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Words by: JESSICA RITZ

The confluence of ecological magic and man-made wonder makes the Coachella Valley a singular destination. Distinct hotels are among the desert cities’ jewels, as are standout home rentals and properties that straddle and blur the lines of hospitality genres. Whether associated with established hotel brands, vacation rental operations, or individual owners, three newly available properties make for an exceptional staycation or getaway experience — complete with plenty of design inspiration to bring back home.

The Bungalows @ JOSHUA TREE RETREAT CENTER, JOSHUA TREE Visiting the Joshua Tree Retreat Center on Twentynine Palms Highway means embarking on an architectural and a spiritual pilgrimage. And now The Bungalows, situated within the historic campus, gives design-focused travelers a particularly compelling new reason to visit. “As long-term residents of the Joshua Tree area, we believed there was room for a special destination here that would truly do justice to its natural surroundings and inspire thoughtful care of the area’s history and unique allure,” says David McAdam, founder of Homestead Modern, the High Desert–based premium home rental operation and development group behind the e!ort.

“I’ve always been fascinated with the entire complex,” says design consultant for the project Brad Dunning about the center, which serves as the headquarters for the Institute of Mentalphysics. Founder Edward John Dingle, known as Ding Le Mei, tapped Lloyd Wright in the early 1940s to design what would evolve into the largest collection of the architect’s work. At The Bungalows, Dunning’s historic restoration expertise helped guide the revitalization of the 14 guest rooms and suites housed within three post-and-beam-style buildings originally designed by Pasadena architect Harold B. Zook in 1960. (Both Wright and Zook were sons of esteemed figures in the profession, too.) “The Bungalows are a completely di!erent experience,” Dunning explains. “These are very light and open, and very Palm Springs in style” in contrast to some of Wright’s adjacent experimental structures. Dunning’s masterfully delicate touch honors the historic integrity of the physical spaces while meeting contemporary guests’ needs and expectations. (That said, there are no TVs.) Closets were removed to enlarge bathrooms and to add kitchens, and the original concrete floors were ground and polished. New millwork “looks like it’s been out in the desert and weathered,” Dunning notes. A palette of neutral colors with yellow and ochre accents blends with the expansive landscape visible beyond the private patio attached to each room. Less is more and powerfully connects past and present. In the end, Dunning hopes his interventions are subtle enough so that visitors might think, “It always looked like this. They just cleaned it up,” he says. “That would be a great compliment.”