Soothing Connections – Twin Palms by E. Stewart Williams

Located in the desert and nestled among the palm trees, Twin Palms is a home that boasts not only a desirable location but also a rich history. Helping to establish the architectural form of Palm Springs, E. Stewart Williams first designed the home for client Frank Sinatra with an attentiveness to combining comfort and excitement.

Since 1947, when Palm Springs was just mountains, desert and palm trees, Twin Palms has contributed to shaping the architectural form of Palm Springs. With its multifaceted structure, Twin Palms was one of the first homes that turned the once quite desert town into the ultimate destination of the rich and famous who desired an escape from nearby Los Angeles. Designing for fun and indulgence, E. Stewart Williams places an emphasis on pleasure of place, allowing his clients to wholly enjoy their homes, whether they seek respite or a weekend of entertainment.

Since 1947, when Palm Springs was just mountains, desert and palm trees, Twin Palms has contributed to shaping the architectural form of Palm Springs.

As the first home that E. Stewart Williams ever designed, Twin Palms offers a complexity in its form, which is then harmonised by a softness through the interior design choices. With the original floor plan still intact, the only modern change is the entrance, which was moved to the opposite side of the street, providing a more dramatic arrival. Additionally, the retaining of its original interior design is first seen within the main living room, where the columns have been rounded instead of kept straightened. This allows for the interior to soften the built environment and avoid a geometric harshness. Alongside this, the calming tones of blues, pinks and creams throughout the bathrooms, kitchen and bedrooms impart the timelessness of the home’s character and the era in which it was designed.

Designed for parties and guests, the home has been divided, instilling a sense of privacy whilst also having spaces to reconnect and enjoy each other’s company. Located on one side of the home, the master bedroom is square in shape and intends to imbue the feeling of relaxation – as opposed to a rectangular shape, which can tend to bring tension due to its narrow and long form. Positioned on the opposite side of the home, the guestrooms are designed in a similar square pattern and have quick access to outdoor areas and entertaining spaces. Aimed to embrace the occupants, Twin Palms is filled with a warmth through the use of different materials, including natural wood and stone.

Designed for parties and guests, the home has been divided, instilling a sense of privacy whilst also having spaces to reconnect and enjoy each other’s company.

As a large part of the year offers favourable weather, the architecture of Palm Springs places emphasis upon indoor and outdoor living – something which E. Stewart Williams highlights heavily throughout Twin Palms. As an extension to the living area, the piano-shaped pool inspires a celebration of landscape and entertainment by bringing people together under the Californian sun, with views of the surrounding mountains. To open the living spaces up to the outside, the home is further complemented with sliding doors and wide windows.

With each room given multiple entry points for light to flood in, one’s gaze is able to sweep around the room instead of focus on one specific point, which is a design tactic that adds to the sense of unity between nature and architecture. Whilst the home’s interior and exterior inspire connections to the surrounding landscape, E. Stewart Williams’s primary motivation was to make his clients feel comfortable in their own homes, established by the residence’s transient, soothing elements.