They say the desert makes you see things. At Parker Palm Springs the only hallucination you may have is double taking on whether Peter Sellers is hiding in the suit of armour in the lobby. The Pink Panther-pink sports blazers worn by hotel staff are no illusion. The indoor fire pit burning at full flame while it’s 90°F outside is real too, as are the clipped lawns and lush landscape that exude more retro country club than desert resort.

This is no mirage in the Californian desert. Behind the statement brise-soleil that welcomes guests to Parker Palm Springs lies a whimsical world of throwback chic brought to life in full technicolor by interior designer and mid-century modern maestro Jonathan Adler. The mood is quintessentially ”˜la jeaunesse’ where the air is filled with the scent of jasmine and the swinging sound of chanteuse Françoise Hardy bounces between the bougainvillea.

Parker Palm Springs is an eccentric offering to Le Parker Meridien’s portfolio. Immersed in a panoply of texture, where shag, leather and macramé meet lucite, marble and chrome, Adler’s kitsch aesthetic extends from the lobby to the 144 luxury rooms and villas decorated with the designer’s own signature pottery, needlepoint pillows and stocked with luxurious French amenities.

Explore the meandering gardens to discover tennis courts, a croquet lawn and pétanque across the 13-acre estate. With a choice of two swimming pools, the sport of sunbathing is taken very seriously, after all fitness is a tongue-in-cheek activity when the name of the gym and spa is called Palm Springs Yacht Club.

Begin your day with light bites at Norma’s and end with after hours dining at the intimate brasserie Mister Parker, never forgetting to hydrate throughout the day of course at the poolside Lemonade Stand or lobby bar.

Less easy to swallow will be having to check-out of one of the grooviest environments in the Coachella Valley: cue Françoise Hardy’s 1968 hit ”˜Comment Te Dire Adieu’ – ”˜It Hurts to Say Goodbye’.

http://www.theparkerpalmsprings.com/

Parker Palm Springs
4200 E Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs 92264
+1 (760) 770 5000

Jonathan is our LA-Based Arts + Culture Editor covering all eye-pleasing things for Melting Butter’s Arts & Culture pages. Being a contemporary visual artist working in public spaces around the world as well as a freelance writer for sites and publications like FAD and London Calling, Jonathan brings a rare combination of talent from the worlds of editorial, conceptual art, design and lifestyle. Be sure to check his blog that satisfies his hunger for both high and low culture and follow his tweets @jmvelardi and Instagram @jonathanvelardi. Read Jonathan’s favourite hotspots here.

(Photos courtesy Parker Palm Springs.)

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