A Palm Springs Desert Classic Restored in Little Beverly Hills

Palmer & Krisel meet preservation and modernization.

Tucked away in the iconic Little Beverly Hills neighborhood of Palm Springs sits a once-neglected Palmer & Krisel home. Today, it is a lovingly restored testament to their understated brilliance and architectural genius.

Designed in 1957 and originally built by the Alexander Construction Company, this desert gem found new life thanks to the passion and dedication of architect Daniela Grozdich and builder Victor Grozdich. Purchased in 2022 as a second home for the couple and their two young sons, Luca and Milo, the family spent the next year meticulously preserving the home’s original spirit while introducing modern touches that align with today’s design sensibilities.

A dilaptidated low slug roof house with peeling paint and overgrown plants. — BEFORE: In 2022, Daniela and Victor Grozdich were on the hunt for a second home in the desert. One day, a new listing popped up with a single photo of a very rundown 1957 Krisel Alexander house that needed a ton of work. That was exactly what they had been looking for—and the best part was that the house seemed untouched from the original. No one had enclosed the carport or added square footage like most other houses from this era.

The front exterior of the enwly renovatede Little Beverly Hills Palms Springs home — The house is one of the few remaining examples of Palmer & Krisel’s work that has not been extensively altered over the years. At 1,371 square feet, it embodies the beauty of modernist simplicity with its low-slung roofline and an open interior with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Movie Magic Meet-Cute

Daniela and Victor’s connection to mid-century architecture runs deep. Over the years, the couple has explored Palm Springs’ architectural treasures. They fell in love with the iconic designs of William Krisel and the Alexander Homes, and it wasn’t long before the couple began dreaming of owning and restoring their own slice of architectural history.

“I remember walking past a rundown Palmer & Krisel home years ago in Little Beverly Hills and joking to my mom, ‘That’s the one I’d love to bring back to life,’” Daniela recalls. “It felt like an impossible dream at the time, but little did I know we would one day make it a reality.”

A living room with white walls, a mid century modern style grey couch and eames lounge chair. There is a fire lit in the fireplace. Other mid century modern art, lighting and accents give the room a classic restored look. — Simple yet refined, the living space is a family friendly environment that isn’t fussy and can adapt easily for guests.

Fast forward five years and the opportunity finally appeared. They spotted a listing for a dilapidated 1957 Krisel Alexander house in its original form—untouched by any major renovations. “It was everything we had been searching for,” Victor says. “No one had enclosed the carport, no additions had been made—it was the perfect blank slate.”

The backyard of the home. A vivid cloudy sky at dusk is above and the large rectangluar pool is lit. — Considering the previously dilapidated state of the home itself, it’s no surprise that the backyard was overgrown and wild, with mature trees that hadn’t been trimmed in decades. There was no pool or landscaping—just mountains of leaves.

A sunny day in the backyard with dessert landscapring and the clear blue pool peeking into the frame. — “It’s now the perfect place to relax and entertain, with a view of the mountains that feels like it’s part of the landscape,” Victor says of the backyard.

Despite its condition, they were undeterred. The couple made an offer on the house without even seeing it in person, confident that they could restore it to its former glory. When they arrived in Palm Springs to see the house for the first time, Daniela had an epiphany. It was the exact house she had commented on all those years ago. With that, their journey to bring the home back to life began.

Material Matters

Victor and Daniela’s approach to the renovation was rooted in respect for the home’s original design while imagining how a mid mod home might be interpreted today. The home was built to feel spacious despite its modest 1,371 square feet. Not wanting to add or make major structural changes, the duo had a lot of work ahead of them. “We didn’t want to recreate the 1950s exactly but rather think about what choices a modernist architect would make in the present day,” Daniela explains. “We wanted to preserve the soul of the house while updating it for contemporary living.”

A combination living room and kitchen area with open beamed ceilings and floor to ceiling glass all along the back wall including clerestory windows above. — “We used just one type of terrazzo tile in the entire house, including the floors and showers,” Daniela says. “We wanted a clean and simple language that creates a nice flow throughout the home.”

“We didn’t try to replicate the original exactly. We wanted to bring Krisel’s language into the 21st century while maintaining the essence of his work.”

