I spent a good deal of my childhood in Palm Springs, California. It was the retirement spot for Old Hollywood. We would see screen stars in the Costco. One time when I was 3 years old, I got away from my mom in the Mall, and Frank Sinatra brought me back, telling my mom that I had the most beautiful blue eyes. For those of you who did not style their hair with Aquanet hairspray, Frank Sinatra was a famous singer/actor, part of the “Rat Pack” and was known as “Ol’ Blue Eyes”.
I loved everything about the desert. I loved my people. I loved the mountains. I loved the pools. And I loved the architecture. I had no idea what a gift it was to be immersed in such great Mid-Century Modern architects. My favorite home had 12 foot ceilings, with walls of glass, and a stream that ran through the living room into the foyer and along the exterior corridoor entrance (my first experience with energy efficient design).
It made a lasting impression on my taste. When we bought an atomic ranch, I felt I had to incorporate as much of that mid century goodness I could in it. A local Phoenix company makes breeze blocks and a vision popped in my head to peak into the old house from the addition, with a faux window.
‘Phoenix’ Breeze Block from https://ourblockco.com
We framed the house for a window, and drywalled the inside of the space. Then we installed LED lighting strips around the back of window frame. We built a block wall, and framed it with steel, so we can access the LED lighting when needed.
Steel sides were made by http://www.joshmakes.com
A sleek airplane inspired look for the faucet from @Wayfair
I used the block design to make a similar pattern on the floor with mini hexes from https://www.tileshop.com
Lastly, I had to add in a classic light for the space. Since this bathroom sat under the vaulted area made by the scissor trusses on the addition, I was able to string a pendant in the room. The home came with some vintage crystal glass lights in it, so adding more mid century/Old Hollywood into this atomic ranch felt right. We also did some creative moving around of the old two tone brass and chrome door handles to keep all the hallway doors matching throughout the old home, and new remodel.
