For Yoni and Lindsey Goldberg, it all started with a pink flyer on a random dirt road in Joshua Tree that simply read, “Land for sale.”
Yoni and Lindsey saw themselves as typical LA city dwellers at the time and had no intention of buying a vacation home, but the flyer looked like an invitation—at least—to imagine a different way of life.
According to the couple, the couple visited Joshua Tree on one of their first dates, and during their anniversary trip a year later, it all seemed more preordained than accidental.
This number led them to a real estate agent, who then took them along many other dirt roads, eventually arriving at what they now call Graham’s residence.
Seeing the light steel structure for the first time, Yoni and Lindsey were like their current visitors, wondering where the house really was.
The seclusion of Graham’s residence greatly attracted landlords Yoni and Lindsey Goldberg. “Graham’s house is at the end of the road,” Lindsey said, “so every morning we wake up, grab a coffee, and walk down this road that just… ended. In the distance we are completely surrounded. among the boulders and stone heaps, it looked like Joshua Tree National Park.
“This treacherous path may seem a little crazy, but the moment we entered this space, we realized that it was,” Lindsay said. “And we have to figure out how to buy a house.”
Graham’s house grows out of boulders – almost floats on water. The hybrid prefab residence stands on vertical columns bolted to an insulated concrete foundation, making the home appear to float above the landscape.
It sits on 10 acres at 4000 feet in Rock Reach in the heart of the Yucca Valley, surrounded by juniper berries, rugged terrain and pine trees. It is surrounded by public land and its only neighbors are bluebirds, hummingbirds, and the occasional coyotes.
“I love the beauty of the push-and-pull design and the comfort of the adventure, it feels like you’re really out of your comfort zone,” Yoni says.
The 1,200-square-foot Graham Residence has two bedrooms, a shared bathroom, and an open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area. The front of the home opens up to a 300-square-foot cantilevered porch, while there is an additional 144 square feet of outdoor space at the back.
The house’s rectilinear façade opens onto a 300-square-foot cantilevered porch with a canopy that partially shields it from the desert sun.
Commissioned by Gordon Graham in 2011, the couple decided to name the house after the original owner, in homage to his mid-century design. (Graham apparently did not build the house in the middle of the century, but wanted it to exist as a portal.)
Designed by Palm Springs-based o2 Architecture and manufactured by Blue Sky Building Systems, it features prefabricated exterior siding, skylights, and walnut cabinetry. Graham included many nods to the Mad Men series in the original house, including a replica of the couch Don Draper relayed in the Palm Springs episode.
“The steel-framed windows are really mid-century, and when Gordon Graham built this place, he really wanted it to feel like it was stepping back in time when you walk in,” says homeowner Yoni.
“The design of this place is mid-century style. In my opinion, it is perfect for a country house, because you don’t have much storage space, but you don’t need a lot of storage space either,” Yoni says. “But it can be a difficult home to live full time.”
Yoni and Lindsey left the house mostly as it was (including plenty of mid-century vintage lighting fixtures), but added a fire pit, barbecue, and hot tub on a nearby ridge to keep friends and Airbnb guests entertained.
While in isolation, Yoni and Lindsey opted for propane when they needed to find fuel for their fire, grill, and outdoor shower. “I mean, there is nothing better than taking a shower outside,” Yoni said. “Why bring one inside when you can take one outside?”
“We found that many of the guests who stay here also don’t want to leave once they arrive. They don’t realize they have their own private national park here,” Yoni said. “There are people who walk all the way to Joshua Tree intending to go to the park, but never go because they think everything they need is there.”
The house runs on solar power most of the day but remains connected to the grid after hours. They rely on propane for their fires, grills, and hot water (including outdoor showers).
Yoni and Lindsey say the fire pit is one of their favorite things in the house because it allows them to immerse themselves in the camping atmosphere. “Even though we have this beautiful house to sit in, we can dip our feet in the mud, sit outside, roast marshmallows and interact with the kids,” Lindsey said.
“That’s why you can rent it, you can come and live here, people will come to us because it’s like something really special that you can’t keep to yourself,” Lindsey said.
“We had a 93-year-old visitor who wanted to see the desert one last time. We’ve had birthday parties, we’ve had a few anniversaries and it was very touching to read the guest book and see people celebrating here,” Yoni added.
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Post time: Nov-23-2022