The renovation was led by Daniela, who designed the interiors, landscaping and hardscaping, while Victor took on the role of general contractor and personally handled all the glasswork—a skill he honed over the years. Key design elements like walnut and pegboard kitchen cabinets, terrazzo tiles and hairpin legs are nostalgic nods to Krisel’s original interiors in Little Beverly Hills but are paired with contemporary materials that modernize the home without sacrificing its charm.

The original footprint and spatial flow were carefully preserved. “Every detail was considered,” Victor notes. “For example, we kept the open floor plan and large windows, which blur the lines between the interior and the spectacular desert landscape outside.”

Rated (Very) Child-Friendly

The kids’ room features a creative art wall that was inspired by the Grozdich family’s love of design and their time spent in Palm Springs.

A mostly white mid century modern style bedroom with atomic wood and wire art above the bed. The floors are large scale terazzo tile. The entire back wall is made of floor-to-ceiling windows with a view to the pool and backyard. — The art above the bed is by Diego Olivero and sold by West Elm. It adds a personal touch to the space. “The art brings a sense of warmth to the room while still feeling modern and in tune with the home’s design,” Daniela says.

“We often bring other families with kids to Palm Springs, and we thought it would be fun if the art wall could be filled with memories from all of our guests,” Daniela says. “It’s a space where kids can get creative and make it their own.”

Act II: Styling

The open living space was designed with comfort and versatility in mind. “We wanted it to feel modern and cozy,” Daniela says. “Since we often have a bunch of kids in the house, it couldn’t be too staged or precious—it needed to be practical and adaptable for spontaneous get-togethers.”

“The bathroom vanity and upper cabinets in the kitchen and bathroom feature slanted fronts, a playful reinterpretation of Krisel’s signature design.”

A small bathroom in the Little Beverly Hills house still has it's original angled vanity with pegboard sliding doors. The shower has been renovated with the same sleek terrazzo tile used throughout the house floors. — The bathroom was custom designed to reflect Krisel’s playful mid-century aesthetic, while the materials were updated for modern sensibilities.

The furniture choices are influenced by mid-century style but have a European sensibility. “I was inspired by Berlin apartments, which are often modern but cozy,” she says. “We wanted to capture that feeling here.”

A simple kids bedroom with a mid century style bunk bed and colofrul geometric rug. — Sons Luca and Milo enjoy the space. “They love to come here and play and create,” Daniela says. “It’s a room that grows with them.”

That same sensibility, a merging of modernism and comfort, is seen in the primary suite. Through carefully chosen furnishings they have created a tranquil retreat with sweeping views of the desert and mountains.

Happily Ever After

“When we arrive at our house, it feels like instant vacation,” Daniela says. “The house is flooded with light, the pool sparkles in the sun, and through the glass we see the mountains and palm trees.”

Victor adds, “We really wanted to capture the feeling of being in Palm Springs. The combination of sunshine, palm trees, desert and modern architecture has drawn people here for decades. It’s what makes this place so special.”

“Waking up to that Palm Springs view is magical. The mountains glow pink in the morning when the sun rises. It’s unlike any other place.”

Another view of the backyard at dusk. There is a round firepit in the foreground with mid century modern chairs surrounding it. — The couple added thoughtful landscaping to work with the home’s desert location, using native plants to create a simple, elegant design. Paired with hardscaping that works for the family’s needs, the backyard is now a personalized desert oasis that blends seamlessly with the architecture.

This Palmer & Krisel home in Little Beverly Hills is more than a Mid Century Modern gem—it’s a labor of love that perfectly balances historic preservation with modern sensibilities. For the Grozdich family, it’s not just a home—it’s their “happy place,” a retreat where design, nature and family come together in harmony. And for those who visit, it’s a breathtaking example of how modernist architecture can respectfully evolve.

Looking for more Palm Springs goodness? Check out this tour of a fun and functional Krisel .

Come experience the inspiration in person at one of our Modernism Week fall 2025 events. We’re hosting a talk & tour at this effortlessly elegant Raquet Club gem and also this tour and poolside chat at Willian Krisel’s incredible high-end and sprawling Rice House in Indian Canyons.

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