Set in a dry, sun-bleached desert two hours east of Los Angeles, Joshua Tree has recently emerged as a popular outpost for city dwellers looking for an escape. But perhaps the current cohort of visitors haven't discovered anything new — in fact, they're generations behind. When Brett Woitunski and his wife were seeking a weekend retreat that could also be used as a rental, they came across a small studio that was built long ago with those intentions in mind. "The cabin was built in the 1950s during what's referred to as the 'Baby Homestead Act,' and there's a simplicity that goes along with most of the cabins built during this time," Woitunski said. The properties were made for vacationers, which is not unlike Woitunski and his wife: they're a digital product executive and the owner of a boutique fashion P.R. company who have two young children. The couple purchased the site from a previous owner, and alongside a contractor, they set out to upgrade it with an equally uncomplicated design. First, they repaired the exposed roof and installed insulation, and then constructed an addition for storage and a bathroom. The interior was kept minimal with curated details from the past and present, with just enough modern comforts to make today's escape artists feel at home.
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