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 \1950s spanish style ranch hou 17](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/merchant-house-high-desert-front-door-733x721.jpg)
![the doors lead to this front porch with built in seating. a vintage japanese wo 18](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/merchant-house-high-desert-porch-733x489.jpg)
![french doors lead to the living room. denise and sara painted the plaster walls 19](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/merchant-house-high-desert-living-room-733x916.jpg)
![the home (like their store and gallery) features a mix of vintage mid century d 20](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/merchant-house-high-desert-living-room1-733x733.jpg)
![in the simple kitchen, baskets were turned into pendant lights. 21](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/merchant-house-high-desert-kitchen-733x733.jpg)
![each bedroom has a simple platform bed and subtly pink walls. 22](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/merchant-house-high-desert-guest-room-733x916.jpg)
![another guest room. 23](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/merchant-house-high-desert-guest-room1-733x916.jpg)
![a quiet corner of a bedroom, expertly decorated with texture and patina. 24](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/merchant-house-high-desert-guest-room2-733x916.jpg)
![dining en plein air. 25](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/merchant-house-high-desert-patio-733x916.jpg)
![the house is set on on five acres. 26](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/merchant-house-high-desert-exterior-733x489.jpg)
![a stock tank pool was inserted into the multi tier deck for refreshing dips. 27](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/merchant-house-high-desert-sauna-733x733.jpg)
For more desert escapes, see:
- Desert Dream: An Architect-Designed, Off-the Grid Cabin in Joshua Tree
- The New Southwest: A California Creative Couple’s Desert-Modern Hotel in Santa Fe
- Off the Grid Luxury: A Spare Weekend Home in the Arizona High Desert
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