20 DIGS.NET | 7.9.2021
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P R O F I L E | P A U S E H O U S E
Inspired by Scandinavian and Japanese
design principles, Pause House AM/PM is also
an ode to the surrounding environment.
W O R D S : K A R I N E M O N I É
I M A G E S : Y O S H I H I R O M A K I N O
Desert Appeal
L
ocated about 10 minutes from the entrance to Joshua Tree
National Park, Pause House comprises two structures,
each with its own personality and color palette. Providing
privacy and overlooking a vast valley spotted with yucca and
Joshua trees, both buildings serve as short-term accommoda-
tions for visitors who want to experience the high desert.
Created in partnership between Wendy and Edgar Langman
of Wedgar Properties — a mother and son development company
— and Homestead Modern — a short-term rental operator — the
property was built on a 10-acre piece of land. Designed by Los
Angeles-based studio Hammer and Spear, it pays tribute to the
landscape and desert culture through the interiors.
"The Pause AM and PM houses deliver something for every-
one," says interior designer and lifestyle expert Kristan Cunning-
ham, who cofounded Hammer and Spear with her husband Scott
Jarrell. "AM is designed in a lighter, Scandinavian-inspired palette
— airy and serene — while PM has a richer, more masculine vibe."
The simple, honest materials — especially plywood — are
what link all the spaces together. "We employed a very Judd-es-
que approach to the detailing, both in the cabinetry and bed
construction," describes Cunningham. "Burlap was used for the
drapery (lined in a blackout fabric) and fabricated in a ripplefold.
We chose a simple hospital track for the drapery, which was coun-
tersunk into the plywood ceiling so that there was no hardware or
detailing to focus on."
