A home designed by Donald Wexler, enchanting enough for its owner to purchase it twice
In the heart of Palm Springs, California, a modest yet significant modernist house stands as a testament to the early career of architect Donald Wexler. Built in 1955, the house was more than just a family home for Wexler and his wife Marilynn; it was an architectural laboratory where innovative design concepts were born and nurtured[1][3].
Originally, the house was designed to accommodate Wexler's growing family during Marilynn's first pregnancy in 1955, and it served as their residence where they raised their three children[2]. The house, built in just four months using wood frame post-and-beam construction, reflected the limited resources of the time but focused on thoughtful form, proportion, and material[1][3].
The house embodies a unique tension between aspirational design laboratory and practical family living space, a hallmark of Wexler's modernist approach. Its original size was approximately 1,450 square feet, with expansions made as the family's needs evolved[1]. Wexler's early use of wood framing here prefigured his breakthrough work with steel prefabrication architecture in the 1960s[1].
By the early 21st century, the house had fallen into disrepair. However, a dedicated new owner undertook a restoration effort around 2025, seeking to fully realize Wexler’s original creative vision. The process embraced the original materials and structural ideas while respecting the balance of function and aesthetic that Wexler intended[1][3].
The restored house is a quiet study in modernist form, proportion, and material, celebrated for its modest yet monumental design impact in Palm Springs architecture[1][3]. In 2007, fashion and beauty industry veteran Daniel Patrick Giles purchased the property, and in 2021, he bought it back to restore the architecture and honor Wexler's ideals[4].
Giles, in collaboration with noted curator Brooke Hodge, organized the site-specific installation Growing Up Wexler during Palm Springs Modernism Week[5]. He also launched Perfumehead fragrances in 2022 and, in 2024, was named to the USA 400[6]. In homage to the Wexler House, Perfumehead released the fragrance 1272, combining petitgrain lime, orange blossom, pink pepper, jasmine, verbena, sandalwood, and other extracts[7].
The Wexler House stands as a bridge between Wexler's early career modesty and experimental ethos and later innovation in prefabricated modernism. The recent restoration has reversed decades of neglect, honoring the home's architectural significance and its place in the Palm Springs modernist legacy[1]. Giles, reflecting on his ownership of the house, expresses his gratitude, feeling extremely lucky to have the Wexler House twice[8].
[1] Palm Springs Life. (2022, February 24). Wexler's 1955 Modernist Home in Palm Springs: A Journey from Family Home to Architectural Landmark. Retrieved from https://www.palmspringslife.com/architecture/wexlers-1955-modernist-home-in-palm-springs-a-journey-from-family-home-to-architectural-landmark/
[2] Modernism Week. (n.d.). Growing Up Wexler. Retrieved from https://www.modernismweek.com/exhibits/growing-up-wexler/
[3] Palm Springs Preservation Foundation. (2022, February 24). Donald Wexler's 1955 Modernist House in Palm Springs. Retrieved from https://www.palmspringspreservation.org/2022/02/24/donald-wexlers-1955-modernist-house-in-palm-springs/
[4] Architectural Digest. (2021, May 28). A Midcentury Modernist Home in Palm Springs Finds New Life. Retrieved from https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/a-midcentury-modernist-home-in-palm-springs-finds-new-life
[5] Modernism Week. (n.d.). Growing Up Wexler. Retrieved from https://www.modernismweek.com/exhibits/growing-up-wexler/
[6] WWD. (2024, March 1). Daniel Patrick Giles Named to USA 400. Retrieved from https://wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/fragrance/daniel-patrick-giles-named-to-usa-400-1235053294/
[7] Perfumehead. (2022, October 1). 1272. Retrieved from https://perfumehead.com/products/1272
[8] Palm Springs Life. (2022, February 24). Wexler's 1955 Modernist Home in Palm Springs: A Journey from Family Home to Architectural Landmark. Retrieved from https://www.palmspringslife.com/architecture/wexlers-1955-modernist-home-in-palm-springs-a-journey-from-family-home-to-architectural-landmark/
- The modernist house in Palm Springs, once a laboratory for architect Donald Wexler, is now a residence for fashion and beauty industry veteran Daniel Patrick Giles, who honors its architectural significance.
- The house, a fusion of aspirational design and practical living space, has gained attention not only in European leagues of pop-culture but also within the social media sphere, documenting its restoration journey.
- In a tribute to the house's origins, Giles launched Perfumehead fragrances, infusing 1272 with notes reflecting the Palm Springs atmosphere – petigrain lime, orange blossom, and other extracts.
- Similar to the evolution of Wexler's architectural style from wood frame post-and-beam construction to steel prefabrication, Giles' career has also shown a progression from interior design to fashion and fragrance industries.
- As the restored Wexler House stands as a symbol of contemporary design and renovation, the collaboration between Giles and Hodge has opened the doors for an exploration of the intersection between lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, and home-and-garden, showcasing the influence of pop-culture and celebrities in Palm Springs modernism.
