Within the extraordinary Donald Wexler residence, its captivating charm led its owner to purchase it twice.
In the sun-kissed desert city of Palm Springs, the restoration and evolution of a mid-century modern masterpiece have breathed new life into Donald Wexler's 1954 architectural marvel. Meticulously restored by Daniel Patrick Giles, the Wexler House, now known as Wexler House 2.0, stands as a testament to the enduring allure of modernist design.
The house, originally a 1,450-square-foot structure, was designed by Wexler to navigate a tension between an aspirational design laboratory and a functional family home. Giles' restoration journey began in 2007, when he purchased the property, and was guided by conversations with Wexler before his death in 2015 and consultation with Wexler’s protege Lance O'Donnell of o2 Architecture.
Key aspects of the process involved preserving the steel-frame construction, restoring the house's original flow and structure, and ensuring historical authenticity. The placement of the original can lights remained in the house, a testament to Wexler's minimalist design philosophy.
Giles' approach to the renovation was rooted in simplicity, shapes and forms, circles and cubes, black and white, light and reflection, principles that echoed Wexler's guiding principles for furniture selection. The hodgepodge of concrete, linoleum tiles, and carpeting was replaced with consistent terrazzo flooring throughout the house.
The Wexler House, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated as a Palm Springs Class 1 Historic Resource, is more than just a shelter. It is a living testament to the mid-century modern movement, a beacon of functional, indoor-outdoor connection, and minimalist modernism.
In a tribute to the Wexler House, Perfumehead, in collaboration with perfumer Constance Georges-Picot, released a fragrance named 1272. This fragrance, inspired by the house's essence, is a love letter to the Wexler House, with notes of petitgrain lime, orange blossom, pink pepper, jasmine, verbena, sandalwood, and other extracts in Perfumehead's signature coltrait formulation.
The Wexler House's transformation has not gone unnoticed. In 2022, Daniel Patrick Giles launched Perfumehead fragrances and was named to the USA 400 in 2024. A site-specific installation named Growing Up Wexler was organized by Giles and Brooke Hodge during Palm Springs Modernism Week in February 2023.
The Wexler House's story continues, a testament to the enduring allure of mid-century modern design and the meticulous, historically informed approach that can breathe new life into architectural treasures.
[1] Source: Palm Springs Modernism Week and Donald Wexler Foundation
- The Wexler House, having undergone a meticulous restoration centered on mid-century modern design principles, serves as both a home and a garden, showcasing the seamless indoor-outdoor connection fostered by its original architect, Donald Wexler.
- The enduring allure of the Wexler House, as a symbol of minimalist modernism and functional design, extends beyond its physical structure, inspiring creations such as the fragrance 1272, crafted as a tribute to its unique essence by Perfumehead in collaboration with Constance Georges-Picot.
