3.03.2010

It's high time that I post some round ups on our favorite vacation rentals & lodging in the Joshua Tree area. I get emails once in a while, and maybe you all would like to know too. There are some fantastic places in the high desert. (Including, erm, the awesome place we had our wedding. Better late than never?)

Let me warn you, this first one is a heavy hitter. If you read mags like dwell, you have probably seen it already.







I have this idea that I should start a service specializing in architecturally significant vacation rentals. There are plenty out there, it is just a matter of finding them. And hey, I love vacationing, architecture, and being of service. The itHouse is an off the grid, prefab house way off the beaten path in Pioneertown. [Pioneertown is a speck north of Joshua Tree itself, we love staying there to be closer to Pappy & Harriet's and to be even further removed than the hussle and bussle of Joshua Tree itself, ha.] I won't go on about it too much, in fear of sounding like an add. But. Guys, it's stunning. We stayed there last October. We never wanted to leave. Did you SEE the veiw you wake up to in the master bedroom? At 300$ a night for a 2 bedroom it was kind of a splurge for us (late anniversary gift to ourselves) but absolutely reasonable for what you get. It is on expansive and private parklike property, so you can keep all those windows wide open without worry of spying eyes, and cruise out the back door for hiking and milling around. You have to walk to the top of the hill across the dirt road to get phone reception. Awesome.
Remember that is it off the grid, heated by hot water coils in the floor and the fire place, cooled only with passive cooling techniques, so the itHouse is best enjoyed in the milder spring and fall. [Unless you are super hard core and don't mind the desert heat a little.]

for more info on the ithouse (architecturally) visit here. to learn more about renting it, visit here.

I will follow up, maybe next week, with something a little easier on the pockets, but equally rad in it's own right.

first three images via dwell all others via taalmankoch

10 comments:

  1. Anonymous7:11 AM

    This place looks mindblowing. We stayed in an amazingly designed, eco-conscious house in Nicaragua (built by Canadian architects, actually!) and it has spoiled me for vacation houses. I am so into this stuff now!

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  2. I'm hoping to go on a southwestern road trip this fall and stop in this area!! totally inspired by you, of course, and all your talking it up.

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  3. that fireplace is perfection. been looking for something just like it for a bar im designing. Mmmm

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  4. where did you have your wedding? what was the name of the inn?

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  5. *sigh* But is there any body of water, even a barrel, nearby into which one can dunk oneself?

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  6. Gorgeous! And yes, a bit out of the everyday price range, but do-able for special occasions.

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  7. @LPC i think there might be a kiddie pool in one of the closets. that is about it. a constructed body of water would probably go against the whole point of the house. but this is why you visit in spring or fall. and, the bathroom opens up into the courtyard, making bathtimes outdoorish.

    @kate if you are roadtripping through southwest CA a stop in joshua tree is a must!

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  8. hi. i just found your blog through twitter. linda (taalman) and alan (koch) are two of my very best friends. I frequent the iT house in joshua tree, it's magical. i also had a photo shoot out there last fall. nice to find your blog, it's a good one.

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  9. Oh yes. Yes please.

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  10. stilllll haven't been out there, which is shameful. but i was up in that neck of the woods yesterday looking at homestead fixer-uppers for sale...

    thanks for all the links. will drool over taalman-koch ingenuity until we can all pool $750,000 together for our own blogger-time-share iT house.

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