Palm Springs, California, is a popular destination for visitors who love mid-century modern design, rejuvenating scenery, and the rich history of the California desert. And for long-time designer Marilyn Miller, Palm Springs is also a place where unique home transformations come to life.

Check out one of her recent client projects.

The “before” photos show a 20-year-old Palm Springs home that hasn’t been updated since it was built. Think dark tones, outdated maple cabinets, and materials that absorb natural light. Marilyn’s task was to transform the home into a modern, timeless space that feels functional and inviting. The kitchen was the best place to start.

Valley Forge Elm from The LUJO® Collection defines the space. This luxury woodgrain design was used throughout the kitchen. Wilsonart® Cabinet Doors and coordinating Thermally Fused Laminate (TFL) panels were meticulously installed to enhance nearly every storage space. The textured finish is seamlessly matched on each surface, providing stunning visual consistency and elevating the overall aesthetic. Valley Forge Elm offers warm brown tones that complement new flooring and contrast perfectly with classic white countertops. Simple straight grain intermingles with refined cathedrals and highlights to complete the strikingly real woodgrain look.

Using Valley Forge Elm also pays homage to the tradition of mid-century design in Palm Springs. Characterized by clean lines, functional forms, and warm woodgrains inspired by nature, mid-century modernism blossomed from the early 1930s to the late 1960s in response to post-war optimism and a desire for simplicity. During this era, many architects and designers flocked to Palm Springs, where elements of the style can still be found in homes and public spaces.

Marilyn notes that choosing The LUJO® Collection was the easiest part of her design process,

Holding a sample of Valley Forge Elm allowed Marilyn’s client to feel the deep-texture Ridgewood finish. This finish creates a dimensional linear effect and features a matte texture with narrow, irregular ridges inspired by straight-grained wood. It’s an enhancement that mimics the look and feel of real wood from every angle.

Most of Marilyn’s clients desire contemporary styling when remodeling or building their homes. To achieve this look in a kitchen, she often chooses flat panel cabinetry. That’s why she partnered with the fabrication team at Lúa Brothers Cabinets in Indio, California for this project. They fabricated the flat panel cabinetry that eliminates traditional joinery lines and emphasizes the clean simplicity of mid-century modern design.

Beyond beautiful woodgrains and inviting color selections, surface performance is critical when designing a home in Palm Springs. The area is a hot spot for vacation getaways, which means homeowners want to enjoy their time away without worrying about surface maintenance or performance issues.

Valley Forge Elm is engineered to achieve all of the client’s requirements. Traditional wood cabinets can stain, crack, or fade over time. Luxury woodgrains from The LUJO® Collection eliminate these concerns, ensuring everyday functionality and rich color on Day 1 and Day 1,000. Every design is also stain and moisture resistant for simple maintenance and disinfection.

The completed home feels updated, modern, and intentionally crafted. It is both timeless and on-trend, embracing cozy woodgrains for a mid-century interpretation of the recent Crafted Calm trend.