The year is 2024. An artist couple from Los Angeles, Steph & Bill Kowal-Hemstapat, purchased this single-family home in Yucca Valley with a simple goal: to share the kind of desert magic we had fallen in love with.

Built in 1968, the house has passed through many hands. While its original vision remains a bit of a mystery, one thing is undeniable; the location was chosen with care. Perched on a hill overlooking the valley, the home invites the outdoors in. Light moves freely through the space, and the natural materials allow the line between inside and outside to blur.

We met in Los Angeles while completing our Master’s degrees at USC (Bill originally from Thailand and Steph from Canada) and now work in the entertainment industry. We love LA (and our cat Goose, who strongly prefers we never leave), but we’ve found something really special out here. The desert has quickly become our reset; a place where things feel quieter, slower, and a little more meaningful.

As working artists, we wanted this home to feel intentional. Like a space that inspires creativity, reflection, and a little bit of whimsy. Whether you’re here to write, rest, explore, or to watch the sunset with a drink in hand, we hope the house gives you the same sense of calm it gives us. This isn’t just a place to stay, it’s a place to slow down, breathe deeper, and take it all in.

The desert has a way of slowing everything down - in the best way. We hope you settle in, lose track of time a little, and maybe even leave with a new idea, a new perspective… or at the very least, a really good nap! (Which is almost just as valuable!)