The Iconic Slim Aarons Poolside Gossip Home in Palm Springs Sells for Record Sum
Palm Springs’s commitment to its midcentury legacy and architectural flair has allowed it to remain a sought-after vacation home locale well into the 21st century. Today, it’s been announced via The Wall Street Journal that one of its most legendary examples of California modernism—the 1946 Richard Neutra property made unforgettable by Slim Aarons’s 1970 Poolside Gossip photo—has sold for $13.06 million. The off-market deal comes a year and a half after the property was first listed for $25 million.
The 3,200-square-foot home features five bedrooms, all of which are located on the first floor, with only a covered patio available on the second floor. Much of that main level flaunts wood-panel ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows, creating a distinctly modernist atmosphere. The floor plan is arranged to maximize outdoor access, with guest, service, and primary wings extending from the living and dining rooms, where the stone fireplace is located. A pool, pool pavilion, and tennis court are also located on the grounds.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the seller, Brent R. Harris, bought the three-acre property in the 1990s and promptly began a five-year renovation process. Under his watch, any material that covered what was originally there was stripped away, and the home was thoughtfully restored to its original glory by craftsmen. Harris recently completed another renovation of the property. Though the identity of the buyer has not been publicly disclosed, listing agent Gerard Bisignano of Vista Sotheby’s International Realty reportedly says that the new owner has “a deep and rich appreciation of modernist architecture.”
The home’s significance is compounded by prominent former owners, including Barry Manilow and the person for whom the home was built—Edgar J. Kaufmann Sr., who was also the first owner of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater home. The sale of the property has set a new record for Palm Springs real estate, knocking off the $13 million sale of Bob Hope’s former home in 2016.
