1883 E Alejo Rd., Palm Springs, CA

The Lofthus House

Commissioned in 1956 by Norman and Ruth Lofthus, this significant residence represents a collaboration between two of Palm Springs’ most important midcentury figures: designer Jack Moyer and builder Jack Meiselman. With only two owners across nearly seven decades, the Lofthus House has been carefully stewarded, its recent restoration honoring the original design vision while ensuring contemporary functionality.

The Moyer-Meiselman Collaboration

By 1956, Jack Moyer and Jack Meiselman had refined their working relationship through hundreds of residential projects. Moyer’s architectural sophistication, combined with Meiselman’s construction expertise, created homes that were both thoughtfully designed and expertly executed. The Lofthus House demonstrates this synergy: a residence custom-crafted for specific clients yet embodying the broader principles that made their partnership so successful.

Preservation and Character

The current owner’s sensitive restoration philosophy has maintained the home’s architectural integrity while adapting it for modern living. Significant original elements remain intact, creating an authentic midcentury experience:

• Original Western Holly range and oven—iconic kitchen appliances from the era, now prized by collectors
• Original fenestration—the carefully composed window patterns that define the home’s relationship to light and view
• Striking block fireplace featuring a distinctive extended hearth, a sculptural anchor for the living spaces

Dark-stained concrete floors throughout provide visual continuity and material honesty characteristic of desert modernism, while offering practical durability for contemporary desert living.

Spatial Flow and Living

The open floor plan exemplifies midcentury spatial planning at its best. Living, dining, and kitchen areas flow seamlessly into one another, with sliders and doors along the rear facade dissolving boundaries between interior and exterior. This isn’t merely aesthetic—it’s a functional strategy for desert living that expands usable space and captures mountain breezes.

The updated kitchen balances period authenticity with modern convenience, featuring quartz countertops and Smeg appliances chosen for their design compatibility. The spacious primary suite offers an en suite bath, generous closet space, and direct pool access—the ultimate Palm Springs luxury.

Throughout the home, generous wall space accommodates substantial art collections, evidence of the owner’s understanding that midcentury modern architecture provides the perfect gallery setting for contemporary art.

Resort Living

The backyard has been developed as a private oasis. A heated kidney-shaped pool—that quintessentially midcentury form—captures mountain views while a covered patio provides shaded refuge for outdoor dining and lounging. An expansive lawn area offers flexibility for future amenities: hot tub, outdoor kitchen, or simply open space for gathering.

The two-car garage with direct interior access provides practical convenience often lacking in homes of this era.

Sunrise Park

Sunrise Park occupies an ideal position in Palm Springs’ residential geography: central enough for quick downtown access yet surrounded by neighborhood amenities including markets, gyms, and restaurants. The location offers the walkability and convenience that make Palm Springs living so appealing.