Shag's 3D Adventure - Page 2

A color rendering of the front elevation evokes a Shag painting that transports us into a futuristic world, with new mid-century-style concrete screen block, a trio of flying-saucer lights, and double-height lime-colored double doors.

"I tried for a balance between mid-century modern and Hollywood Regency," Agle says. "I did the renderings, sort of like architectural drawings, and then we worked from those. It's been great working with JP, because I got to do these drawings, send them to him, and he made them work."

Reimagining a backyard environment fitting for Shag-style cocktail soirees and pool parties, the team adapted the original pool, "adding a spa that is semi-attached so the original footprint of the pool is still there, re-tiling it, and replacing the plaster with Pebble Tec," Flynn says. They also added a shallow Baja shelf for poolside lounging.

"The striped pool tiles are just rectangular tiles," Agle says. "I designed their alternating orange and white configurations." Tiles on the exterior of the spa were designed by Fina Meraz, a Palm Springs tile designer; and Agle himself designed the concrete tiles for the outside game area, in conjunction with Tesselle.

Successfully pulling off a project like this takes considerable teamwork, capital, and time. Flynn, who prides himself on being "a dot connector," says, "We're doing a $500,000 remodel on the house, but through collaborative sponsorship I have brought in about $250,000 in donated building materials from design entities that have teamed up with us."

As the buzz builds and construction comes to a close, Agle and his team are anticipating a stellar grand opening for Modernism Week, February 16-26. "The Shag House is going to be a featured home," says Flynn, "and there will be six days of home tours. Plus, we'll have a 'big reveal' party for the official opening night, where we'll have a swanky soiree like you see in Shag paintings."

Though Agle already owns a home in the desert, he plans to occasionally stay at the Shag House when he's in Palm Springs for Shag Store gallery appearances. "More likely, I'll have parties there," he says.

Plans include making the house available as an event space, and for corporate retreats. "It's not going to be an Airbnb or vacation rental—maybe just kind of a showcase," Agle says.

Investor Brandon McBurney will also use the home as his Palm Springs residence when he's not traveling. "He plans on spending about a third of his time living at the house," according to Flynn. "The rest of the time he will make it available to bonafide charitable organizations."

"The Shag House has been a really fun project—a lot more work than I expected," Agle adds with a tone of relief. "The hope is to sell this house a few years down the road—and then do another, bigger one."

• For more info and photographs on the creation of the Shag House, visit Instagram @theshaghouse.