We were lucky to have the opportunity to sit with Christopher Kennedy, whose namesake The Christopher Kennedy Compound, has become one of the marquee events of Modernism Week.
What led you to create a showhouse for Palm Springs Modernism?
I have had my design firm in Palm Springs for ten years, and coincidentally, this year marks Modernism Week’s 10th anniversary. It feels a bit like we have grown up together. After having my nose to the grindstone for so many years, when I finally came up for air, I wanted to give back to the city that has given me so much, personally and professionally.
Also, I thought it was strange that Palm Springs did not have a showhouse. Most cities do; and Palm Springs is such fertile ground for one. So, I just figured I would do it myself! I always give credit where credit is due, so I have to give a shout-out to Windsor Smith, whose House of Windsor several years ago (with Veranda magazine), showed me that it was possible for a single designer to spearhead such a project.
How did you choose the design team you assembled for this year’s Christopher Kennedy Compound?
Last year – the first year – I just called my wonderfully talented friends, like Celerie Kemble, Jiun Ho, and Trina Turk. I did not think they would all say yes…but they did! This year, I once again called upon designers whom I knew and admired, such as Michael Berman, Mark Cutler, and Linda Allen. Several designers reached out to us, also, so I was able to make some new friends, in great designers like Trip Haenisch and Nancy Price.
Were there any lessons learned from the first year that changed how you approached the showhouse this year?
We worked even more diligently to create a sense of cohesion. I set a color palette, which the designers really adhered to. In the desert, I favor cool, refreshing hues of blues and greens. I am inspired by the green of the gold course and the palm leaves, the teal of the water and the azure of the sky. The designers really embraced the colors, and it lends a wonderful sense of cohesion.
How does the finished house influence you emotionally? What feelings do you get walking into the space vs. before?
It was a mess “before”! The house was mustard yellow, there was cat-stained carpeting, four televisions on the wall of the living room, an original 1964 kitchen, and a bad 90s bathroom remodel.
Now, the space is light and bright, with white floors and mostly white ceilings. I literally gave the designers a blank canvas! We enhanced the connection to the natural environment. And, I always strive for easy elegance and gracious glamour.
People say that the home has a good aura. I think that has a lot to do with the people and products I have selected. I believe that life is too short to work with people you don’t like. I own the house, after all, so it was of paramount importance to me that the designers I feature are both talented individuals and genuinely nice people. Also, I would only use products that I use, admire, and truly believe in. I think you can feel it when you walk in the door.
Tell us about the space(s) you designed for the house. What inspired you?
I designed the kitchen and the master closet, because I like to eat and I like to shop!
In the kitchen, I eliminated the breakfast to extend the kitchen functionality significantly. I kept it clean and bright, with white quartz counters from Silestone. Last year all the appliances were totally paneled and hidden, which was very cool. But I think that people like appliances, so this year I decided to show off the Wolf / Subzero products.
I used many shades of green: my favorite color. The kitchen cabinets are mostly a grey, but we have upper cabinets and some accents of lacquer chartreuse green. One feature wall is sheathed in green grasscloth. Another wall features the iconic Hexagon pattern by David Hicks, who is my style icon. I also created a catering kitchen behind the main kitchen, as that is a reality of how I entertain.
What are some pieces you used that are important to you? How do they speak to your own design influences/influence you other than just accenting the room?
In the kitchen, I have both open shelving and glass-front cabinets so that I can see everything quickly. I incorporated many of mom’s serving pieces into the kitchen. She died quite young, at age 62, and I miss her everyday. But seeing some of her favorite serving pieces makes me smile and I feel like she is with me. To me, Modernism is in part about living without unnecessary adornment and excess, and choosing to surround yourself with things that you love and have meaning.
Our designers take a lot of care and time into each of their spaces, how many different sources/stores make up your design? How diverse are the pieces in terms of where they came from?
We have hundred to thousands of sources that we select from for any given project. All my projects represent a diverse array of products. I never want a project, nor the showhouse, to look as if we went to one store and bought the floor display!
Can you go into detail about your favorite piece in the house (either in your space or someone else’s)?
I am quite in love with the walnut carved screens that Trip Haenisch designed and fabricated to serve as a divider between the living room and dining room. I also love the chandelier he chose. It’s not easy to find a light fixture that works with a 8’ ceiling but still makes a statement.
I also love the sculpture that Paletteur designed and fabricated for the living room terrace. Our backyard flows endlessly into the golf course, with drop-dead views of the San Jacinto mountains. Their sculpture gives definition to the living room, while also framing the view and perhaps making one appreciate it all the more.
Was there an overarching design direction for this year’s house? How close were the proposed style boards from the designers to the completed install/designs?
Having Palm Springs as a muse serves an overarching design direction. What inspires me about the Hollywood history of Palm Springs is the old photographs of the stars who called it home. The pictures of them playing golf, tennis, or lounging poolside. These people were beautiful and glamour, but they were also on vacation. That idea of beauty and glamour combined with ease and relaxation is something that I strive for in all my designs.
As for the style boards, they were very close to the completed designs!
How do you feel your designed spaces affect people’s lives? What is the most drastic improvement you can cite as an example.
I believe that our built environments affect us immensely, and I strive to create interiors that inspire and delight. It is my goal to put a smile on someone’s face. I believe that a smile is positive feelings. And I believe that our feelings become our thoughts, our thoughts become our words, our words become our actions, and day by day our actions become our destiny. So, to me, it really can all start with that room.
We recently completed a new office building for a good client. It was ground up construction. We installed the furniture and they moved in just last week. My client says that he can already see a noticeable improvement in both employee morale and productivity. Design affects the bottom line!
Last year’s CK Compound Showhouse was sold. Did you receive any feedback from the new owners about how the new space has influence their lives?
They have simply told me that they love it, and that is enough for me.
Also, they do much more entertaining, because they have a home they are proud of. I believe it is important to be proud of your home, not in a boastful or egotistical way, but in an honest way that indicates you cherish where you live and care for it.
Thanks, Christopher!
xoxo, Laurel & Wolf
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