I was a little worried when I read the previous review right before I headed up to the Desert House for a week, but I am happy to say that my experience was great, and not at all like the one that reviewer had.
That reviewer did have some valid complaints--we also found that the DVD library is pretty inadequate, and I'm glad that those folks purchased and left the new player behind because we just went to RedBox in Yucca Valley and rented DVDs that we wanted to watch. I also agree that the owners may be having a problem with the cleaning staff not being very careful or thorough, but the place was perfectly serviceable. This home is a bit do-it-yourself and is not for fussy people--the carpets are a bit worn, the pots, pans and kitchen ware are not chef-quality, the hot tub requires additional water from the hose on a daily basis, the laundry/utility room shelves are overflowing with miscellaneous hardware and various things previous guests have left behind.
All of that said, the house is VERY comfortable and has a wonderful layout for hanging out and enjoying the beautiful desert environment from both inside and outside. There is a back room with a bar (and wood paneling!) from which we could sit and enjoy the sunset when it was too cold to stand outdoors, or where an adult could quietly enjoy a book while the kids played in the main living area. The mattresses are comfortable and seem new, and there are plenty of clean towels for everyone. The washer, dryer, refrigerator and dishwasher are all modern and worked great. Best of all, you can hike up into the rocks right behind the house for as long or short as you wish.