This House Is the Ultimate Getaway

The first thing Michael Thackeray and Sameer Gopulay did after they got the keys to their Palm Springs, California, home: “We grabbed chairs left by the previous owner and put them in a big circle by the living room,” says Michael. “It’s where guests immediately gravitated, so we knew we were onto something.” A pal jokingly dubbed it “the circle of love,” and the name stuck. When the couple decided to renovate their 2,500-square-foot home, built in 1958, they upgraded the special space — and everything else — with the help of designer Michelle Boudreau. Original tongue and groove ceilings were patched and repaired, and sleek terrazzo floors poured. Then they layered in funky midcentury modern pieces and the couple’s vintage treasures. Michelle even incorporated the circle theme. Says Sameer, “Everyone feels comfortable and relaxed here.” Says Michael, “Every hour is happy hour!”