For her latest project, Kelly Wearstler, internationally recognised founder and principal of Kelly Wearstler design studio, has channelled her signature style into shaping the interiors of the new Downtown LA Proper Hotel. Set in a reimagined California Renaissance Revival building in the heart of Downtown’s South Park District, adjacent to the Fashion District, the 148-room hotel showcases a design that blends vintage elements from the property’s historic roots with modern influences, forging a lively hub for local creatives.
“Our Proper Hospitality team is deeply inspired by the pulse of this distinct and historic pocket of Downtown LA that speaks to our hometown’s past and future,” says Brian De Lowe, co-founder and president of Proper Hospitality. “We’re excited to be part of the renaissance taking place within the Broadway Corridor with partners who share our vision of creating a vibrant and welcoming hospitality experience that reflects the surrounding culture and community.”
Downtown LA Proper Hotel by Kelly Wearstler design studio
Constructed by iconic Los Angeles architects Curlett & Beelman in the 1920s, the property was initially a private club whose members included luminaries such as Cecil B. DeMille, and was subsequently a YWCA in the 1960s. The Kor Group, the LA-based real estate developer led by Proper Hospitality, and Kelly have reimagined this storied history with a modern palette, drawing inspiration from Downtown LA to layer vestiges from the 1920s with elements of Spanish, Portuguese, Mexican and Moroccan design.
In addition to vintage furniture and rugs, Kelly and her team haas employed more than 100 different kinds of hand-painted and custom tiles throughout the property, while site-specific murals and installations by local talents (such as stained glass by Judson Studios and ceramic works from Morgan Peck) bring further dimension to the public spaces.
“It was incredible working with the Proper Hospitality team to transform such an iconic and historic building in Downtown LA,” Kelly says. “The design of the hotel was greatly inspired by the community — early California, Spanish missions and the Los Angeles Herald Examiner building across the street. The building is also a Historic-Cultural Monument, so we maintained some of the original integrity and fabric, like the window casing and brickwork, while elevating it with contemporary jewel tones, patterns and plasterwork.”
Deeply residential in feel, each of the rooms and suites is a canvas for curated pieces and specially designed furnishings with charcoal and mauve tones lending depth and warmth. Nodding to its former life as a YWCA, stand-out features of the hotel include the sizeable Proper Basketball Court and Proper Pool suite featuring a full-sized indoor swimming pool, accented by a ceramic mural by local artist Ben Medansky. Signature Proper comforts and in-room amenities include Fili D’oro Fine Linens, Aesop bath amenities, Kelly Wearstler x Parachute Home robes.
Celebrated chef Suzanne Goin and restaurateur Caroline Styne have joined the party to bring the culinary program to life in three distinct spaces. Lobby level restaurant and bar, Caldo Verde, is a focal point within the hotel and neighbourhood at-large, showcasing Suzanne and Caroline’s nuanced and warm approach to hospitality. Open for three meals a day, the restaurant draws inspiration from Portuguese and Spanish influences, while finding expression through the lens of Southern California.
In the weeks following the opening of the hotel, Cara Cara, the restaurant and lounge located on the rooftop, with sweeping and unobstructed city views, debuted with a menu similarly grounded in multicultural inspirations including Mexican flavours. Crafted to complement the unrivalled rooftop and poolside experience, dishes include local seafood aquachile, seasonal focaccia from the wood-fired oven and tacos. Later in the summer, Suzanne and Caroline will introduce Dalia, an intimate ground level classic cocktail lounge and bar showcasing small-batch spirits in refined presentations.
The design of the hotel was greatly inspired by the community — early California, Spanish missions and the Los Angeles Herald Examiner building across the street.
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American designer Kelly Wearstler creates endless beauty. From carving out A-lister homes and luxurious hotels to sculpting tableware and furniture – so numerous are the strings to the celebrated tastemaker’s bow that it might be more efficient listing the areas she hasn’t conquered with her design career, rather than those she has.
The latest release to roll-out from the Los Angeles-based studio revisits Kelly’s partnership with Visual Comfort & Co, whose Tech Lighting arm is responsible for bringing four new ranges to life. Stamped with Kelly’s signature style, the group of bold yet sophisticated lighting fixtures will launch during North America’s spring.
