Folks have arrived, and you’re going to wish they’d lend their talents to your home.

Overman Globus swivel chairs in Palm Springs living room — In the living room, reupholstered Overman Globus Swivel Chairs create the ultimate conversation area. Coco the Cat lounges on a custom couch.

The Desert is Calling from Tamarisk West

At the time that this two-bedroom, two-bath Tamarisk West home hit the market, the couple had put the finishing touches on a Palos Verdes beach house with ocean views. Because they had previously owned two midcentury homes in the Palm Springs area, this particular neighborhood had long been on their radar. It wasn’t uncommon for them to scroll sites like RedFin or Zillow to keep an eye out for new listings.

vintage Yamaha sound system in Palm Springs home — The vintage Yamaha system, JVC orb speakers and even the 1969 Honda motorcycle were all lovingly restored by Dave. The faux rock wall pays homage to the home’s exterior rock features.

Rancho Mirage Tamarisk West exterior with water feature — The outdoor courtyard connects to the dining area and master bedroom. An iridescent water feature—created by dave and tracy—mimics the soothing sound of rain as water gently cascades onto bamboo rods below. Perfectly placed exterior lighting further sets the relaxing mood.

Tamarisk West courtyard with pool — With homes situated adjacent to the famed Tamarisk West Country Club, Tamarisk West residents can enjoy the country club via membership.

“These townhomes were built to allow middle-class persons, regardless of race or religious persuasion, to own a piece of the Palm Springs resort lifestyle,” says Tracy. “Formerly, you were barred from country club memberships unless you were white and Christian. The Marx Brothers, who were cofounders of the TWCC, opened up the doors to everyone, which was an entirely new and progressive concept in the early 1960s.”

What Would S. Charles Lee Do?

When asked why they choose to renovate, Dave says, “It’s in our blood. We love doing it.” Proving this point, the couple was so involved in the renovation process that, “other than the addition of the Ardex flooring, we did all our own work.” That work focused on highlighting the home’s midcentury aesthetic and staying true to the architect’s original vision. They didn’t change the 1,960 square foot floorplan at all.

Rancho Mirage Tamarisk West dining room — Throughout the home’s interior, Saltillo tile was replaced by Ardex flooring. In the dining area, a custom hutch displays an impressive collection of vintage pieces and tiki mugs.

“The floors had to be done first because we had to rip out 2,000 square feet of Saltillo tile before the Ardex could be poured. After that, we relandscaped the patios for a more tropical look and built the water wall, which we designed ourselves. We also added an interior rock wall that wraps around from the living room to the entry hallway.” Additionally, the couple updated the bathrooms and kitchen without removing the original cabinets and countertops and extended a kitchen door entrance.

ray gun collection — “The ray gun display is a mix of new and vintage models I found at flea markets mostly, and a couple of steampunk guns that I created,” says Dave.

Despite their commitment to preserving original features, there is one new feature the couple was excited to add: the living room rock wall. Having been drawn to the home’s exterior rock features, they felt confident that the natural element needed to extend indoors, especially given the home’s fluid indoor/outdoor design, but they didn’t want to make the living room feel dark. Tracy’s solution was to source white faux rock and create a striking contrast with a dark gray accent wall.

Swingin’ 60s Style

Rather than work with an interior designer, Dave and Tracy rely on their natural instinct and extensive research. Fortunately, the design-savvy duo agrees on most things when it comes to art and furnishings.

master bedroom repurposed restaurant panels — This master bedroom focal point is “takeout” on a whole new level. The panels originally came from a Chinese restaurant that was being torn down. Despite not being entirely certain what they’d use them for, the homeowners bought two panels and later went back for a third. Eventually, they built a base with lighting components, creating an entirely unique headboard.

Even so, the couple had differing opinions as to which pieces they were most excited to bring into their Tamarisk West home. For Dave, it’s the vintage JVC/Yamaha system he renovated specifically for this house. “It’s the third of its type that I’ve done. The others were sold with previous properties,” he says. “I also restored the vintage 1969 Honda CB160 motorcycle in the entry. I’ve been photographing vehicles for Honda Motorcycles for many years and have always been a huge Honda fan, so this is a little shrine to my compulsion.”

vintage MCM furnishings in Palm Springs home — Dave and Tracy have sourced many of their unique vintage treasures from flea markets, thrift stores, yard sales, eBay and Craigslist. She says that anytime they can get their hands on pieces by favorites such as Richard Neutra and Adrian Pearsall, “it is a good day.” Their penchant for spotting such finds has resulted in an impeccably styled home.

For Tracy, the honor belongs to their custom-made Adrian Pearsall-style couch and the four original Overman Globus swivel chairs, which they had reupholstered. “I am also a huge fan of unique midcentury lamps, and I design unusual lamp shades to enhance the ceramic bases,” she says.

bedroom with white modern decals — White decals create a mod backdrop for the guest bedroom.

Their golden rule is “if you don’t both agree on something, be patient until you find something you both agree on.” While this approach is perhaps a little more time-consuming, the end result is a home that feels authentically their own.

Can’t get enough of MCM Palm Springs architecture? Don’t miss Atomic Ranch at Modernism Week! Find tickets here to Atomic Ranch: Remodeled Marvels book event here and a house tour with AR and H3K here.