In the early 1920s, King Camp Gillette, who invented the self-named safety razor with disposable blades, had grand visions of building in the Palm Springs desert at the foot of the towering San Jacinto Mountains.

He bought a large tract of land in the as-yet undeveloped Palm Springs Mesa area, with the intent of “beautifying” it, according to the Desert Sun.

In 1923, he had a large estate built on it and began extensive desert plantings, hoping to re-create the landscape of the Desert Inn gardens, where he had previously been staying.

The pretty property he built is now on the market for $7,250,000.

There’s a good chance architect Wallace Neff had a hand in creating the place, as he was also involved at the time in building a large ranch for Gillette in the Santa Monica Mountains near Calabasas. And the desert property bears all the markings of Neff’s signature Spanish Colonial Revival style.

Unfortunately, the stock market crash in 1929 and the Great Depression took their toll on Gillette’s fortunes, and his health took a turn for the worse. After he died in 1933, his son sold off his desert holdings.

More recently, the Palm Springs estate has been immaculately preserved and restored.

Desert compound

Gillette’s former estate is now nestled among others in a tony neighborhood known as The Mesa. It benefits from easy access to the trendy shops, restaurants, and nightlife of downtown Palm Springs.

The half-acre property includes the original 4,800-square-foot main residence and 1,460-square-foot guesthouse. Both have their own pools and addresses.

The buildings and grounds went through thoughtful and thorough restorations that took five years, from 2015 to 2020.

One interesting update that did not sacrifice the original aesthetic is the solar panels nestled among the classic red tiles of the main roof, hidden from street-level view.

Spanish tiles, terra-cotta flooring, arched passageways, wood ceiling beams, stone fireplaces, and elaborate wrought iron—so popular in the 1920s—are evident throughout both houses.

The main house features a massive great room with marble flooring and floor-to-ceiling windows that seamlessly connect it to the manicured grounds.

The kitchen connects to the great room via a peninsula that does double duty as a bar. The cook space also has an island and high-end, stainless-steel appliances.

There are a total of eight bedrooms and 8.5 baths on the property, some with fireplaces, some with iron-accented French doors, and many with attached baths renovated with upscale fixtures and decor.

Until 2021, the guest property and main residence were completely separated. They are now joined, but each house has its own pool, fire pit, loggia, and ample garage space.

Those outdoor spaces are sublime, with their custom-designed pools, tiered water features, covered seating areas, and curated lighting.

The price of the house includes the furnishings and accessories, making this a turnkey listing.

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