When she approached the remodel of this 1954 home in Palm Springs, California, interior designer Michelle Boudreau didn’t see a lot of character to work from. But there were touches of midcentury modern and Spanish style, the latter showing through in the terracotta tile covering the floors of the main living spaces.

Boudreau’s goal became to “keep the resonance of the Spanish influence while making it really modern and happy, because it was really dark,” she says. “The biggest challenge was embracing the little character that was there and bringing that to life.”

After: Front Door and Entry

Boudreau kept the floor plan intact, but replaced the walls in the main living areas with with vertical wood slatting to create partitions that maintained an open feel. This maintained separation of space from room to room, but allowed for sight lines and light to pass through.

Before: Kitchen

After: Kitchen

Before: Bar

After: Bar

Using the existing terracotta as a jumping off point, Boudreau played with various tile picks, from the encaustic cement tile used for the kitchen backsplash, to a mustard-colored dimensional tile in one of the bathrooms. The terracotta also inspired the home’s new color palette. Boudreau wrapped the kitchen in a pinkish hue from Dunn Edwards, balancing it with Lichen Green, also from Dunn Edwards.

Before: Living Room

After: Living Room

Before: Dining Room

After: Dining Room

The coral-and-green color pairing continues beyond paint, appearing in the banana leaf wallpaper at the dining room bar, in the second bedroom, and in the tile chosen for the primary bathroom. There, Boudreau wanted to “create a really fun pattern inspired by historic Spanish homes,” she says.

In the primary bedroom, Boudreau took the wood slatting motif and tweaked it to create a dramatic headboard for the primary bed. “I really enjoyed making it climb up the ceiling—the pendant lights drop from the end to make it draw your eye,” she says. “I thought that was an interesting way to carry through that wood detail, and make it feel natural and soft and much more inviting.”

Before: Primary Bedroom

After: Primary Bedroom

When asked what people tend to think of in terms of Palm Springs style, Boudreau says, “Lots of colorful personality with tropical details.” But the designer strives to upend any preconceived notions. “I really love to take those iconic elements and twist them in a new way that feels special and unique, but that still embraces the architecture and colors of the city.”

After: Primary Bathroom

After: Second Bedroom

After: Second Bathroom

After: Patio

Related Reading:

Here Are 20 of the Best Midcentury Renovations in Palm Springs

Immerse Yourself in Bright Color at This Midcentury Rental in Palm Springs

Project Credits:

Interior Design: Michelle Boudreau Design / @michelleboudreaudesign

Builder: Dantor Construction