Leilani Marie Labong

Leilani Marie Labong writes about food, travel, and design for Wall Street Journal, Travel + Leisure, and National Geographic. As a former American expat who lived in Kyoto, she appreciates the Japanese approach to agriculture; her first apartment in the prefecture bordered a rice paddy.
The Hidden Modernism of La Quinta Country Club

Audio availableThe Hidden Modernism of La Quinta Country Club

Dec 31, 2025 |

The desert will harbor one less secret when Modernism Week 2026 sweeps in next month: La Quinta Country Club will finally unlock its long-impenetrable gates for public tours of six private residences. Until now, only flashes of the architectural gems inside Golf Estates — the largest of  the 13 tracts orbiting the club — have drifted into the collective consciousness. One of the most whispered-about is the 1960 A. Quincy Jones and Frederick Emmons house designed for film director Frank Capra, an outwardly modest hideaway with a loyal fan base. (Spoiler alert: It’s not on the tour.)

2025 Architectural Preservation Awards Honors Five Projects and People in Palm Springs

Audio available2025 Architectural Preservation Awards Honors Five Projects and People in Palm Springs

Oct 1, 2025 |

Preservation is an act of defiance — against indifference, demolition permits, and the slow creep of  time. The Palm Springs Modern Committee’s annual Architectural Preservation Awards celebrate that spirit in all its forms: painstaking restorations, daring revivals, and new designs that honor the city’s singular architectural DNA. On Saturday, Oct. 11, PS ModCom will recognize five projects and individuals for their contributions to preservation, restoration, and new design.

Inside Megan Dufresne’s Rancho Mirage Home Makeover

Inside Megan Dufresne’s Rancho Mirage Home Makeover

Apr 19, 2024 |

To undo the flagrant flamboyancy inside a waterfront vacation house in Lake Mirage that Los Angeles–based interior designer Megan Dufresne purchased midpandemic, she adopted a mighty battle cry: “If it’s not a ‘no,’ then it’s a ‘hell yes.’ ” Desert dwellings are a bit...

Palm Springs Life magazine cover titled “Designing for Tomorrow,” featuring a hand-drawn architectural sketch highlighting achievements in restoration and design in Palm Springs.
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