scorecardI toured a desert mansion with a buried pool, glass stargazing ceilings, and $6,500 Airbnb fee — see inside
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  4. I toured a desert mansion with a buried pool, glass stargazing ceilings, and $6,500 Airbnb fee — see inside

I toured a desert mansion with a buried pool, glass stargazing ceilings, and $6,500 Airbnb fee see inside

Jamie Killin   

I toured a desert mansion with a buried pool, glass stargazing ceilings, and $6,500 Airbnb fee — see inside
Katya Grozovskaya
  • The Kellogg Doolittle House, designed by Kendrick Bangs Kellogg, is an "organic architecture" home.
  • The interior is by John Vugrin, who made the furniture, doors, and glass planes. He's still working on the home today.

The Kellogg Doolittle House is a sprawling, three-bedroom home in Joshua Tree, California, which blends organic and brutalist architectural styles.

The Kellogg Doolittle House is a sprawling, three-bedroom home in Joshua Tree, California, which blends organic and brutalist architectural styles.
Katya Grozovskaya

It rents for $6,500 and more per night on Airbnb Luxe, and I recently toured it.

It rents for $6,500 and more per night on Airbnb Luxe, and I recently toured it.
Jamie Killin

The house was designed by renowned architect Kendrick Bangs Kellogg for an artist couple, Jay and Beverly "Bev" Doolittle.

The house was designed by renowned architect Kendrick Bangs Kellogg for an artist couple, Jay and Beverly "Bev" Doolittle.
Katya Grozovskaya

The home was constructed over a more than 20-year period beginning in the 1980s.

The home was constructed over a more than 20-year period beginning in the 1980s.
Katya Grozovskaya

The home, which consists of an elevated main house and a smaller apartment and garage at street level, has a hand-laid stone walkway that runs 500 feet. The same stone flooring continues throughout the home.

The home, which consists of an elevated main house and a smaller apartment and garage at street level, has a hand-laid stone walkway that runs 500 feet. The same stone flooring continues throughout the home.
Jamie Killin

The house is on a 10.5-acre plot next to Joshua Tree National Park, which stretches nearly 800,000 acres.

The house is on a 10.5-acre plot next to Joshua Tree National Park, which stretches nearly 800,000 acres.
Jamie Killin

The home is estimated to be 5,000 square feet. However, it's impossible to accurately measure it due to the irregular shape and construction.

The home is estimated to be 5,000 square feet. However, it
Katya Grozovskaya

A long, winding walkway leads up to the front door.

A long, winding walkway leads up to the front door.
Jamie Killin

The home has no traditional walls and is instead crafted with 26 cantilevered concrete columns.

The home has no traditional walls and is instead crafted with 26 cantilevered concrete columns.
Katya Grozovskaya

Between each pillar, the ceiling is enclosed with glass.

Between each pillar, the ceiling is enclosed with glass.
Jamie Killin

The unique front door is made with glass and metal.

The unique front door is made with glass and metal.
Jamie Killin

The home's interior master craftsman, John Vugrin, is Kellogg's protege and continues to work on the interior to this day. He started on the project in 1994.

The home
Katya Grozovskaya

The interior features hanging sculptures made of marble. Every piece of furniture, built-in item, lighting fixture, and door was handmade by Vugrin.

The interior features hanging sculptures made of marble. Every piece of furniture, built-in item, lighting fixture, and door was handmade by Vugrin.
Katya Grozovskaya

In fact, the home only has a singular art piece not created by Vugrin.

In fact, the home only has a singular art piece not created by Vugrin.
Jamie Killin

Each of the more than 1,000 panes of glass in the home was hand crafted and is one-of-a-kind.

Each of the more than 1,000 panes of glass in the home was hand crafted and is one-of-a-kind.
Jamie Killin

The main living space is a few steps down from the main floor. The home is unique in that each aspect of the interior was designed by a single artist.

