A boat in the middle of a desert? It sounds strange, but the odd shape of the iconic Boat House in Palm Springs totally works -- and it's on the market.
The primo property has been making waves since it was built in 1989. It was designed by Arizona-based architect Michael P. Johnson for race car driver Jim Jeffords. Apparently the speed demon, who died in 2014, had a nautical bent along with a love of motor sports.
"It's a dynamic house," John Nelson says. He and Cat Moe of Nelson-Moe Properties are the listing agents.
Indeed, the sleek lines end at a point, much like a ship's bow, which it resembles from the outside. You can "set sail" on the angled residence, which gives a sense of movement across the valley floor, emerging from the hillside. You're on a boat (or the closest you'll get to a boat in this landlocked hot spot)!
The design is actually an ingenious solution to the odd-size, triangle-shaped lot.
"When you're on the street looking up at the house, it has the sharp point pointing toward the bow," Nelson says. Inside, the walls of glass along with the infinity pool viewed at the front of the house continue the nautical theme.
"When you walk in the house toward the pool, it's really like you're walking on the deck of a ship," Nelson says. "With the elevation of the house, you've got almost 360-degree views. It's really incredible."
The listing has caught our eye before -- we noted the mod pad earlier this year when it had a more hefty price tag of $4,495,000. Taken over by the United Kingdom -- based Lloyds Bank in May, the home is now priced at $1,950,000, according to Nelson.
Located in the gated Southridge community, it boasts a flashy neighbor: famed architect John Lautner's unforgettable Elrod House, which resembles a flying saucer and was featured in the James Bond film "Diamonds Are Forever." That over-the-top construction, listed at $8,000,000, is currently pending sale.
If you're in the market for something a little more down to earth pricewise, the Boat House is in "good condition," Nelson says, but it needs some roof work. And while the bathrooms and kitchen date to the late '80s, "they were so progressive when they put them in, they're not dated at all," Nelson says.
Other architectural details include a retractable roof in the mezzanine-level master suite, 24-foot-high ceilings, marble everywhere, and open spaces for entertaining. The 3,906-square-foot space includes four bedrooms, five bathrooms, and multiple decks. To cool off in this desert, head out to the ship's "prow" -- an inviting deck with an infinity pool.