As the area grew in popularity, many sought to build second homes in Palm Desert and gave some of the finest architects of the era free reign to realize their dream. Bill Cody, Albert Frey, William Krisel, Donald Wexler, Walter White, E. Stewart Williams, John Outcault, and R. M. Schindler were in demand for a design aesthetic that became known as Desert Modernism. Each had their own interpretation but commonalities included the vast use of glass to draw in the desert landscape, clean lines, natural, and manmade materials as well as indoor/outdoor living spaces.

 The unique requirements of desert living — light, heat, and wind — came into play through the selection of materials, floor plans, and techniques that distinguish residential, commercial, civic, religious, and institutional buildings in Palm Desert. Many of these buildings still exist today close to their original form preserving the mid-century modern style as it enjoys a new-found popularity.