Kelly Wearstler unveils new collection with Tech Lighting
Allowing the mind to run free with possibilities, the collection has been presented through Kelly’s invention of other-worldly digital environments. Straight from the metaverse, these spaces draw inspiration from the forms and materials of each lighting group: Esfera, Ebell, Phobos and Kulma.
While exploring the tension between technology and beauty, the collection promises to establish an architectural presence in any room through minimal yet graphic shapes. Facilitated by Tech Lighting – a mainstay in the world of illumination – these solutions not only “solidify the construction of a space,” Kelly says, they also embrace slim profiles and advanced LED technologies.
Kelly’s collaboration with Tech Lighting embraces both unique materials and minimalistic beauty, while also incorporating a level of innovation through the use of artful glass and “soulful” metals. “With these materials and warm LED light sources, the collection achieves a synthesis of both form and function,” the designer says.
Continue scrolling for more information about each range.
kellywearstler.com; circalighting.com
Esfera
“Esfera realises the beauty of spatial symmetry, simplistic geometric design, and elemental materials, demonstrating the convergence of multidimensional cylinders as an integral source of light,” says Kelly. The Esfera is available in Natural Brass and Nightshade Black, with four variations including a large and medium chandelier, linear chandelier and pendant.
Kulma
This series, available in Natural Brass, Black, and Natural Copper, is suited for indoor and outdoor applications, making it versatile for every style and environment. Variations include a small and medium pendant, large and small wall sconce. “Kulma is designed to embody the pervasive lantern through singular planar elements of glass and frame,” Kelly reveals.
Phobos
“Phobos showcases strong yet simple geometric shapes,” Kelly says. “[It] offers a sense of sophistication.” The tubular LED light is offered in several lengths that each radiate a diffused glow through modern light-guide technology. There are nine profiles available in Natural Brass including a large and medium chandelier, linear chandelier, pendant, two-light small pendant, short and wide flush mount, one- and two-light wall sconce.
Ebell
Available in seven different profiles (including a small and large pendant, medium and mini flush mount, wall sconce and floor lamp), the Ebell range is offered in Natural Brass, Antique Nickel and Dark Bronze. “Ebell explores mono-point lighting with an imaginative modern lens,” Kelly explains. “[The range] emits warm LED light through each frosted glass optical lens.”
Kelly’s collaboration with Tech Lighting embraces both unique materials and minimalistic beauty.
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Lay back and think of California, and the vision might just be soundtracked by a number of songs. From 2Pac’s California Love and the aptly titled California Dreaming by The Mamas & The Papas. To the 1960s Beach Boys hit California Girls and the similarly titled California Gurls by Katy Perry. The lyrics and unforgettable melodies of these songs bring the Golden State to life as North America’s Daisy Duke-wearing playground; a palm-studded paradise where sun-kissed style is backdropped by sand, surf and plenty of panache. The blissful vision is incomplete, of course, without imagining the perfect place to park for the summer. And so, welcome to the daydream Hotel June, the Proper’s more affordable yet thoroughly suave spin-off.
With multiple stateside locations, including San Francisco, Downtown Los Angeles and Austin, the Proper hotel group claims to offer a “looser kind of luxury” through its Kelly Wearstler-designed properties, part-owned by her husband Brad Korzen (who is one of three co-founders of the now cult-status brand). There’s even a Proper hotel in Santa Monica, just a 15-minute car ride from Hotel June, or a bit longer if opting for a leisurely stroll along Venice Beach towards Santa Monica Pier.
Hotel June in California by Studio Collective
Loosening up the hotelier’s luxury offering just that little bit more, the 250-room Hotel June is “a Proper for the people,” says Proper Hospitality co-founder and president Brian De Lowe. “June will cater to travellers with a passion for design, community, and food and beverage offerings – all the same things Proper guests care about, but with more accessible pricing,” he adds. For context, a sleepover at June can cost guests about A$400 less per night than a room at one of the Propers.
Located in the former Custom Hotel, in a classic Westside building designed by renowned local architect Welton Becke, June seamlessly merges the past with the present by pairing mid-century nostalgia with contemporary coastal minimalism. It’s at once airy, bright and chilled, becoming a place where clean lines and warm natural timbers meet earthy finishes, custom furnishings and Californian sunshine.
