Press Release · January 2025
Sunshine Getaways Featured on Modernism Week's 20th Anniversary Home Tour
Southern California design and hospitality firm recognized for its work at Icon in Las Palmas at Merito Manor, a 1961 Barry Berkus-designed property in Palm Springs
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - January 15, 2025 - Sunshine Getaways, the Southern California interior design and hospitality firm founded by Nicole Brill, was featured on Modernism Week's 20th Anniversary Home Tour for its work at Icon in Las Palmas at Merito Manor, a 1961 condominium community designed by renowned architect Barry Berkus.
Located in Palm Springs' historic South Palm Canyon neighborhood, Merito Manor is a distinctive example of midcentury desert architecture. Sunshine Getaways' work at the property reflects an approach central to the firm's design philosophy: honoring the architecture and history of a home while creating interiors that feel personal, comfortable, and relevant to the way people live today.
Honoring the Architecture, Evolving the Interior
For Brill, the design challenge wasn't to reinvent Merito Manor's identity. It was to understand what already made the property special and build from there.
The home's original midcentury architecture provides the foundation, while the owner's eclectic collection of art and vintage pieces brings history, personality, and an individual point of view. Contemporary furnishings, elevated materials, and thoughtful details introduce a fresh layer without competing with the home's architectural character.
"Merito Manor already had such a strong architectural identity, so my goal was never to impose another one on top of it," said Nicole Brill, Founder & Designer of Sunshine Getaways. "I wanted to honor what was already there - the architecture, the history, and the owner's wonderfully eclectic collection - and then make it feel relevant to the way people live today."
Brill continued, "I believe the best interiors have a real sense of place. They should feel connected to where they are without becoming themed or overly referential. At Icon, that meant respecting its midcentury roots while layering in personality, comfort, and a few unexpected moments. I'm incredibly honored to have that work recognized by Modernism Week."
The result is a home that feels unmistakably Palm Springs without becoming a period piece. Original architectural elements and midcentury references coexist with contemporary comforts, creating an interior that respects its history while remaining inviting and functional for modern living.
Designed Around the People Who Live There
Rather than imposing a signature aesthetic, Sunshine Getaways approached the residence as an exercise in interpretation and layering.
The owner's existing art, vintage collectibles, and personal pieces became an integral part of the design rather than something to design around or replace. Those elements were paired with contemporary furnishings, texture, pattern, and carefully selected finishes to create cohesion while preserving the individuality of the collection.
The approach reflects a broader philosophy behind Sunshine Getaways' work: every property begins somewhere different - with its architecture, geography, history, purpose, and the people who own it.
The goal is not to make every Sunshine Getaways project look alike, but to uncover what makes each property distinctive and elevate it.
Part of Modernism Week's 20th Anniversary
Modernism Week's annual celebration of midcentury modern architecture, design, art, and culture draws visitors from around the world to Palm Springs and the greater Coachella Valley.
The 2025 event marked the organization's 20th anniversary, with tours and programming showcasing significant examples of desert modernism throughout the region.
Merito Manor's inclusion offered visitors an opportunity to experience Barry Berkus' architecture alongside a contemporary interior that demonstrates how a historically significant home can evolve while retaining the character that made it distinctive in the first place.
About Sunshine Getaways
Founded by interior designer Nicole Brill, Sunshine Getaways is a Southern California design and hospitality firm specializing in vacation homes, short-term rentals, and distinctive residential properties.
Known for creating interiors with a strong sense of place, Sunshine Getaways takes a highly individualized approach to each property - responding to its architecture, setting, history, and owner's point of view rather than imposing a signature look.
The firm's work combines thoughtful, personality-driven design with firsthand hospitality and property-management expertise, creating spaces that are beautiful to experience, intuitive to inhabit, and designed for the realities of vacation-home ownership.
About Modernism Week
Modernism Week is an annual celebration of midcentury modern architecture, design, art, and culture centered in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. Its programming includes home tours, architectural tours, lectures, films, exhibitions, and events highlighting the region's significant modernist legacy.