Table of contents for Spring 2026 in Atomic Ranch

WHOEVER THOUGHT an arcade game could look so aesthetically pleasing? Usually relegated to the back corners of restaurants or tucked away in home basements, these simple coin-operated machines might soon be stepping out from the shadows. Jukebox Bowl-O-Rama, a combination bowling and music/karaoke arcade game designed in 2023 by Cosmodog, is leading the charge in making fun arcade games that are also easy on the eye. JUKEBOX HERO “Making an attractive arcade game has been a quest of mine for about 20 years now,” says Andrew Pines, creator and designer behind Jukebox Bowl-O-Rama. “I love arcade games, but I don’t like that they look bulky and not like a piece of furniture.” In the 90s, he worked as a producer at Viacom New Media, creating a video game with MTV,…

FINDING THE PERFECT HOME can feel like hitting the jackpot - especially when on the hunt for a Mid Mod gem. For Randi Merel and her husband Allen LeHew, this 1957 Krisel located in Palm Springs was just what they were looking for. Longtime fans of all things Mid Century Modern, the retired couple own another MCM home in the suburbs of Chicago. They visited Palm Springs on a Mid Mod pilgrimage and immediately began the hunt for a second home there. When they came upon this home it was love at first sight. After some time and work, they were able to purchase the home and continue the loving updates that had been started by the previous owners. WANTED: KRISEL Passionate about Mid Century Modern design, Randi was on…

THERE ARE some mid century homes that have retained their original charm; others have had unfortunate updates and need major restoration work to get them back to their roots. And then there are those in the muddy middle. Unit #344 of Ocotillo Lodge fit into this third category, with a small renovation in the mid-1990s and no updates since. HOTEL TURNED CONDOS When the Ocotillo Lodge sold off in the 1990s and each suite was reclassified as a condo, the units sold cheaply, for less than $40,000. Most of the original buyers were attracted by the price, not the mid century architecture. That has changed in the last decade. Now, most buyers have a deep appreciation for mid century architecture and want to preserve it. Kathy Breedlove arrived in 2023.…

IT’S GOTTA BE comfy, practical, durable and most of all it’s gotta stand out. What are the things you should think about when designing for vacation rentals? Interior and Landscape designer Michael Norpell says that you need to judge a book by it’s cover. “That first photo that a potential guest sees on any platform is the make or break,” Michael says. “You need to to stand out—there are so many other rentals out there.” Michael lives and runs his business, Michael Norpell Wall to Wall, in Palm Springs, the vacation rental capital of Southern California, so he’s designed his fair share of high-performing vacation homes including the one featured here named The Tennis Club Bungalows. Here are his top tips for how to approach design for a vacation rental.…

THE OWNERS OF THIS INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA, home designed by renowned MCM architect William Krisel in 1970 have six kids and love to entertain. However, the layout of their mid-century kitchen didn’t align with the dining demands of a large family and the couple’s enthusiasm for cooking and entertaining, so Kristina and Eric discussed their renovation requests with Michael Norpell, owner/principal interior designer and landscape architect of Michael Norpell Wall to Wall. Michael says his clients had several goals for improving the function and flow of their family’s gathering space. “They wanted us to create a kitchen that is seamlessly integrated with the home’s MCM roots, making it appear as if it has always been part of the home’s original design; restore and open the home’s wet bar for entertaining;…

THE YEAR WAS 1957. Builders George and Robert Alexander of the Alexander Construction Company had bought a large parcel of land on the south side of the burgeoning city of Palm Springs and began construction on the first modernist subdivision in town—90 tract homes to be exact. But they needed to attract more of the out-of-town buyers they had been eyeing. So, to make the trip out to the desert a bit easier and more attractive to prospective buyers they conceived of adding a hotel with a five-star restaurant. What they built was the Ocotillo Lodge. TWIN PALMS PROPERTY Robert Alexander’s college friend, William Krisel, was an architect they had used previously, but Twin Palms was their first joint build in Palm Springs. “There wasn’t a draw to the south…

ATOMIC RANCH is no stranger to the mecca of Modernism. We’ve been traveling to the desert since 2016 to create events for the Mid Century Modern enthusiast to experience the history of Modernism in the area through talks, tours and our fair share of cocktail parties. With that comes the pleasure of becoming acquainted with the many things the city has to offer by way of stays, eats and entertainment! So here’s our list of top picks from the desert for anyone planning to visit and enjoy the historic sights and more. BEST PLACES TO STAY 1. ORBIT IN HOTEL Enjoy a couple of Orbitinis around the boomerang bar or lounge by the bikini pool for a stay that is a true blast from the past at this small and…

THE GOAL WAS TO CELEBRATE THE ORIGINAL ARCHITECTURE BUT NOT BE TOO BEHOLDEN TO THE PAST, TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND GIVE NODS TO THE ORIGINAL STYLE BUT ALSO UPDATE AND INCORPORATE CONTEMPORARY AESTHETICS WITHOUT GUILT. WHILE THEIR PRIMARY HOME is in Portland, Oregon, a couple had their hearts set on making this stunning residence their Palm Springs mid-century dream home. “We have been vacationing in Palm Springs for the past 20 years. We found the desert to be welcoming and a good match for how we like to relax,” the homeowner says. “In 2021, a dear friend gave us a tip on an upcoming listing in his neighborhood and we jumped at the opportunity.” Seeing the property in person was love at first sight. “We were instantly smitten with the iconic…

DURING the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic, many people wanted a vacation home to which they could escape. It was also an ideal time to buy such a vacation home. For Adam Graff and his partner, Palm Springs was the ideal second-home location, especially since they were already commuting there one week out of every month for work. “We live in Marin county, north of San Francisco,” Adam says. “We have a custom 1951 home there that we’re renovating.” Still, when it was time for the monthly commute down to Southern California, the couple wanted a place to call home. “The architecture is amazing, the pool is incredible. We loved this particular apartment, and we loved what people did with the various units, how they decorated.” This particular unit is…

PALM SPRINGS CITY HALL STANDS as one of the most iconic examples of mid-century modern civic architecture in the American West. Designed by Albert Frey, in collaboration with Robson Chambers and John Porter Clark, the building embodies the desert modernist principles that define much of Palm Springs’ architectural identity: clean lines, functional forms, and a deep sensitivity to climate and landscape. Completed in 1957, the structure is immediately recognizable for its sweeping circular entrance canopy—a bold, sculptural gesture that provides shade while guiding visitors toward the main doors. The canopy’s floating effect is enhanced by slender steel supports and precise geometric openings that cast dynamic shadows across the ground throughout the day. This play of light and shade, a hallmark of Frey’s work, not only enriches the building’s visual appeal…