This A-Frame Oasis Outside of Palm Springs Is a Haven for Creatives
As soon as Caroline Lee walked into this hideaway on the outskirts of Palm Springs, she was inspired by the color yellow. She could picture a cheerful brightness, like wildflowers, amid the surrounding desert. She imagined a place where people could come on retreat to write music or screenplays.
Caroline, a photographer, podcaster, and interior designer, bought the A-frame oasis—just a 90-minute drive from Los Angeles—with her partner, Jayden Lee, and business collaborator and brother Robert Ingraham (the trio comprises creative agency Echo and Earl). It's surrounded by fruit and olive trees, waterfalls, and mountains, and ideally it's going to be a place they use a lot. “A place to get out of the hustle and bustle of L.A.,” Caroline says. “Read and think, create and renew.”
The story of how the trio was introduced to the property is a good one—involving designer Sarah Sherman Samuel. Caroline met Sarah about seven years ago when they collaborated on a project. Their lives continued to intertwine, hanging out in Michigan, designing together (Sarah designed the creative studio, Light Lab, that is owned by Caroline, Jayden, and Anne Sage three and a half years ago), et cetera. “She was renovating this place but then moved back to Michigan and decided to sell it,” says Caroline. ”Sarah said, ‘We want you guys to have it, and we’ll do anything to make that happen.’ They held it out for us because we are friends, and when we finally bought it, it was a ‘Hey, we left the key under the rock’ kind of friend deal.”
So the A-frame had some good roots to work with.
Now that they've owned the place a little over a year, they're three trips into not having to visit with renovations and projects on the agenda. “I love so many things about this place,” says Caroline, who spends about three days a week out there, ”but the PVC room is my favorite.“
Inspired by a wild idea, she had been seeing these ribbed walls made from wooden dowels at a lot of cafés and yoga studios in Australia: “I got quotes from various wood manufacturing companies, but it was going to be really expensive, so the plan B came from a friend—I'll call him the DIY king in Tennessee.“ He talked her through fashioning the look from PVC pipes instead of wood. (Genius!) “I feel so proud of it because it involved the most personal design choices.“
One of the biggest endeavors in the process was putting in a pool. “It gets so hot in the desert that you can’t do anything,“ says Caroline, “so that was the big reason to put in a pool—which ended up being a massive learning curve.” She described the project as having 300 steps and many aspects she wasn't anticipating. Still, the end result is a beautiful saltwater pool, so in hindsight she's feeling very positive about the decision.
Another project involving a lot of trial and error was the built-in couches. “I was originally inspired by Moroccan stucco but that shifted into this idea about a cork textile,“ says Caroline. Another friend came to the rescue lending his carpentry skills to the project. “We bought the lumber, had a mock-up, and he did the rest.“ Plus, he got to stay at the oasis for his time.
Beyond the friend connection, the A-frame property and surrounding area come with a lot of good rumors. “People say the architect of the place studied under Frank Lloyd Wright,“ says Caroline, who has heard a lot of stories from neighbors who have lived in the 'hood for decades. “Apparently the Beatles hid out in the neighborhood when they came to California and needed a place to escape the crowds. There are mentions of Leonard Cohen staying out here and Timothy Leary. A lot of healers and the New Age world have found time here—it's a place for personal development and exploration of all kinds.“
“It’s our own private getaway and it feels really special,“ says Caroline. “I hope people feel inspired by it.“ And don't be afraid to be in touch. Caroline says people can write to her directly if they want to experience the magical A-frame, too.
Do It Yourself
Let color drive you. The furniture around the pool and in the living room bring a serious cheeriness throughout the place, inside and out. And it was all yellow....
If you're inspired by a design element but it seems too pricey, there's probably a workaround. Caroline reached out to friends to find a way to make the ribbed walls. Wood was too much, but PVC was perfect.
White paint is an instant refresher. The main wood elements framing the house were originally brown and black, but the new paint job covering every inch of the exterior lets it take on a whole new vibe.
Mix and match galore! No space is left without a variety tones, textures, and tiles in the A-frame. Still, it's all done with intention and thoughtful collaboration, so it all works.
Shop It Out
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Swallowtail rug by Block Shop Textiles, $120, blockshoptextiles.com
Hub ladder by Umbra, amazon.com
Josey swivel chair by Urban Outfitters, $299, urbanoutfitters.com
Headlands bell pendant by Serena & Lily, from $298, serenaandlily.com
Girls locking arms framed art print by Chris Schoonover, $255, society6.com
Curata round cocktail table by Hooker Furniture, $1,169, thayneedle.com
Marylene Face Vase by Curated Kravet, price upon request, curatedkravet.com
Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
