A look inside The Rexford — a quintessential midcentury modern Las Vegas apartment complex

Okay, I’ll just spit it out: This was MY #1 FAVORITE spot on Nevada Preservation Foundation‘s 2016 Vintage Las Vegas Home & History Tour. The Rexford, a 22-unit cooperative apartment complex built in 1958. Built like a big oval — with a swimming pool in the middle — this is my retirement dream. As in, Beverly Hills 90210 meets The Golden Girls — that’s where I’m headed! On this tour, we got a peek into a one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit, with original features, currently for sale. It was an absolutely sweetheart of a space. 

Nevada Preservation Foundation explained the historical significance of The Rexford:

This condo-like apartment complex was the first, and one of only three co-op ownership buildings in the state of Nevada. Built in 1958, privately owned aprtments were a new concept in home ownership and advertised a “a truly luxurious home of your own without the cost or responsibility.” Liberace’s mother resided in the Rexford as did several other prominent Las Vegans. When originally built, two-bedroom, two-bath apartments started as low as $15,000.

Oh, how I love details like original (I presume) screen doors.

The unit we saw was a ground-floor unit, and the living room looked out on to the pool. In my decorating daydream, all the window treatments get switched out for Beauti-Vues woven wood and yarn shades. I’d keep these chairs and lamps, though, and go Polynesian Pop! Oh — and notice, lots of mirrored wall tile in lots of the houses we saw on the tour.

The kitchen was original, except for the refrigerator. That’s Pam — she was a tour guide for this space. She also has an apartment in the complex. Hi, Pam! It was So Great to meet you! You rock!

Lovely GE appliances! Now we’d just need a yellow vintage GE fridge – this one would do just nicely!

The cabinets could use some freshening. But get this: Pam has the same cabinets in her apartment — and they cleaned up beautifully (see photo below). Those knobs and escutcheons too!

This is a cabinet in Pam’s apartment. See how beautifully it cleaned up!

Vintage Nutone exhaust fan, but of course!

Pink bathrooms galore in Las Vegas, too!

Above: The pink tile that was in Pam’s bathroom. 

Ahhh, climbing bougainvillea — sweeeeeet memories of my Southern California childhood.