DWR and Paul Smith outfit historic Wave House with striped and plaid furniture

US brand Design Within Reach has enlisted British fashion designer Paul Smith to furnish an iconic mid-century home in Palm Desert that can now be rented out by guests.

Miles C Bates house, also known as the Wave House is known for its distinctive roof, which was originally designed in 1955 by American architect Walter S White.

The house was designed as a sculptor's studio for Bates, who turned it into a communal hub for fellow artists in the California desert. It is now a designated historic landmark.

Design Within Reach (DWR) partnered with vacation rental provider Boutique to offer the property as a rental home, and partnered with Paul Smith to furnish it with pieces from DWR Presents: The Paul Smith Collection.

All of the products within the Wave House are shoppable from DWR, which also opened a new store in nearby Palm Springs during the city's annual Modernism Week in February.

"We chose to launch the experiential aspect of the collection in the Wave House because of the home's original and bold design that parallels the collection," said DWR senior vice president creative director Omar Nobil.

"The property stands out amongst the many iconic mid-century homes in the community due to the eccentric gesture of the roof design, which is set amongst the dramatic landscape of the low desert."

The home first opened to the public in February 2020 after an extensive renovation by the founders of LA-based Stayner Architects, who currently own the residence.

Its curving roof mimics the nearby San Jacinto mountains and is expressed inside with wooden slats, while the largely glazed exterior walls slide open to a rocky rear garden and swimming pool.

Painted brick walls face the street to provide privacy, and also divide the interior spaces along with plywood panelling.

Items from Smith's collection – which can be found in several rooms – apply his fabrics created for textile brand Maharam to special-edition furniture pieces from Herman Miller and Knoll, including the Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair and Eero Saarinen's Womb Chair.

The designer's signature stripes cover cushioned loungers by the pool, as well as a sofa and armchair in the living area, while Stepped Plaid upholstery wraps a bed headboard and frame in the bedroom.

These fabrics are designed to echo the colours of the surrounding desert landscape and those found in the home, while keeping the balance of modern and traditional.

Although best known for his fashion collections, Smith has lent his easily identifiable aesthetic to everything from outdoor furniture and rugs to classic designs, including a Hans J Wegner chair and an Anglepoise lamp.

California's Coachella Valley is renowned for its collection of modernist architecture, which was built during the mid-20th century for the Hollywood elite escaping to the desert from Los Angeles.

Some of the best examples include John Lautner's concrete domed Elrod House, Richard Neutra's Kaufmann House and E Stewart Williams' Twin Palms estate – check out 11 of our favourites.

The photography is courtesy of DWR.

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