Casa Bajada is a study in contrast. The 4,845-square-foot desert residence in Indian Wells, Calif., is where the raw beauty of the surrounding landscape meets the refined boldness of Aimee Meisgeier’s design vision. The founder of AM Interior Design approached the complete renovation of this modern Spanish-style home and casita with a singular ambition: to create a retreat for guests that feels deeply personal and effortlessly sophisticated, a place where every space is imbued with intention and every detail invites discovery.
“From the outset, the clients wanted a home that would leave an impression on their guests,” Meisgeier says. “Not just in terms of comfort, but in the way each room makes you feel. We set out to design a house where every area has its own identity, its own narrative.”
That narrative begins at the threshold, where double front doors open to a central family room defined by a floor-to-ceiling window wall. The effect is immediate and breathtaking, where the desert floods in, and the boundary between interior and exterior dissolves. “The light here is extraordinary,” Meisgeier remarks. “We wanted to capture that, to let the landscape become part of the experience.”
The living room serves as the home’s emotional core, its design orbiting around a custom fireplace tile that Meisgeier describes as the project’s conceptual anchor. “The tile was the starting point—its pattern, its color, its texture. Everything else in the room grew from there,” she says.
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The result is layered sophistication, where a dark olive green corduroy sectional and rush seat counter stools coexist with a salvaged vintage wood fireplace mantel, each element contributing to a sense of warmth. “It’s about balance,” she notes. “The boldness of the tile needed to be tempered by softer, more organic materials. That tension is what gives the room its energy.”
Meisgeier’s approach to materiality is equally deliberate. Throughout the home, natural stone, handmade tiles and custom cabinetry create a tactile richness. In one bathroom, yellow floral floor tiles make a playfully refined statement, while in the kitchen, the Mont Blanc quartzite island—with seating for eight—becomes a gathering place for conversation and connection.
“I believe in materials that tell a story,” she says. “Whether it’s the veining in the stone or the imperfections in a handmade tile, those details add depth. They make a space feel lived-in, even when it’s brand new.”
The home’s spatial organization further enhances its sense of intimacy and flow. Two ensuite bedroom wings—one housing the primary suite and a guest room, the other a second guest suite—offer privacy without isolation. In contrast, the guest casita, nestled in the front courtyard, provides a secluded retreat with views of a water feature and a fire pit.
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“The layout was designed to encourage movement, to draw people through the home and into the landscape,” Meisgeier explains. “The primary bedroom, for instance, is positioned just off the hot tub, so you step outside, and you’re immediately immersed in the desert. It’s about creating those moments of connection.”
For the designer, the project was also an exercise in creative freedom, informed by Palm Springs’ reputation for embracing bold, unexpected design. “There’s a fearlessness here, a willingness to take risks,” she reflects. “That spirit allowed us to play with pattern and color in ways that might feel overwhelming elsewhere. But in this context, it works. It feels joyful.”
That joy is evident in the home’s curated lighting, custom vanities and the thoughtful juxtaposition of vintage and contemporary pieces, each choice a testament to Meisgeier’s belief that design should be as functional as it is beautiful.
Perhaps most remarkable is how Casa Bajada achieves cohesion despite its eclectic influences. “The desert palette—those earthy tones, those natural textures—served as our guide,” Meisgeier says. “But we didn’t want the home to feel too serious. The patterns, the colors, the unexpected touches—they keep it lighthearted.”
That balance between sophistication and playfulness is what defines this home, making it a place that feels both elevated and inviting.
Executing the vision required meticulous coordination, particularly given the project’s remote nature. With Meisgeier based in Seattle and the home in Indian Wells, communication with the on-site team was paramount.
“We relied on trust and clarity,” she recalls. “Every detail had to be communicated precisely, from the placement of a tile to the finish on a cabinet. But that process also reinforced the collaborative spirit of the project.”
Over the course of a year and a half, the home took shape, each decision a step toward realizing Meisgeier’s vision of a desert retreat that feels as vibrant as it does timeless.
Casa Bajada demonstrates the power of design to transform not just a space, but the way it’s experienced. “What I’ll always remember about this project is how much fun it was to push the boundaries,” Meisgeier notes. “To create a home that feels like a discovery, where every room offers something new. That’s the magic of design—it’s not just about how a place looks, but how it makes you feel.”
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