Modernist Architect William Cody’s Rubinstein House Lists for $2.5M
Built as a winter home for Seattle-based businessman Sam Rubinstein and his wife Gladys, the Rubinstein House is one of the last residential commissions by William Cody, the highly influential desert modernist architect credited with designing much of midcentury Palm Springs and its surroundings.
Located on a rare and lush double lot along the 13th hole of the acclaimed Tamarisk Country Club, the home offers breathtaking views of the Santa Rosa Mountains.
Set on a lush and rare .67-acre double lot along the 13th hole of the acclaimed Tamarisk Country Club, the Rubinstein House boasts breathtaking views of the Santa Rosa Mountains and comes with its own Historic Designation from the city of Rancho Mirage.
Art collectors and benefactors back home in Seattle, the Rubinsteins—who were also early investors in Starbucks—wanted a home where they would be able to display their extensive art collection. The couple were early supporters of many artists, including Seattle's internationally-acclaimed glass artist Dale Chihuly—leaving significant art collections to both the Seattle and Palm Springs Art Museums.
In 1972, they commissioned Cody to build them an expansive Rancho Mirage residence. Gladys loved the modern hacienda style, which also appealed to Cody, who had started his career as a young architect with Cliff May in Los Angeles.
The home is centered around a huge center courtyard with a large tiled fountain that was opened up in accordance with the original Cody plan during a recent renovation. On the wall is a custom ceramic piece by artist Stan Bitters, which is excluded from the sale.
The center courtyard serves as the central axis for all the public rooms. It had been closed off with atrium windows and was re-opened to the sky during a recent renovation. A large tiled fountain and landscaping were also added.
The sprawling 6,423-square-foot home features four bedrooms, six bathrooms, and a large central courtyard that provides direct access to all the public spaces. The courtyard had previously been enclosed but was recently re-opened during a renovation that took place last year. The renovation included adding a large tiled fountain and landscaping back into the space, which was in accordance with Cody's original design for the home. The renovation also restored the home's original tongue-and-groove ceilings, and refreshed and repaired the Gladding McBean paver floors and roof tiles.
"The goal of the restoration was to keep the home historically accurate—and it truly succeeds as a wonderful tribute to the Rubinsteins and a reflection of an architect at the height of his profession," explains listing agents Rueben Valerio and Jeff Kohl.
Scroll ahead for a look inside.
"Cody's masterful composition of form, light, and layout is on display throughout the home, including large walls of glass that create seamless transitions between inside spaces and outside surroundings," states the listing.
The step-down bar is original to the home and was handmade with four different alternating kinds of wood.
The dining room features built-in storage and glass sliders leading to an outdoor terrace.
The expansive living space is bright and airy and opens to the central courtyard.
The soaring tongue-and-groove ceiling has clerestory windows at the top for added natural light. The wood beams are continued into the outdoor space. Glass sliding doors run the length of the space, seamlessly opening the entire home for indoor/outdoor entertaining.
The large master bedroom boasts soaring tongue-and-groove beamed ceilings and oversized glass sliding doors.
The master bedroom also is the only bedroom with a fireplace.
The ensuite master bathroom features both a steam room and a sauna. The bathtub boasts beautiful custom-made tiles from Heath Ceramics in "Rubinstein blue".
The home has a very strong indoor-outdoor connection and all the bedrooms open to the outdoors.
Another spacious bedroom with an ensuite bath.
The white walls are perfect for displaying artwork.
The well-appointed chef's kitchen features a large center island.
The backyard terrace connects to the living space and the tongue-and-groove, beamed ceiling extends straight into this indoor-outdoor space.
The shallow end of the pool still has Sam Rubinstein’s company logo embedded in it. The pool also comes complete with the original diving board.
The back of the home overlooks the 13th hole of the acclaimed Tamarisk Country Club.
The view from above.
71051 Tamarisk Lane, Rancho Mirage is currently being listed for $2,495,000 by Rueben Valerio and Jeff Kohl of The Agency.
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