If you looked up the definition of eye-candy in the dictionary, this Palm Springs house would most likely be included in it. With its bright-pink exterior and whimsical interior, it’s quintessential Palm Springs groovy glamour. The inspiration? The homeowner’s non-alcoholic beverage brand.
Lance Gerber
“The home and its design are the backdrop for Busty Lush, my non-alcoholic beverage company,” explains homeowner Laurel Harrop, who designed and renovated the space. “The brand is inspired by the glamorous Palm Springs poolside lifestyle—blending modernism, style, and sophistication. They truly echo one another, and all photo shoots are captured here using both the interior and exterior spaces. I completed the house and launched the first of our NA beverages, ‘She’s Golden,’ at the same time.”
Lance Gerber
The 1,400-square foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom house was designed by legendary Palm Springs architect Albert Frey in 1947. When Laurel purchased it from the original owners, the space was a completely blank slate with many key features still intact: interior doors, kitchen cabinets, and original exterior features. The previous owners had painted the house a bright white with a teal door, laid carpet everywhere, and added fixtures that weren’t period-specific.
Lance Gerber
But the modernist bones were there, and Laurel was ready to make it her own. She says she wanted to capture a unique and fresh take on Palm Springs style and incorporate a maximalist design concept. That meant mixing glamour, bold pattern, and bright color, along with natural elements (like rattan, soft sheepskins, and a butcher-block kitchen counter) to soften the space and give it casual and approachable feel. And since the house was going to be her secondary home, it was a little easier to get extra playful with the design.
“I wanted whomever walked inside to have this sort of ‘wow’ moment and feel like you just stepped into this fun and interesting paradise that makes you want to keep looking around at the details,” Laurel explains. “From the themed decor, to the dishware, to the striped pink towels and pink bocce court, I wanted every detail to be planned and cohesive—everything to be an experience.”
Lance Gerber
There were various sources of inspiration for the home’s overall design: Divine Savages’ wallpapers and fabrics, wall art by Chambers Austelle (who does the artwork for Busty Lush’s cans), Laurel’s vintage chalkware bust collection from her childhood, and the perfect shade of pink. Incorporating animal motifs like cheetahs, leopards, flamingoes, and parrots was another design choice.
As you walk in, you’re greeted with a vibrant wallpaper in the big open space that comprises the entry, dining room, and living area. The main seating area features rattan, velvet, and sheepskin materials, and the walls are wrapped in pink crane wallpaper by Divine Savages.
Lance Gerber
Throughout the home, the interior doors and windows are painted the same paint color as the house’s exterior. Polished concrete floors were installed to add a “Frey-like feel to the home.” Glassware, coasters, vintage props, and Busty Lush products can also be found in almost every room.
Lance Gerber
The dining space features an original portrait by Chambers, which is featured on Busty Lush’s “She’s Golden” can. The room is wrapped in a gold feather wallpaper by Divine Savages. The dining room chairs are reupholstered in the same pink crane pattern as in the seating area, which Laurel says helps connect the two areas visually.
Lance Gerber
And of course, there’s a bar nook, which is located near the dining area. “It features an original custom portrait by Chambers Austelle that adorns our tropical weisse beer can, ‘She’s Passionate,’” Laurel says. “Her blouse is cheetah print to coincide with the home’s design. The bar is a gold velvet and zebra busts adorn each side of the portrait. A giant gold gorilla rests on the floor.”
Lance Gerber
Laurel kept the original cabinets and layout in the kitchen—she just repainted the cabinets and installed new hardware. She added butcher-block countertops and a palm-and-bird-inspired painted tile backsplash. Her vintage chalkware busts and green dishwater are displayed on floating shelves.
Lance Gerber
Off the kitchen is a bathroom with its original shower-and-tub combo, which Laurel preserved. Vintage freestanding sinks were added to both bathrooms.
Lance Gerber
“In all three bedrooms, I chose a wallpaper accent wall to set the tone and correspond to the furnishings around,” Laurel says. The children’s bedroom has a child-like feel, with more art by Chambers Austelle, plus giant stuffed animal tigers, cheetahs, and flamingoes. Upholstered green trundle beds were chosen to add more space if friends slept over.
Lance Gerber
The primary bedroom is fresh and peaceful with a Divine Savages’ wallcovering in light pink and blue. The guest room, on the other hand, is more energetic with pink-and-black ostrich wallpaper, framed bird prints, and black-and-white zebra busts.
Lance Gerber
While there are so many colors, patterns, and motifs throughout the house, there is a cohesive feel, which Laurel achieved by repeating themes, like the pink color main palette; the tan and gold secondary palette on the trim, furnishings, and fixtures; and the animal and palm motifs.
Lance Gerber
“You’ll notice many tropical birds, leopards, tigers, and palm patterns throughout,” Laurel explains. “The textures and prints used more than once created cohesion. I used color in the same way, carrying the pink continuously, especially when introducing another color or pattern. I think it’s important to continue connecting the color and patterns to keep it from feeling chaotic or stressful. I wanted it to be exciting and beautiful everywhere you look but have it all harmonize—not match.”
Lance Gerber
It’s not hard to see why Laurel is in love with this daring home that’s a maximalist’s dream. “It is truly my happy place. Every time stepping inside, it feels like an escape. There’s some whimsical magic inside—something that’s just perfect for Palm Springs!” she says.
