Hi Jaime, how are you? Whats been happening lately since relocating from Vancouver to Palm Springs?

I’m great! I’m really enjoying the sunshine, my fantastic group of friends and all this city has to offer. Palm Springs is an exciting place to be right now. This year I completed a major renovation at The Amado which is a gorgeous mid-century apartment complex I purchased in Central Palm Springs. I converted the building from a long term rental complex into a new boutique accommodation concept. The Amado has already attracted a really creative, artistic client base from all over the US, Canada and Europe who have booked online through Airbnb.com or through my website. Production teams from LA are booking The Amado for photo shoots, and a couple of weeks ago we hosted a large architectural pop-up installation involving an amazing group of artists from a collective called The On the Road Project LA, in conjunction with Modernism Week.

Tell us a little more about The Amado concept. Where did the inspiration come from, and what’s the driving force behind it?

I’m really interested in the psychology of space and how the design of that space can act as a platform for all kinds of creative conversations or experiences. The Amado provides an amazing arena for friends, families or colleagues to come together, relax and spend quality time, but it’s also attracting creative types who are booking yoga retreats, photo shoots and launch parties as well. The energy of the complex is dynamic and social on one level, but introverted and restorative on another level. I’m really inspired by observing how people are interpreting and using the space in different ways.

“The energy of the complex is dynamic and social on one level, but introverted and restorative on another level” I think that sums it up.

So what’s your favourite space/or feature at The Amado? Is there anywhere or anything in particular that makes you feel like everything has come together like you planned, or better than expected?

There are a number of layers to the experience of The Amado that I love. Palm Springs has a certain warmth, quality of light and expansiveness to it which provides an amazing backdrop. I love the building itself, the history of it, and the feeling you get when you first step inside the private courtyard and your line of sight opens to the daybed and pool nestled amongst the ficus trees with the mountains behind. There is a small grove of mature citrus trees that are blooming right now giving off the most amazing sweet scent.

On top of location and architecture is my choice of furniture and art. I absolutely love the furniture I sourced from you at Walk the Plank Collective! I feel your creative contribution and attention to quality and detail was really important to the overall experience of The Amado. The proportion and aesthetic of the pieces are timeless, and compliments the mid-century aesthetic of The Amado in a really contemporary way.

All of the art at The Amado is curated around the theme of inspiring my guests to go on a desert adventure. The Amado is a perfect launch pad for a road trip to Joshua Tree or Pappy & Harriot’s which is an incredible little dive bar in Pioneertown and a low key venue for some really incredible bands. The large art canvases in each suite are images I photographed in and around Palm Springs, and I curated a selection of vintage photographic prints shot in the desert or poolside from the Condé Nast Archives from the 50s and 60s. I’m working with an incredible mixed-media artist named Cristopher Cichocki who is developing new works of art specifically for The Amado which add an incredible depth and texture to each suite. He recently had a solo show at The Palm Springs Museum of Art and his work draws inspiration from the Salton Sea, so fits perfectly within the context of the overall theme.

I think everyone’s collective creative input and interpretation has come together to create something that’s better than expected. That’s the amazing thing about creative collaboration.

Our Lunar Coffee Table in White/Natural along with the Hans Chairs in Perfect Natural.

And how about your photography work? I know you will always travel, but it seems lately you’re work has taken a shift from being more travel, cultural and lifestyle based to a little more interior and architecture focused. Is that a conscious decision, is it something you feel, something you enjoy or just a part of your overall development?

Yes, my work has definitely shifted more towards architecture and interiors over the past few years. In 2007 I was hired to document the build of one of Canada’s largest residential homes which was a process that took six years. Over the course of numerous site visits, I became intrigued with seeing how the initial vision of the home evolved, adapted and changed and the dedication that is required to create a space that is truly revolutionary. I got to know the architects, interior designers and builders really well and we ultimately produced a half hour video on the project which was an incredible experience I was lucky to be a part of. That was the catalyst.

Palm Springs is globally renowned for its mid-century architecture and because of this there is a higher demand for architectural photography. Ultimately living here is a great synthesis of past experience and new opportunity, and as I continue to expand my architectural portfolio on my website, I am attracting new clients in this genre.

“The Amado is a perfect launch pad for a road trip to Joshua Tree”

Ok – and so what’s next? is there anything we should be looking out for? Future projects, interesting developments, exciting travels on the horizon?

I mentioned there is a lot of creative opportunity in Palm Springs – it’s a young city that is growing quickly. My best friend Chris Pardo and I happened to move here at the same time and quickly saw the opportunity to open a coffee shop. We were looking for a place where we would want to go every morning. The shop is located in the Palm Springs Uptown Design District at 1101 North Palm Canyon Road, in the space where one of the first Don the Beachcomber tiki restaurants was opened. There are still large tiki torches on the outside of the building which we are hoping to re-light. We named it Ernest Coffee after Don the Beachcomber’s first name. We’re serving Stumptown Coffee roasted in LA, and right now are in the middle of completely renovating both the interior and exterior space. The interior is bright, open and airy. Chris is an incredible architect and he designed the whole thing. We’re using a lot of natural materials. We are also building a patio that provides a beautiful view of the San Jacinto mountains. One of the coolest things about this project is how excited the community is – there aren’t any coffee shops in this neighborhood yet and I think it’s going to be a great catalyst for continued growth in the area.

Thank you!

Check out a full gallery of ‘The Amado’ here

Book “The Amado” at www.theamado.com and Airbnb.com : Portrait by Bridget Fleming / All other photo’s by Jaime Kowal