By Lindsay Jarvis
Photography by Dan Chavkin Interior décor by Nicholas Lawrence Design & Modern Hacienda, in partnership with Knoll
ALBERT FREY UTILIZED PILOTIS TO ELEVATE THE CREE HOUSE FROM THE ROCKY HILLSIDE. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE STONE FIREPLACE, INDUSTRIAL MATERIALS WERE USED FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE HOME.
Architect Albert Frey was born in Switzerland and, during his early career, worked under Modernist pioneer Le Corbusier. Frey came to Palm Springs in the 1930s and went on to live and work in the desert city, creating many iconic buildings and homes including Palm Springs City Hall, The Aerial Tramway Valley Station and Frey House II. Though not quite as well-known—the home is often referred to as “The Forgotten Frey"—the Cree House was built in 1955 by Frey for real estate developer Raymond Cree and serves as a gorgeous example of Frey’s residential work.
Sam Harris, owner of local favorite Sherman’s Deli & Bakery, spent some time growing up in the Cree House during the 1970s when his father owned the home. Sam went on to rent it from his stepmother in the late ’80s/early ’90s and spent about four to five years living there, noting “When I was there, it was perfect.” Eventually he moved out, and the home changed hands several times but stayed within the family. When Sam bought the house back in 2017, he set out to meticulously restore the home with the help of builder and contractor John Vugrin.
THE FIREPLACE WAS CLEANED BY HAND UNTIL THE BLACK GROUT WAS RESTORED, BUT IT TOOK A BIT OF EXTRA EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THE ORIGINAL WHITE COLOR. “THEY HAD BURNED A LOT OF WOOD FIRES IN THERE OVER THE YEARS, AND THE SMOKE HAD RUINED IT, AND THEN SOMEBODY VARNISHED OVER IT. SO AFTER I STRIPPED IT, IT STILL WASN’T GOOD ENOUGH, SO I MADE A FAUX PAINT,” EXPLAINS JOHN.