Sara and Rich Combs first discovered the desert wilderness of Joshua Tree in the Mojave Desert during a month-long road trip through the US. Back home in San Francisco, the surreal landscapes and calm quiet of the place stayed with them. Unable to get Joshua Tree out of their heads, they returned a year later looking for a home to buy.
The product of their search and restoration is the Joshua Tree House, a unique home that Sara and Rich have chosen to share with guests from around the world. Much more than your average rental, the Joshua Tree House is full of the heart that Sara and Rich have poured into it.
Sara and Rich found the house on Craigslist. Although it was structurally impressive, it required a lot of renovation, work the couple undertook themselves. Through the course of the project they learnt about the practical aspects of house building but also about the character of the house itself. “We loved getting to know the home through the process,†says Sara, “It often felt like our best ideas for each space came as we were sitting on the floor sanding or cutting into a wall to do electrical work.â€
To an extent, Sara and Rich have let the house dictate its own design. Muted, weather-washed colours and natural materials perfectly complement the surrounding desert expanse. Understanding each space within the house means they have been able to make the most of them. “We’re always thinking about the experience of a space, not just the aesthetics. We certainly have pieces that we’re drawn to but after spending time in each room we’ll bring items into it that enhance its features. For example, a sunny corner is enhanced with a hammock or hanging chair and a stack of books.â€
The couple’s favourite space in the house is the living room. It’s a space of both grandness and simplicity with a high vaulted ceiling. There’s an old stone fireplace and large, original casement windows offering views of Joshua trees and sandy plains outside.
Sara describes the local landscape as “perfectly strangeâ€. It’s a world of kookily formed Joshua trees and bulging rock formations, the most impressive of which can be found on hiking trails through the Joshua Tree National Park. These awkward, dreamlike vistas are inspiring and Sara and Rich tell us that they are tempting more and more creatives away from the cities. Here, they say, “surreal landscapes and open horizon leave space to both breathe and createâ€.
It’s no surprise then that the names of writers and musicians feature in the Joshua Tree House guest book. The desert landscape provides the perfect retreat for those working on creative endeavours. Sara and Rich happily tell us about guests who have left messages expressing the profound impact that Joshua Tree has had upon them. Couples have got engaged and some have spent their first weekend away with a new baby here. But, even for those who don’t experience momentous life milestones, the other-worldly quality of Joshua Tree makes a visit something extra special.
The landscape is certainly captivating but the Joshua Tree House can take equal credit for the unforgettable memories people have created here. Sara and Rich have successfully created a space in which to “reflect, reset, and createâ€. Guests are encouraged to do things slowly. They can make coffee by drip whilst listening to records from the vintage vinyl collection. They can watch an awe-
inspiring sunrise from the porch and spend evenings looking up at the vast, starry night sky from the hot tub. This, as Sara and Rich found all that time ago, is the kind of place that leaves an imprint on the soul.
Head to Instagram to see more of the Joshua Tree House and Sara & Rich’s subsequent projects, the Joshua Tree Casita and Hacienda. Or go ahead and book your stay to see it first-hand.Â