Mr. Mod Palm Springs: March 2012

Friday, March 23, 2012

Alexander Home Illustration

Sometimes a client has a hard time visualizing what a home will look like after a facelift. I love to be able to do a 3D rendering on my own- fortunately, I have some training as an interior designer and did this one in a couple of hours. I've loved drawing since I was a kid, and I always forget that I know how to make something look really fantastic with very little work.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Palm Springs Past

Some of my favorite things to collect are ephemera; things that were meant to be thrown away. I have a budding colletion of ashtrays and matches from Palm Springs Nightclubs, was really surprised to find this tabletopper from The Doll House, famous for Peggy Lee's performances there, and where Joan Crawford apparently took up waiting tables for an evening, to prove she could do it, just like her performance in Mildred Pierce. Also love the Chi-Chi menu!

Poolside in Palm Springs

It's really wonderful to be eating dinner outside in the evenings in March. Had a great poolside pizza dinner at the home of Laurie and Larry Weitz, talking about doing a fashion and interior event at their posh Las Palmas home in April. Can't wait! It's always great to spend time in an Alexander home, particularly when it's been renovated in a fabulous way. White on white on white.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Vintage Cruisers on Palm Canyon Drive

One of the best things about living in Southern California is that you get to see all these great cars on the road all of the time. Living in Palm Springs, I can drive a nice older car every day and not worry about it being parked on the street. Everyone loves the old cars here!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Palm Springs Art Museum Photography Council Party

The Palm Springs Art Museum's Photography Council hosted a Moroccan-themed party at the home of Sally Riggs in Thunderbird Heights in Rancho Mirage. I'm a longtime admirer of Sally's swank hilltop perch with all its wooden screens, intimate corners, and cool Middle-Eastern flair. One of the greatest homes in the desert!

Client Reviews of My Services

We used Paul Kaplan's Modern Real Estate group and have never had better service from any agent EVER!! Matthew Reader was a godsend and went well beyond the call of duty, in helping our home get set up, as I couldn't always be there. Time and time again, little issues still pop up and Matthew is still there helping us out even after the sale has long since completed! I wish everyone could have the amazing experience I had with Matthew and the rest of the Paul Kaplan group, uber professional and the best guys to work with. This is what home buying experience should be like! Bravo Matthew and Paul and all the other great agents at this firm. thanks Matthew!!

Liz M.
Vancouver, B.C., Canada

What else is there to say about Matthew Reader except ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS?! Use him as an agent, and it's like you get a bonus comedy act for free! The inevitable bumps of a home purchase can't be avoided, but he was able to make them almost enjoyable with his humor. He got me a great deal for a fixer in Yucca Valley (aka "Hooterville"), and I felt like he gave me the same attention as he would in one of his usual high end transactions in Palm Springs.
Not to mention, his outfits never fail to entertain as much as his witty repartee.

Why, Matthew makes the desert just a little bit brighter!

Kelly W.
Los Angeles, California

I recently had the pleasure of working with Matthew Reader to accomplish the purchase of a vacation property in Palm Springs. I have been involved in a reasonable number of real estate transactions over the years and would have to say that this was the best experience and most care free transaction I have had yet. Matthew responded quickly and efficiently on every issue that arose throughout the process. He also went above and beyond the call of duty to help me on a number of issues. Some of which occurred after closing, and which truly were not of a concern to him. I was truly impressed.
Matthew has proven to be very knowledgable regarding the Palm Springs and surrounding market and has been a good sounding board for advice and ideas as I look for another investment property. He also brings to the table a keen design eye that is useful in evaluating the potential of a possible property to suit ones needs.

Aside from his impeccable business etiquette, Matthew is witty, funny, and truly a nice person to be around. I could not provide a higher recommendation.

Mark M
San Clemente, California

We listed with Paul Kaplan's Modern Real Estate group and couldnt be more happier with the results and service we received! We received multiple offers and our condo sold for over asking . Matthew Reader was a pleasure to work with so we decided to use his services again when we purchased our cool new complex. Matthew exceeded our expections with his recommendations and his knowledge of the Palm Springs area past and present. He is a great resource to have and if you want to know anything about Palm Springs give Matthew a call!

Jeremy Z.
Vancouver, B.C., Canada

We became owners of a Rancho Mirage home, and Matthew was our agent! What to say? he was the perfect "fit", efficient, incredible knowledge, very stylish, and a great sense of humor. So what more to ask?......Cocktails by the pool maybe!
The whole experience was great, seamless and enjoyable.
Thanks Matthew!

Hubert P.
San Diego, California

Matthew Reader of the Paul Kaplan Modern Real Estate Group,did an outstanding job of assisting us as our real estate agent in our purchase of a home in Palm Springs . He was smart , insightful, and a pleasure to be around- in the future we will be using Matthew for all our real estate needs in Palm Springs. If you love mid century real estate , the Paul Kaplan group is the company to work with in Palm Springs.

Ben F.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

When my husband and I decided to start looking for a home in Palm Springs, we had heard of Paul Kaplan and his team. Between excellent recommendations and hearing of their superior knowledge of Mid-Century Modern architecture, we knew that they were the only realtors for us to work with.
Paul was a wonderful help during the process, and as first-time home buyers he helped guide us through the intricate and sometimes trying act of buying a home! He also introduced us to another member of his team, Matthew Reader, who wound up working as our realtor. Originally, my husband and I were dead set on buying a home in one specific neighborhood, but Matthew introduced us to a neighborhood that we had no previous knowledge of. It was exactly right for us! Even though the house needed some work, he helped us see the potential, and even went as far as to get us pictures of a friends home for us to see how great it could look. I don't think that without Matthew that we would have wound up realizing what a gem it was.

Needless to say, we couldn't be happier with our experience with the Matthew Reader of the Paul Kaplan Group for our new home.

I would recommend them to anyone looking to buy in the desert. Thanks to them again!

Samantha C.
Malibu, California

We had Matthew Reader help us and he was magnificent. He organized appointments to suit us. He was pleasant, personable and ready to answer any question we needed. He negotiated for us with the vendor and made the whole process of purchasing an apartment in Palm Springs a real pleasure.

I have never before in the purchasing of a property, and I have purchased many, had such wonderful help and such a pleasant experience. I could not have wished for anything better.

Mollie W.
Nevada City, California

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