Inside An Iconic Luxury Hotel In Los Angeles

Injecting a vibrant, eclectic energy into the coastal California locale where it resides, iconic luxury hotel Santa Monica Proper is the latest from Los Angeles-based designer Kelly Wearstler and the newest addition to the Proper hotel family - a collection of boutique hotels throughout North America.
The iconic luxury hotel sits within a seven-storey building, which consists of 55 rooms located in a 1920s Art Deco building and the remaining rooms in a newly constructed structure by Howard Laks Architects. The hotel is conveniently nestled on a palm tree-lined boulevard that connects downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica State Beach. With a premium location, just moments away from Santa Monica Pier, the hotel is blessed with views of the Pacific Ocean on one side and city views on the other. This junction between the city and the beach is something Wearstler aims to emulate through her design.
Santa Monica Proper features three restaurants; The Palma Lounge in the lobby, a Japanese-inspired Olea Garden terrace and Calabra, a bistro with a rooftop pool deck. There is a library and art gallery space and a ‘Surya Spa’. In these common areas, Wearstler balances vintage and contemporary pieces, textural furnishings and unique vintage rugs with elegant touches like travertine tables, handblown glass pendants and bold artworks. Meanwhile, the pool and deck area of the iconic luxury hotel is designed to feel like an extension of a Californian beach, with a palette dominated by neutral hues and potted greenery.
Much like the iconic luxury hotel’s public spaces, the rooms are imbued with a relaxed, coastal feel. However, there is a clear distinction between rooms housed in the Art Deco building, which speak to the building’s past with vintage furnishings, Roman blinds and nostalgic floral wallpaper, while rooms in the curved extension feature a more neutral palette complemented by concrete walls, clean lines and more refined finishes.
For the rooms in both buildings of the iconic luxury hotel, textures replicate those found at nearby beaches; light hardwood timber and taupe dominate, while hues are dominated by sand and terracotta. Wearstler favours organic forms, as seen in the bold light fittings, armchairs and custom bed heads and each room features vibrant patterns, namely stripes, whether it be a striped rug or blanket.
Walking through Santa Monia Proper, it is hard not to be immersed in the design. One becomes removed from the mundane of the everyday and is encouraged to partake in what the iconic luxury hotel offers, from the luxe amenities to the moments of rest and relaxation found in the rooms. Yet, the ocean never feels too far away, with large windows welcoming natural light and the soft ocean breeze balanced with constant glimpses of the shore, while the interiors remain fundamentally connected to the Californian coastline.
In this way, Wearstler thoughtfully balances luxury and a relaxed coastal feel with ease, creating a style of hotel perfectly suited to the Santa Monica locale. The result is an iconic luxury hotel that allows guests to feel removed yet simultaneously connected - perhaps the cornerstone of quality hotel design.
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Photography by The Ingalls and Matthieu Salvaing.
Architecture, interior design and furniture design by Kelly Wearstler.
Architecture by Howard Laks Architects.
Build by Morley Builders.
Landscape design by Art Luna and Elysian Landscape.
Development by KOR.
Filmed by O&Co. Homes.
Edited by The Local Production.
Production by The Local Production.
Location: Santa Monica, California, US
The Local Project acknowledges the traditional territories and homelands of the Indigenous peoples in the United States. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our respective countries and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.
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