In Palm Springs, where modernist gems are practically a local currency, finding an original Donald Wexler is a big deal. But finding his last home—the final design from the man who helped define desert modernism—is something else entirely.
This just-finished residence in the gated Desert Palisades community is the swan song of Wexler’s storied career. Nicknamed the “Man of Steel” for his pioneering use of metal and glass in mid-century homes, Wexler came out of retirement in 2010 for one more project, teaming up with architect Lance O’Donnell. He sketched it in 2011; now, more than a decade later, it’s finally built—and on the market for a cool $6.6 million.
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Floor-to-ceiling windows showcase sweeping desert views from nearly every room.
Trent Teigen
The backstory is as compelling as the house itself. Years ago, East Coast homeowner Marnie McBryde toured Dinah Shore’s Wexler-designed Palm Springs retreat and fell hard for his clean-lined, sun-soaked style, Sunset magazine reported. Wexler designed her a home in the Hamptons that never materialized. Years later, she brought the plans back to Palm Springs, found the perfect lot in Desert Palisades—high on a hillside, surrounded by boulders and mountain views—and revived the dream with O’Donnell’s help. Wexler passed away in 2015 at 89, before construction began, but the project stayed true to his original vision.
Floor-to-ceiling windows afford knockout vistas from nearly every spot in the house, including all four bedrooms and the media room. Pocket gardens and shaded terraces create effortless indoor-outdoor flow, while the pool and decks take full advantage of the sweeping desert panorama.
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