The main living space is a few steps down from the main floor. The home is unique in that each aspect of the interior was designed by a single artist.
Jamie Killin

It features a couch, a coffee table, a fireplace, and a TV made to look like a piece of art.

It features a couch, a coffee table, a fireplace, and a TV made to look like a piece of art.
Jamie Killin

It also offers a view of the home's exterior.

It also offers a view of the home
Bedroom in the Kellogg Doolittle House.

Guests must walk up a few steps to enter the kitchen.

Guests must walk up a few steps to enter the kitchen.
Jamie Killin

The kitchen, which is built between massive, unmoved boulders, is designed in a semi-circle.

The kitchen, which is built between massive, unmoved boulders, is designed in a semi-circle.
Katya Grozovskaya

A staircase leads down to one of the three bedrooms.

A staircase leads down to one of the three bedrooms.
Jamie Killin

The downstairs bedroom is more intimate than the others, with a lower ceiling and less square footage.

The downstairs bedroom is more intimate than the others, with a lower ceiling and less square footage.
Katya Grozovskaya

The shower and sink are hand carved from marble.

The shower and sink are hand carved from marble.
Jamie Killin

The dining table extends from the wall and is carved from marble. Each chair around it is unique.

The dining table extends from the wall and is carved from marble. Each chair around it is unique.
Katya Grozovskaya

The table is cantilevered — hanging in space, only supported by its connection to the wall.

The table is cantilevered — hanging in space, only supported by its connection to the wall.
Jamie Killin

The dining table design extends to create a table on one of the patios.

The dining table design extends to create a table on one of the patios.
Katya Grozovskaya

The smaller of the patios has a water feature.

The smaller of the patios has a water feature.
Jamie Killin

This bathroom sink was hand-formed with copper.

This bathroom sink was hand-formed with copper.
Katya Grozovskaya

A couple of small work spaces can be found throughout the house.

A couple of small work spaces can be found throughout the house.
Katya Grozovskaya

The entry to this bedroom offers a nod to Frank Lloyd Wright, with his characteristic compress and release technique of design.

The entry to this bedroom offers a nod to Frank Lloyd Wright, with his characteristic compress and release technique of design.
Jamie Killin

The room originally had a 14-foot pool, but it was recently transformed into a bedroom with the pool remaining intact underneath.

The room originally had a 14-foot pool, but it was recently transformed into a bedroom with the pool remaining intact underneath.
Katya Grozovskaya

This bedroom features the largest Hästens bed ever made in the company's 170-year history.

This bedroom features the largest Hästens bed ever made in the company
Katya Grozovskaya

The master bathroom vanity was crafted with wood and bronze.

The master bathroom vanity was crafted with wood and bronze.
Jamie Killin

It also features a shower and a bath made from stone. A waterfall snakes around the exterior of the bathroom.

It also features a shower and a bath made from stone. A waterfall snakes around the exterior of the bathroom.
Jamie Killin

The master bedroom faces directly south, offering a view of the Milky Way on starry nights.

The master bedroom faces directly south, offering a view of the Milky Way on starry nights.
Katya Grozovskaya

The current owner is building a large outdoor bar where a planter used to be — complete with new, handmade chairs.

The current owner is building a large outdoor bar where a planter used to be — complete with new, handmade chairs.
Jamie Killin

The patio also offers a view of one of the bedrooms, as well as the house's unique wave-like exterior.

The patio also offers a view of one of the bedrooms, as well as the house
Jamie Killin

My tour of this one-of-a-kind home was a treat. It would be for anyone — architecture enthusiast or not — thanks to its grandiose features and endless hand-crafted elements.

My tour of this one-of-a-kind home was a treat. It would be for anyone — architecture enthusiast or not — thanks to its grandiose features and endless hand-crafted elements.
Katya Grozovskaya

In true organic style, its beauty and uniqueness fit perfectly within Joshua Tree's sprawling desert landscape.

In true organic style, its beauty and uniqueness fit perfectly within Joshua Tree
Katya Grozovskaya
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