615 S Canon Dr., Palm Springs, CA

Property Description

This 1957 Meiselman residence on Canon Drive is a perfect example of a small midcentury modernist home with great curb appeal. Its efficient scale (1,170 square feet on a quarter-acre lot) is small by Meiselman standards, but is generous in spatial imagination. Built by Jack Meiselman, the home announces its modernist credentials immediately: a butterfly roof, one of the era’s most recognizable architectural rooflines, creates a distinctive silhouette while managing the desert’s intense sun through its peaked form. Floor-to-ceiling glazing establishes the hallmark indoor-outdoor continuity that defined Meiselman’s approach to desert living, dissolving the boundary between interior and patio.

The home’s circulation is thoughtfully organized around a street-facing courtyard entry that directs arrivals toward the private rear yard—a spatial strategy that maximizes both openness and privacy. The rear grounds unfold generously: a pool, dining patio, bocce court, and a gas fire pit create distinct zones for relaxation and entertaining. A vintage 1950s travel trailer sits on the property, itself a period artifact of mid-century leisure culture. This abundance of outdoor living space typifies Meiselman’s understanding that in the Palm Springs climate, the yard is as much a room as the interior.

Inside, the home centers on an open-plan living and dining area fed by natural light, with a generously proportioned kitchen. The three bedrooms and two bathrooms are distributed efficiently through the compact footprint. Cork flooring runs throughout—a warm, acoustic material favored in mid-century modern homes for its natural properties and easy maintenance. The primary bedroom includes an ensuite bathroom and access to a substantial laundry room, practical amenities that reflect Meiselman’s pragmatic approach to residential planning.

The home underwent a comprehensive renovation in 2018 that updated its systems and finishes while preserving its essential character. Modern stainless appliances and custom cabinetry, updated plumbing and electrical systems, and contemporary pool equipment (a variable-speed pump with smartphone monitoring) keep the home livable and efficient today. The renovation was executed with sensitivity; the butterfly roof, glazing patterns, floor plan, and spatial relationships that really define the home remain intact.

Development and Neighborhood

Little Beverly Hills is a residential enclave in central Palm Springs, positioned south of downtown along Canon Drive and the surrounding grid. The neighborhood developed in the mid-to-late 1950s as Palm Springs expanded beyond its resort core, drawing residents seeking smaller, more affordable homes in walkable central locations. The name reflects the neighborhood’s modest aspirations and urban character—a reference to the glamorous Hollywood enclave, but adapted to the realities of desert residential development.

Jack Meiselman built numerous properties in and around Little Beverly Hills, capitalizing on the neighborhood’s growing demand for modern, well-designed homes that could be constructed and sold efficiently. His approach—clean lines, strong connections to the outdoors, practical floor plans, distinctive formal moves like the butterfly roof—made perfect sense in this context. These homes were neither luxury retreats nor vacation properties; they were primary residences for professionals, retirees, and young families seeking modern design without ostentation.

Canon Drive itself sits on the quiet side of central Palm Springs, away from the main commercial corridors but well-connected to downtown, shopping, and transportation routes. This location—neither pioneering nor purely suburban—captures the character of mid-century Palm Springs development at its most pragmatic and generative. The homes here represent Meiselman’s core work: modest in footprint, bold in design intent, and entirely livable for people of ordinary means with modernist sensibilities.

Do you own this home?

We’d love to hear your story. Whether you’re the current resident, a past owner, or have documentation from earlier decades, please get in touch to share your experiences, archival materials, or photos. Your insights help us build a more complete picture of Meiselman’s legacy in Palm Springs.