Famed architect Donald Wexler designed this home as a personal residence, and it has been passed down to fellow creatives ever since. The most recent owner, Daniel Patrick Giles, created a cult-favorite perfume called “1272,” inspired by the home itself. This three-bedroom, two-bathroom property is located in the sought-after Movie Colony East neighborhood. Priced at $3,800,000, 1272 East Verbena Drive, Palm Springs is listed by Rick Grahn and Brian Linder at Compass.
As the founder of Perfumehead, Daniel Patrick Giles curated the scent 1272 to evoke “cut hedges and sun-softened wood.” He sought to create a perfume that is faceted and enduring, directly reflecting the ethos of the home itself. This fragrance is proof of Giles’ deep passion for the preservation of the home.
Wexler is known as “the architect who gave shape to Palm Springs.” The home solidified countless mid-century modern features, such as floor-to-ceiling glass, deep overhangs, and a post-and-beam structure. Daniel Patrick Giles recently collaborated with Wexler, along with architect Lance O’Donnell and designer Darren Brown, to complete a magnificent restoration. The finished result earned the Palm Springs Modern Committee’s Residential Restoration of the Year Award.
Tongue-and-groove ceilings stretch across the living areas, giving the roofline its notably slim profile. The vertical fir siding has been preserved in full, maintaining the visual warmth of Wexler’s original design. In the main gathering spaces, spun-metal can lights were restored to their mid-century glory, casting an even glow that complements the openness of the post-and-beam structure.
Throughout the home, new terrazzo floors introduce a continuous surface that connects each room. The kitchen and bathrooms were rebuilt from the ground up, using stainless steel appliances, marble slabs, and refined European fittings. A carefully formulated shade known as “Wexler White” was chosen to unify the palette, allowing light to bounce off the surfaces.
The property remains completely enclosed from the street, screened by a tall hedgerow that ensures full privacy. Once inside, the focus shifts to the interior landscape, where the home’s glass walls open to views of natural stone outcroppings and native vegetation. The layout creates the feeling of living inside an atrium, typical of Wexler’s desert work.
Large boulders and mature plantings pepper the grounds; their placement is courtesy of landscape designer Antone Dalu, who collaborated with Wexler on several mid-century commissions. In contrast to the natural surroundings, the unique, black-bottom pool adds drama and a touch of contemporary charm. The pool and detached spa have been positioned to frame the San Jacinto Mountains.
New mechanical systems, including the roof, HVAC, and a solar array, have been integrated for modern comfort with minimal visual impact. The home’s place on the National Register of Historic Places and its Palm Springs Class 1 Historic Resource status solidifies its standing as a landmark of Desert Modernism.
Listing: 1272 E Verbena Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262 [Compass]
