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Merchant House High Desert: A Spanish-Style Oasis in the Mojave

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PlasterIssue 6 — Saint Valentine

Merchant House High Desert: A Spanish-Style Oasis in the Mojave

February 12, 2021

Like many people, we have vacation escapes on the mind (one can dream). This one, about 20 minutes from Joshua Tree, would make it a breeze to shelter in place: It’s secluded and far from the crowds, blurs the line between outdoors and indoors, and furnished with vintage, eclectic finds.

Dubbed Merchant House High Desert, it’s owned by the mother-daughter team of Denise Portmans and Sara Marlowe Hall. Together, they run the Merchant brand, a three-pronged business that includes a store (Merchant Modern), a gallery (both in Los Angeles), and vacation rentals, including this one.

Here’s a peek.

Photography via @merchanthousehighdesert on Instagram.

The sunny yellow front doors are original to the 50s Spanish-style ranch house.
Above: The sunny yellow front doors are original to the 1950s Spanish-style ranch house.
The doors lead to this front porch with built-in seating. A vintage Japanese wood deck chair adds warmth to this predominantly white space.
Above: The doors lead to this front porch with built-in seating. A vintage Japanese wood deck chair adds warmth to this predominantly white space.
French doors lead to the living room. Denise and Sara painted the plaster walls and concrete floor white. The arched window to the right affords a peek into the kitchen.
Above: French doors lead to the living room. Denise and Sara painted the plaster walls and concrete floor white. The arched window to the right affords a peek into the kitchen.
The home (like their store and gallery) features a mix of vintage mid-century Danish finds, Moroccan touches, California-made ceramics, and contemporary art. The two travel once a year to Morocco to source vintage rugs, baskets, and objects.
Above: The home (like their store and gallery) features a mix of vintage mid-century Danish finds, Moroccan touches, California-made ceramics, and contemporary art. The two travel once a year to Morocco to source vintage rugs, baskets, and objects.
In the simple kitchen, baskets were turned into pendant lights.
Above: In the simple kitchen, baskets were turned into pendant lights.
Each bedroom has a simple platform bed and subtly pink walls.
Above: Each bedroom has a simple platform bed and subtly pink walls.
Another guest room.
Above: Another guest room.
A quiet corner of a bedroom, expertly decorated with texture and patina.
Above: A quiet corner of a bedroom, expertly decorated with texture and patina.
Dining en plein air.
Above: Dining en plein air.
The house is set on on five acres.
Above: The house is set on on five acres.
A stock tank pool was inserted into the multi-tier deck for refreshing dips.
Above: A stock tank pool was inserted into the multi-tier deck for refreshing dips.

For more desert escapes, see:

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