The laidback interiors of Hotel June were spearheaded by LA-based firm Studio Collective (a departure from the Proper’s go-to designer Kelly Wearstler). There are, however, to the benefit of budget conscious style-seekers, undeniable similarities between June and the more prestigious Propers. Including the spectrum of custom-made furniture, hand-glazed tiles from Brazil, sisal carpeting and Italian bed linens, not to mention the bountiful Aesop products in each of the bathrooms.
The hotel’s central location, right near LAX International Airport, places guests just minutes away from everywhere they might want to be on LA’s Westside. They’re five minutes from Playa Del Rey Beach, Playa Vista (Silicon Beach), Otis College of Art and Design and Loyola Marymount University, and little more than ten minutes from Venice, Marina Del Rey and Culver City. “Whether you’re headed to the beach, a show at The Forum or a game at the nearby SoFi NFL stadium, our location allows for ease in travelling around the city,” the hotel team insist. They add that there’s also “easy access to a range of restaurants, boutiques and parks within walking distance”.
But after a day of soaking in the rays by the pool, a relaxed night-in at the hotel is often top of mind for guests. On standby to please the people of such persuasion, Hotel June offers dining concepts helmed by Steve Livigni (ex Scopa Italian Roots restaurant) featuring irresistible menus inspired by a 500-kilometre culinary road trip, extending southbound from Santa Barbara on the central California coast to Northern Baja in Mexico.
Perhaps the most laidback dining destination is the breezy Baja-inspired Caravan Swim Club – the poolside gathering place for everything from cabana drinks to fire-side snack sessions. It’s a relaxed spot where guests can spend the day immersed in music, before moving to an elevated terrace position to enjoy the evening view towards Venice Beach. All the while with house favourites in-hand, including biodynamic wines, craft beer and small-batch tequilas.
Opening just weeks before the pandemic swept the globe, Hotel June has had plenty of time to adapt its offering to include Covid-safe protocols. “We certainly couldn’t have predicted this moment when our vision for Hotel June began,” recall the hotel team. “But the timing has allowed us to open our doors with a new space that authentically embraces adaptability, is streamlined for social distancing, and – above all – considers the wellbeing and safety of our guests.”
thehoteljune.com; studio-collective.com
Located in the former Custom Hotel, in a classic Westside building designed by renowned local architect Welton Becke, June seamlessly merges the past with the present.
Take a look inside the Santa Monica Proper by Kelly Wearstler. Catch up on more architecture, art and design highlights. Plus, subscribe to receive the Daily Architecture News e-letter direct to your inbox.
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Located on the glittering shores of Malibu’s Broad Beach, this 1953 residence was once owned by American actor Carroll O’Connor, most noted for his role as Archie Bunker in the 1970s television series All in the Family. Spread across 395 square metres, the home had been listed on the market for several years when Kelly Wearstler – the famed American designer who runs her eponymous studio in LA – decided to rent it during the summer of 2020. “I initially learned about the property through a friend who had stayed nearby three years ago and took me over to take a look,” Kelly says. “It was an architectural gem – a hidden surf shack.”
But rather than simply packing her summer wardrobe and moving in for the season, Kelly set out to create a charming live-work environment for herself and her beach-loving family. She picked up on cues from the home’s original detailing, including the prevalence of Japanese shoji screens and timber wall panelling. But the white shaggy carpet was replaced with seagrass, and rooms were filled with an eclectic mix of vintage and contemporary pieces – somewhat of a hallmark for Kelly. “I took inspiration from the house’s architectural shell – its earthy and rustic tones,” she says. “I wanted to choose objects that were hand-crafted, rustic and raw.
Kelly Wearstler reinvented a Malibu surf shack for the summer
The melange of styles and textures begins at the entrance of the home, where a bronze and leather bench by Chuck Moffit is partnered with a chunky blackened-timber console from the LA studio Base 10. Under the stairway, a steel chair draped in white plaster – a piece by Austrian designer Lukas Gschwandtner – is awaiting its moment to offer respite. The designer brought in a ‘Soriana’ sofa by Afra and Tobia Scarpa, and a 1950s ‘Control’ lamp by American designer Mitchell Bobrick. Envisioned as a light and plant-filled solarium, the dining room features an Isamu Noguchi pendant, Danish mid-century chairs and a table set with earthenware planters and vintage fibreglass vessels brimming with foliage.
