The Sunshine Getaways Flagship
The House of the Golden Turtle
Our Palm Springs retreat. Our design laboratory. And the place where our philosophy came to life.
A sense of place. Layers of personality. A little unexpected.
Designed to be remembered. Managed to perform.
This Isn't Just Our Vacation Home
It's Our Business Card
The House of the Golden Turtle is where the two sides of Sunshine Getaways first came together.
We wanted to create a Palm Springs home that felt like Palm Springs - glamorous, playful, a little cheeky, and sophisticated without taking itself too seriously. A place that felt special the moment you walked through the door, but comfortable enough to actually live in.
So we designed one.
Then we operated it.
We learned what guests noticed, what they used, what they remembered, what held up, what didn't, and which seemingly tiny details could transform a good stay into an exceptional one.
Over time, the house became more than our vacation home. It became proof of something we now bring to every Sunshine Getaways project:
Design creates the experience. Management protects it.
The five-star reviews, repeat guests, Top 1% status, and financial performance came next.
The Design Story
Palm Springs, Through Our Eyes
Palm Springs isn't simply the location. It's source material: Hollywood history, desert landscape, mid-century optimism, resort culture, art, color, and a certain unapologetic fabulousness.
Familiar
Recognizable Palm Springs vocabulary - graphic black and white, geometry, pool culture, glamour, mid-century references, and Slim Aarons
Elevated
Thoughtful scale, better materials, sophisticated layering, and a home that feels polished without becoming precious
Disrupted
Unexpected color, humor, personality, and combinations that keep the house from becoming a period-piece rental
Where the Story Started
The two oversized Slim Aarons photographs in the main living area weren't chosen because they matched the furniture.
They came first.
Both were photographed in Palm Springs, just blocks from the house, and captured exactly what we wanted the property to feel like: glamorous, effortless, colorful, social, and unmistakably of this place.
From there, the rest of the room followed - the graphic black and white, saturated color, gold accents, geometry, and playful details.
The art didn't finish the room. It gave us the story.
Sense of Place
Without the Theme
Palm Springs references are woven through the property, but the house isn't a Palm Springs costume.
Sense of place asks: What belongs here?
Theme asks: What symbols tell people where they are?
We design for the former.
Before & After
From Blank Canvas to The House of the Golden Turtle
Living Room
Outdoor Living
Bedroom
Kitchen
Designed for Real Guests
Beautiful to See. Intuitive to Use
A vacation-rental kitchen shouldn't only photograph beautifully. A guest who's never been in the house before should intuitively know where everything is.
That's why organization, labeling, stocking, durability, lighting, storage, and maintenance are part of the design conversation - not afterthoughts.
Room by Room
Every Space Tells a Story
Living Room
Intent
Create the social heart of the house - glamorous, graphic, comfortable, and unmistakably Palm Springs.
Design
Slim Aarons photography, black-and-white geometry, saturated color, gold accents, and comfortable seating establish the house's point of view immediately.
Hospitality
The room is arranged for conversation, lounging, and groups spending real time together - not just for the photograph.
Kitchen
Intent
Make cooking and gathering easy for guests who have never used the space before.
Design
A clean, organized visual language keeps the kitchen polished and connected to the rest of the house.
Hospitality
Everything is labeled, organized, stocked, and placed so guests can intuitively find what they need.
Bedrooms
Intent
Let the energy of the house soften without losing its personality.
Design
Each bedroom carries the broader palette and point of view through art, pattern, texture, and considered details.
Hospitality
High-quality linens, practical storage, comfortable lighting, and uncluttered surfaces support actual rest.
Outdoor Living
Intent
Make the pool and outdoor spaces feel like an extension of the Palm Springs experience.
Design
Resort-minded furnishings, color, landscaping, and gathering zones connect the interiors to the desert setting.
Hospitality
The spaces are arranged for the way guests actually vacation - swimming, lounging, dining, and spending long stretches outside.
By the Numbers
The Results
$95K
Average Annual Revenue
$475K+
Lifetime Revenue
$89K
Design Investment
160+
Five-Star Reviews
5-Star
Guest Rating
Top 1%
of Airbnb Homes
Airbnb Guest Favorite
Recognition
Beyond the Revenue
The Metric We Love Most
One family has returned for six consecutive years, making The House of the Golden Turtle their winter retreat from December–April.
Revenue tells us the property performs. Repeat guests tell us the experience matters.
In Their Words
What Guests Validated
Design
"Best designed Airbnb we have ever stayed at. The hosts have thought of everything!"
Detail
"Decorated perfectly with so many special touches that made the property exceptional."
Experience
"For anyone reading this review - don't look any further. This is the one."
Personality
"Beautiful decor in every single room! Everything about the house was intentional."
Loyalty
"The decor is quintessential Palm Springs - you can tell a lot of thought went into planning this house."
Your Property Won't Look Like The House of the Golden Turtle
And That's Exactly the Point
We'll start with your architecture, your location, your vision, and the experience you want to create - then uncover what makes your property unmistakably its own.
Let's create the place your guests can't stop talking about - and can't wait to come back to.