Anyone who knows the first thing about American comedy is familiar with the legend of Dean Martin. A star of the stage, screen, and a roast-primary supreme, Dean Martin has been called “the King of Cool” by his friends and contemporaries. He managed to walk the line between groundbreaking comedy and maintaining a place in the hearts of mainstream America in the 1940s and 50s.
The famous white piano is just beside the bright living room with a few thin columns helping to support the large white ceiling with exposed white beams. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This other living room is placed on the other end near the glass walls giving the area a bright and airy feel complemented by a charming glass-top coffee table in the middle. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
Near the pair of cushioned arm chairs is a beautiful modern fireplace embedded into the white wall that reaches to the ceiling and its exposed white beams. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This living room’s beige sofa set is complemented by the large wall-mounted colorful artwork that stands out against the white wall. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is living room is part of the large great room. This area has a large beige sectional sofa and a couple of matching beige arm chairs. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The piano is paired with the equally famous white wooden bench that Barry Manilow revealed held musical sheets underneath its cushioned seat. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This beautiful piano is placed inside a large great room that has several comfortable areas brightened by the large glass walls bringing in natural lighting. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The white sleek piano matches well with the white tall ceiling and white flooring tiles. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This is elegant white piano that made this house more famous with Barry Manilow writing one of his songs on it. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The gray cabinetry of the kitchen island matches well with the stainless steel large two-door fridge beside it that stands out against the white walls and ceiling. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The middle of the kitchen is dominated by a kitchen island that houses the cooking area paired with a sink near the small breakfast bar. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
At the edge of the charming kitchen is this U-shaped peninsula with a glass countertop to serve as a bar paired with wooden stools. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This beautiful dining area is a part of the great room that also houses the living room. This has a white modern fireplace on its side embedded into a white structure that reaches to the white ceiling with exposed beams. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The white ceiling of the dining hangs a modern decorative chandelier over the glass-top dining table paired with cushioned seats. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This bedroom has a large platform bed with a wooden frame that matches the area rug at the foot of the bed brightened by the sliding glass walls. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This other bedroom has a beautiful chandelier hanging over the beige cushioned sleigh bed adorned with a patterned area rug and a colorful wall artwork. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This beautiful bathroom has elements of glass all around with its shower area frosted glass walls, wall-mounted mirrors and green glass sinks to its vanities. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This bathroom has gorgeous and vibrant red walls that serve as background for the glass walls and mirrors of the bathroom with beige flooring and ceiling. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This other bathroom has simple bluish-gray sleek walls that extends to the modern floating vanity and the walls of the walk-in shower area complemented by dark marble flooring. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
This large bathroom has enough floor space for comfortable sofas beside the vanity that has a green glass sink. On the far wall is the walk-in shower area with a thin window. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
Just a few steps from the pool side area is this relaxing covered patio with a tall white ceiling paired with concrete slab flooring. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
Under the same tall ceiling of the covered patio is this outdoor dining area with a long glass-top dining table paired with white iron garden chairs with seat cushions. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The outdoor dining area is just a few steps from the beautiful swimming pool that is surrounded by lush landscaping and outdoor lighting. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The beautiful glass walls, windows and open walls of the house exterior contribute to the amount of warm welcoming light cascading over the outdoor patio and pool side. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The beautiful swimming pool of the backyard is surrounded by concrete walkways and walled by lush landscaping for privacy. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
The lovely pool side of the back of the house has a large covered area with a patio sitting area on one side and an outdoor dining area on the other. Images courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.
Martin passed away in 1995 at age 78, but his legacy lives on- partly in the form of his $1.8 million home in Palm Springs, CA. Known as the “Tea Dance House,” the Martin home has a 2,342 square foot floor plan and has all of the markers of high style and class that were typical of the 1960s. It was a primary hangout for the “Rat Pack” of which Martin was a ranking member, and it’s easy to see why with its lavish and easy-going pool area, backed by the long profile of the building itself.
Stepping into the main living area, one gets the impression of having died and gone to heaven, and that God is a jazz piano fan. The room is big, wide, and open with white walls, floors, and ceiling, mirrored pillars and an arched ceiling reminiscent of a wooden longboat.
The long open room has a row of sliding glass doors which open to the pool area, making the barrier between the indoor and outdoor area vanishingly transparent. It has the effect of conjoining the indoor and outdoor areas, making them amenable to roaring cocktail parties with huge guest lists. It’s likely that every major celebrity of the time has walked these spaces at least once.
Aside, and naturally attached to, the living/party area is a brightly colored and glass-heavy sitting room. Ocean blues and foam whites swirl under the influence of a mural of the same color pallet. A simple, white brick fireplace stands at the far end to help ensure that this spot is for sitting- whereas the rest of the space is clearly intended for mixing things up.
Around a slight corner from the sitting area- though still firmly attached- is a dining area which is a little more grown-up than the rest, but not by much. The chairs are large, white, and cushy while the table itself is rather small. It’s an interesting contrast, considering the size and complexity of the kitchen.
A 15-eye gas stovetop stands on an island in the center of the kitchen and a two-stack of ovens is arranged off to the side. Clearly, this kitchen was designed with culinary showmanship in mind. It’s likely that many celebrity chefs had the honor of testing their skills here. It certainly would have been a wonderful thing to see.
A separate, finer dining area is around the corner, disconnected from the sprawling party area. With glass, wood, and tasteful lighting, this appears to be a place where the food matters most.
There’s no doubt, Dean Martin and his friends enjoyed the heights of style and society here. If only one could go back in time and be a fly on the wall…
