Radiant Wallace Neff-Designed Home in Palm Springs Up for Grabs

Who owned three Wallace Neff-designed homes all at once? Arthur K. Bourne did. After hiring his friend to design two other lavish residences — one a posh Spanish Colonial Revival mansion in San Marino, and the other a Southern Plantation-style estate in nearby Glendora — Singer sewing machine company heir Bourne commissioned the legendary California architect to build him a third Southern California house, this one a massive Spanish-style compound in the Coachella Valley resort town of Palm Springs.

Crafted a little over a century ago — with a main mansion that was reputedly the first two-story home ever built in Palm Springs — that Bourne estate was later subdivided into smaller properties. And an original piece of that property has just popped up for sale, asking a speck under $3.5 million.

Designed as a “gardener’s cottage” belonging to the larger compound, the place underwent a major renovation and expansion in the 1950s. In its current iteration, the now Moroccan-inspired home features four bedrooms and four baths spread across 3,306 square feet of colorfully hued living space adorned throughout with custom tile and ironwork, seamless indoor-outdoor environs via numerous terraces and balconies, plus a guest casita sporting a fireplace, stylish bath and its own entrance.

Tucked away on a corner parcel spanning nearly a quarter-acre, in the Historic Tennis Club Neighborhood, the white stucco house is fronted by an attached three-car garage. A gated entrance off to the side passes through a secluded courtyard, with steps leading up to a carved wood front door that opens into a grand foyer introducing the main living quarters.

Especially standing out is a formal dining area nestled alongside a living room boasting a striking masonry fireplace with a mosaic tile surround and wall of French doors spilling out to a spacious lounge area ideal for al fresco entertaining. Other highlights include not one but two kitchens on each level, and an upstairs master retreat displaying a private terrace, walk-in closet and spa-like bath; elsewhere is a family room/media room and office space.

Outdoors, the private resort-like grounds host a cobalt blue-tiled pool lined with plenty of spots for sunbathing, fire-pit and built-in barbecue island with seating — all surrounded by sweeping views of the surrounding San Jacinto Mountains. And the proverbial cherry on top: paid-off solar panels are included.

The listing is held by Sandra Quinn of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties.