Soulbase Places:
Larrea Ranch
Desert Dreams: Inside Joshua Tree's Stylish Retreat, Larrea Ranch
Discover Larrea Ranch, a desert oasis nestled in Joshua Tree, California, where minimalist design meets warmth and style. Inspired by their love for the area, Kiara and David transformed this house into their dream home, drawing from Japanese, Nordic, and Mediterranean influences while embracing modern California flair. Join us on a journey through Larrea Ranch, where desert dreams and innovative design come to life.
Larrea Ranch (@larrearanchjt) has many unique details, such as beautiful limewash walls, a pine-planked ceiling and a rustic outdoor shower. Building and remodeling in a desert climate came with its challenges, such as the wind and the small desert community, but Kiara and David persevered and created a truly special space. Now, they have turned their dream home into a vacation rental for others to enjoy.Can you share with us a little bit about you and your partner? Where are you based and what do you do in your life?
We are a married couple based in Portland, Oregon. I (Kiara) run a full-time wedding photography business, Indwell, and David is a writer. We met on a photography website in 2011 while I was living in Australia and he was in the U.S. We're both creative and project-driven people with many hobbies, which is how I think we ended up with our Joshua Tree house.
When did you get the dream to build/remodel a home?
We have always dreamed of renovating a house together. We used to do photography projects together and always have travel plans and exciting goals we work towards. I think remodeling a house was an extension of our constant desire to work on something new. We weren't particularly seeking out a renovation project, but it makes sense that we ended up doing one.
Why did you choose Joshua Tree as your destination?
We eloped in Joshua Tree in 2016, and it has always been really special to us. We love the peace the desert brings, the closeness to nature and how immersive the environment is. The desert is unrelenting and powerful, and I think the feeling of being in a wide open space has always been a place of quietness for our very busy brains.How did you come up with the name “Larrea Ranch?”
Larrea, or "larrea tridentata," is the scientific name for the creosote bush: a very drought-tolerant, beautiful-smelling and blooming bush that grows in the Mojave and in other parts of the Southwest, including Mexico. It grows the most beautiful little yellow fluffy blooms, and the smell of the desert after rain is the smell of the creosote in the air. We are really influenced by our senses, and the smell of creosote made us love the desert so much more. Our property has creosote all around it, and after we first toured it, we took a sprig of that creosote home to Portland with us to remember the house and hope it would be ours someday. And “Ranch” because, well, it's a classic ‘80-style California ranch.When you bought the property, did you buy it for yourself or did you decide right away to remodel it and open the space as a vacation destination?
The house was actually a flip from an investor who had been holding onto it for a while, and it was done very poorly and very cheaply. We knew the house had good bones though, so we definitely had plans to remodel it. The first day we got the keys, we tore the flooring up to expose the concrete foundation and polished the floors. Every renovation project was for us to enjoy, as we wanted the house for us. We knew one day we would likely share it as a vacation rental, but we still poured all our love and time into making it the house we would enjoy staying in, which is why I think we've had success with our guests. They see how intentional every decision has been.
What style and design approach did you choose for the space?
We wanted to keep everything very minimal but warm. The desert is a very sunny place, but it’s also harsh. We chose practical things like keeping the concrete floors exposed (the sand in the desert can scratch and ruin wooden or softer flooring) but also chose to paint it to bring in some warmth and airiness into the space. We are greatly inspired by Japanese, Nordic and Mediterranean design, so we found elements from all of those that made sense to incorporate, while still paying homage to the fun and modern California feeling.What are the key details in your house?
My personal favorite detail is our kitchen backsplash. We used tiles from Concrete Collaborative that I fell in love with, and once I finished the project, it felt like our entire vision had come to life. We have beautiful limewash walls that I labored to make smooth over the orange peel texture, pine-planked ceilings to incorporate that Nordic cabin feel and, David's favorite, the rustic outdoor shower he built so he can shower under the stars. It also contains many of our collected finds from our travels all over the world, brass statues, vintage books, ceramics and more. We didn't like the cookie-cutter vacation rental aesthetic and really chose to make it unique by decorating it with all the small things we have loved and held onto.Joshua Tree is in California, in beautiful desert scenery. In terms of building and remodeling in a desert climate, what were the biggest challenges?
The wind. We had SO many projects that were just impossible to finish in the windy winter months. The wind would just tear up any outdoor project we would have or bring a whole heap of sand or dust into the house. The heat in summer is rough, too, but we would be back in Portland for wedding season by then. People also underestimate how small the desert community is. We had one hardware store to rely on, and it was always overshopped and understocked because we bought our house right before the big vacation rental boom out there. Everyone was also working on their house during lockdown. Sometimes, we'd have to wait months to find the right material, or drive 3+ hours away to source it elsewhere.
What are the most rewarding and stunning moments when you think about the remodel?
We personally celebrate every happy review we get from guests who have stayed at the house because it's a direct reflection on the work we put into it for 2+ years. I think it really felt surreal coming back to the house after almost seven months of being in Portland and being overwhelmed with how beautiful the house actually was (and how good of a job our cleaner does to keep it beautiful in between guests!). We couldn't believe we were the ones who made the space what it is. That felt really big to us.What are some sites in Joshua Tree that you recommend to guests? What are some hidden gems in the town or the park?
There is a plethora of amazing hidden gems in town or in the park. We love Mas O Menos for a delightful natural wine, about seven minutes drive from the house, as well as Giant Rock Meeting Room's pizza. Both are more local spots, and mid-week, it's the perfect place to meet other desert dwellers. In the park, we love Hall Of Horrors. There's a secret slot canyon in there; I would challenge you to find it.What should guests pack for a trip to the desert?
LOTS of water. There is hardly any moisture in the air. Even when it's cold, the air is very dry. Layers are always good. It can get cold at night, even if it's 80+ during the day. And have a lot of respect for the environment. The Mojave is a desert with an incredibly diverse ecosystem of flora and fauna, and it is not uncommon to see coyotes, eagles, rabbits, lizards and snakes. Prepare for the season you're going in and always clean up after yourself, stay on trails and please don't touch the Joshua Trees.