Buying a home in Palm Springs was never part of the plan for LA-based interior designer Dani Dazey. When she came across a 1959 home by celebrated architect William Krisel, however, it was love at first sight. “I have deep ties in Palm Springs, so it just felt right,” she recalls. “But it had to be a rental in order to still afford my rent in LA!” Once the sale went through, she set about transforming it into a kaleidoscopic ode to the 1970s—think boldly patterned tiles by Concrete Collaborative, a color-blocked kitchen, mural walls, cacti, and hanging plants.

“As an interior designer, one of my favorite eras in design is the bold and beautiful ‘70s,” says Dazey. “I love retro supergraphics and warm vintage color schemes. Palm Springs has always embraced bold color and design and we really leaned into that.”

Dazey and her partner kept the original structure of the three-bedroom, two-bathroom home, which is typical of Krisel’s pioneering midcentury modern vision. The interior, however, was “pretty barren” with white walls and gray floors. Dazey took inspiration from the bright orange front door and created an interior scheme that evokes that retro Palm Springs aesthetic and is dominated by a warm orange, red, and yellow palette.

“We wanted to add more color, print, and Palm Springs quirky charm all around the house,” says Dazey of her eclectic choices. “As a designer, I’m known for weaving together an array of statement standalone pieces in a way that makes them feel in unison and uniform.”

The result is a joyful space that feels as though it’s been designed with wild abandon—but is actually carefully and cohesively considered. A prime example of this approach is the use of Concrete Collaborative tiles throughout the space. The Strands collection, which was developed in collaboration with Dwell and designed by architect Chris Deam, is used to create a patterned backsplash in the kitchen and for the floors of all three bedrooms.

Using the same tiles in different ways throughout the space creates a sense of harmony within the multifaceted interior. “I love the Concrete Collaborative collection as it has a fresh take on that midcentury modern feel,” explains Dazey.

The kitchen is one of Dazey’s favorite parts of the renovation and it evokes the spirit of the original home. “The original kitchen was so cool and I was really sad to have to demolish a beautiful piece of history,” she says. “I knew if I was going to build a new one, I had to do the original justice.” To achieve this vision, she created a Mondrian-esque arrangement of color-blocked cabinetry and SMEG appliances in a palette of warm tones that matches the rest of the interior, complemented by a backsplash crafted from orange Concrete Collaborative tiles.

Since the completion of the project, Dazey has used Concrete Collaborative tiles in nearly all of her projects. “I’ve been a fan of Concrete Collaborative from day one,” she says. “They make the most beautiful and unique surfaces that can’t be found anywhere else. They are leaders of modern-day terrazzo, which is my favorite counter choice. I also love that there are unlimited color options and that they have a pattern built in.”

The fun continues outside, where Dazey has landscaped the garden with cacti and other native flora and installed a fire pit, hot tub, sun loungers, and dining area in the same bold orange and red palette as the interior. The vibrant splashes of color are particularly striking against the arid, mountainous landscape that surrounds the architectural gem.

“It’s such a special home and we feel lucky to be stewards of it and share it with others,” says Dazey. “It came with such beautiful architecture, and we are so happy to add design elements to make it an even more magical experience. It’s been years in the making and this house really helped kick off my career as a designer. I owe it everything!”

Project Credits:

Architect: William Krisel

Interior Designer: Dazey Den / @danidazey

Tiles: Concrete Collaborative

Cabinetry: Reform CPH

Appliances: SMEG

Photographer: Dazey Den / @danidazey

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A Historic Palm Springs Rental Is Transformed With a Riot of Pattern and Color