Los Angeles is celebrated for its vibrant design scene, which fuses myriad influences – from old Hollywood glamour to Desert Modernism – and is home to a notable collection of design stays and boutique hotels. In this roundup, we explore four distinctive destinations, from an elevated motel in Silver Lake to a tranquil surf retreat in Malibu, uncovering the design philosophies behind each.
Silver Lake Pool & Inn
In the vibrant eastside neighbourhood of Silver Lake, hotel group Palisociety and development firm Timberlane Partners teamed up with LA-based design studio Electric Bowery to create the Silver Lake Pool & Inn. Originally built as a motel in the late 1980s, the boutique hotel comprises 54 guest rooms, a signature restaurant called ‘Marco Polo,’ an elevated pool deck and distinctive motel-like characteristics. The neighbourhood is a creative hub, with various cafes, art galleries and music venues gracing its bustling streets.
Electric Bowery drew inspiration from a variety of eclectic sources and eras, ranging from Mexican Modernism – reflected in the use of handmade elements, warm hues and indoor-outdoor spaces – to old Hollywood glamour – evoked through details like the vintage-inspired neon signage and custom marble and wood bar in Marco Polo. Handmade Moroccan and Italian tile-work emerge as hallmarks of the hotel’s design, manifesting in the bespoke sunset-orange poolside feature wall. Blurring the boundary between inside and out, cacti-planted courtyards create intimate oases that echo California’s desert landscapes – a nod to the hotel’s natural surroundings.
Downtown L.A. Proper
The Downtown L.A. Proper hotel by multidisciplinary creative Kelly Wearstler sees the soulful rendition of a 13-story Renaissance Revival-style building in the heart of Los Angeles. Designed in 1926 by architects Curlett and Beelman, this unique Californian landmark had lived many lives before the Proper Hospitality’s intervention; first, a private members club for the elite in the 1920s, followed by a women’s housing company in the 1960s and finally a 147-room destination hotel in 2021.
Kelly Wearstler has translated this storied past into a spirited and eclectic hospitality offering, lifting design cues from Mexican modernism with layers of Spanish, Portuguese and Moroccan influences. Like the brand’s Santa Monica outpost, Kelly sourced vintage furniture, lighting and rugs from across the globe and paired them with new pieces upholstered in her signature printed fabrics.
The hotel’s in-house restaurant, Caldo Verde, serves Portuguese-inspired dishes fused with contemporary Southern Californian flavours on the ground floor. Upstairs at Cara Cara, the rooftop lounge, guests can sit by the fire pit and enjoy the sweeping views of the iconic CBD skyline.
The Hoxton Downtown L.A.
We cast our eye to a striking ten-storey Beaux Arts building nestled in Downtown L.A. Over 100 years old, this iconic building once served as the headquarters of the L.A. Railway Authority, later transforming into a garment factory and candy shop before ultimately emerging as the elegant Hoxton Hotel. Featuring 174 guest bedrooms, lively communal spaces, two distinctive culinary destinations, and a rooftop pool set against views of the city skyline, the hotel epitomises the quintessential L.A. design experience.
The design of the guest rooms is deeply rooted in the Beaux Arts architectural heritage of the building and neighbourhood, with French-inspired wall panelling, chevron flooring and rich burl timber accents. Additionally, the rooms and communal spaces incorporate Mexican design influences such as patterned rugs, artisanal tiles and indoor greenery.
The hotel’s two hospitality offerings, ‘Cabra’ and ‘Moonlark’s Dinette’, exude vibrant energy with their playful colour palettes, eclectic lighting fixtures, and retro-inspired decor. Meanwhile, the rooftop pool area provides a sun-soaked spot to take in the hotel’s surroundings.
The Surfrider Malibu
In the seaside locale of Malibu, a 1950s motel has been transformed into a light-filled, design-forward hotel by a local architect, his Australian wife and their entrepreneur friend. The 20-room accommodation captures the essence of a laid-back Californian beach house rather than a hotel, inspiring their motto “Make Yourself at Home”. Taking cues from the Malibu landscape and the rich heritage of Californian surf culture, it offers an authentically local experience against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean.
The design of the rooms and common spaces incorporates an all-natural material palette of limestone, teak, white oak, wicker and linen, forming relaxed yet refined interior environments. The hotel also includes an exclusive rooftop bar and restaurant overlooking the Malibu Pier, complete with soft linen-covered sofas, teak deck chairs and a stone firepit, encouraging guests to relish in the simple pleasures of coastal living.
