SUNSET HUES AND LOCAL LEGENDS MAKE FOR A CHARLES DU BOIS HOME UNLIKE ANYTHING YOU’VE SEEN.

By SARAH JANE STONE

TODD WALLIN DESCRIBES THE HOME’S PREVIOUS COLOR AS “BATTLESHIP GREY.” “EVERYTHING WAS THE SAME COLOR—THE TRIM, STUCCO AND FENCE—AND I COULDN’T WAIT TO JUST PAINT IT WHITE! THAT ALONE MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE CURB APPEAL,” HE SAYS. OF COURSE, RESTORING THE HOME’S EXTERIOR SO THAT THE A-FRAME ROOFLINE EXTENDS TO THE GROUND ONCE MORE MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE AS WELL.

Photography by KELLY PEAK PHOTOGRAPHY

The “Alohaus” or “Swiss Miss” homes of Palm Springs, California—built by the Alexander Construction Company and designed by Charles Du Bois—are nearly as famous as the town itself. With their iconic rooflines reminiscent of a Tiki apex or Swiss chalet, they stand in stark contrast to the rugged mountainsides visible through their numerous clerestory windows. In a town known for its Hollywood connections and with homes as famous as the stars and star-chitects—especially in the Vista Las Palmas neighborhood—the dramatic A-frame rooflines of these homes still stand out. Built in 1958, this particular Du Bois masterpiece has a storied past and a bright future, exactly the kind of lore necessary to turn a house into a celebrity.

A HOUSE WORTH SAVING

In 2018 Todd and Lezlie Wallin spotted a Du Bois home on the market. Without wasting any time, they pounced on the property. It had been renovated in 2003 and outfitted with the decade’s best interpretation of midcentury style. Despite the dated decor and track lighting, the Wallins were sold by one feature in particular—the A-frame roofline. “It was cut short at some point and we just couldn’t help but to buy it and extend it back to the original line,” says Todd. The spacious backyard, expansive one-level floorplan and walls of glass didn’t hurt either.