Bobby Berk's Palm Desert Home Is a Charming and Rambling Oasis

Bobby Berk knows how to pull off a major makeover, and we're not just talking about his famed home renovations. As the design guru on eight seasons of Queer Eye, Bobby — alongside the show's four other lifestyle experts — worked to help clients make over the entirety of their lives. Now, he's doing the same on HGTV's new show Junk or Jackpot: cleaning up the homes of clients whose unusual collections have gotten out of control. "[Design] isn’t just about creating a pretty space," says Bobby. "In many cases, this is about giving someone their life back."

Ahead, step inside Bobby's passion project — a home designed to spread joy and promote mental health; a space he breathed life into after his time on Queer Eye and before he landed on HGTV. The property, aptly named Casa Tierra or "home of the earth" in Spanish, is a wellness retreat tucked into the hills of Palm Desert, California.

The single-room shack that would eventually become Casa Tierra was built in the 1930s. Now, the eclectic, almost rambling home boasts seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms. "Throughout the '70s, '80s and '90s, it was added onto room by room by an amazing family," says Bobby. "Almost every room is an addition." In 2021, Bobby stumbled upon the house while vacationing in Palm Desert. Charmed by its quirks and the 2.3-acre property, he bought it and vowed to fix it up in a way that wouldn't diminish the architectural oddities but, instead, accentuate them.

"[Casa Tierra] wasn't set up as a wellness resort when we bought it," says Bobby. "It was set up as a home for a family, so there are certain things we changed up." Bobby teamed up with designer Paula Oblen, who specializes in vacation rentals, to make the Spanish hacienda-style home conducive to short-term guests — which included closing off an open loft area above the living room to create an extra bedroom.

The sofa in the living room was custom-built to fit the space and seat as many people as possible. With textured white walls, cacti and found furnishings, the space almost feels like an extension of the desert outside. A collection of handwoven lights from a village in Tunisia (hand-picked by Bobby) floats above the space. "All the sales go to help the families in this village [we visited]," says Bobby. "We try to use as many Fair Trade products [in our designs] as possible."

The home's muted color palette is intentional. “We are surrounded in the desert by the most beautiful colors in the world," says Bobby, who didn't want the interior to outshine the stunning 360-degree desert views visible from almost every room in the house. "The only real color you'll find inside the home are colors you'll find outside, too." Instead, pattern and organic textures (basketweave, woven fabrics and wood grains) pack a punch while adding depth, dimension and warmth.

Just off the living room is one of the property's seven bedrooms. This particular space is bathed in creamy shades of terra-cotta hues and soft lighting. (“When you design, you really need to think … 'How is this lighting going to affect people?’” says Bobby.) Saltillo tile underfoot acts as a reminder of the Spanish influences throughout the house.

Ebony-stained lower cabinets, weathered oak uppers and gray quartz countertops modernize the cook space. A black countertop on the island mirrors ebony-stained ceilings — which Bobby extended throughout the house to create cohesion between the various additions, which all featured slightly different shades of wood. His team kept the layout of the space as is. They also left the stained-glass window, featuring a dove, above the sink. (The window is made from glass salvaged by the family who previously owned the home.) "There’s a dove who comes back every single spring to lay her eggs in a tree right above this window," says Bobby.

"This property is all about entertaining and spending time with friends and family," says Bobby. "We wanted to set up a space where everyone can come together and hang out or play games while cooking is going on."

Adjacent to the breakfast nook, the ebony accents continue. To create a separate bar area, Bobby installed black wall tile beneath the upper cabinets. "I loved black way before it was cool," says Bobby. "As long as you don't go overboard, it's the perfect color for almost any space.”

Bobby and his team moved the stairwell from the right side of the dining room to the left, which allowed space for a larger table. This one seats up to 10 people (making it perfect for hosting a dinner party with friends or family).

Little moments throughout the home reflect its storied past — and Bobby was careful to maintain them. In the stairwell leading up to the primary bedroom, another stained-glass window, also made by the family who once lived here, lets in ample sunlight.

Perched above the rest of the house, Casa Tierra's primary bedroom is a standalone oasis all on its own. Adjacent to the lounge area — which, according to Bobby, boasts the best views — you'll find a stucco fireplace (decommissioned for safety reasons) and a wraparound balcony. Neutral furnishings in various textures, along with globally sourced accents and black-stained wood flooring, offer tranquility to whoever gets lucky enough to snag this bedroom.

Though you can't see it, another original stained-glass window sits behind the floating mirror in the primary bathroom, bathing the viewer's reflection in natural sunlight. Black lower cabinetry and sleek sconces add modern flair.

The exterior of Casa Tierra features a pool, a pickleball court, two bars and a morning sunrise yoga deck, but Bobby's favorite outdoor spot is the fire pit. "Looking up [at night] and watching the stars — it's the perfect nightcap," he says.