In the living room, lounge chairs by Ilmari Lappalainen are paired with a tapered side table made of iroko wood, and cubic coffee tables finished in tortoiseshell. A 1980s green marble table by Mario Bellini can be spotted in Kelly’s office, where the designer would work for one or two days a week when not in the studio. One of the bedrooms is swathed in breezy colours and laidback decor, including a vintage nightstand, linen bedding and a plaster and paper mâché table lamp; a sculptural lounge chair by Ryan Belli adds some signature Wearstler whimsy.
Most of the furniture was drawn from the designer’s extensive collection of vintage pieces, something she has been building since a child (her mother worked as an antiques dealer which sparked a longtime passion and successful career). “I shop all over the world, and anytime I see anything that is unusual, I buy and store it in my warehouse,” Kelly says. Having brought in the key pieces to set the tone, she then turned to Joel Chen of LA antiques emporium JF Chen for the rest. “I’ve been purchasing things for projects from him for as long as I remember,” she explains. “He has a 30,000-square-foot store that stayed open [during the Covid pandemic] because there’s a lot of room for social distancing. So I went and got a few pieces from him.”
Astonished by the transformation that Kelly had lovingly bestowed upon the property, the owner commissioned a photographer to capture the home in its reimagined state, and updated the real-estate listing. About a month later, the residence sold – to a young Silicon Valley couple who, like Kelly, adored the home for its original charms. Kelly and her family packed up after the summer and removed the furniture pieces (as there are a number of pieces that she “would never part with”). But they left the home knowing it’s in safe hands. “You could have built a house three times the size of this one, which is what everybody unfortunately does on Broad Beach. But [the owner is] not tearing the house down, just fixing up the original bathrooms and doing a little more landscaping,” Kelly says. “That was amazing to hear!”
I shop all over the world, and anytime I see anything that is unusual, I buy and store it in my warehouse.
Catch up on more architecture, art and design highlights. Plus, subscribe to receive the Daily Architecture News e-letter direct to your inbox.
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In this week’s architecture and design video round-up (above), pull up a chair at The Budapest Cafe in Melbourne. Designed by Biasol, the eatery was inspired by Wes Anderson’s catalogue of cinematic works. Venture into Smart Design Studio’s dynamic work space, complete with an upper-level residence sheltered by sweeping catenary vaults.
In a first for the brand, British paint maker Farrow & Ball has invited an external designer to curate a collection of eight refreshing hues. And finally this week, the Red Sea International Airport in Saudi Arabia has commenced construction on the country’s west coast.
For more information on each of these stories, see below.
- The Budapest Cafe by Biasol: Influenced by Wes Anderson’s cinematic style, The Budapest Cafe in Melbourne showcases offbeat design elements punctuated by compelling blocks of colour. Read more.
- Stokes 14 by Smart Design Studio: Reborn as the practice’s new creative headquarters, a timeworn warehouse was the subject of a visionary redevelopment by Smart Design Studio. Read more.
- The California Collection: Famed American tastemaker Kelly Wearstler has curated a collection of eight fine, fresh and fierce hues for British paint makers Farrow & Ball. Read more.
- Red Sea International Airport: Characterised by a series of pod-like structures amid lush tropical gardens, the Red Sea International Airport by Foster + Partners is due for arrival in 2022. Read more.
Fly over the new Red Sea International Airport and ready your selfie game at The Budapest Cafe.
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Located on the glittering shores of Malibu’s Broad Beach, this 1953 residence was once owned by American actor Carroll O’Connor, most noted for his role as Archie Bunker in the 1970s television series All in the Family. Spread across 395 square metres, the home had been listed on the market for several years when Kelly Wearstler – the famed American designer who runs her eponymous studio in LA – decided to rent it during the summer of 2020. “I initially learned about the property through a friend who had stayed nearby three years ago and took me over to take a look,” Kelly says. “It was an architectural gem – a hidden surf shack.”
With names like ‘Faded Terracotta’, the colour of terracotta pots baked to a pale hue by the California sun, and ‘Palm’, a nod to the iconic palms that dot the Los Angeles skyline, the uplifting paint palette is grounded by the designer’s belief that colours readily found in nature resonate on a visceral level, providing a sense of serenity and belonging.
“I always say living without colour is like living without love,” quips Kelly, whose adoration and deft use of colour is an ongoing hallmark of her work.
“Colour is the spirit of a room and provides expressive power to transform a space with your personal voice, whether you’re painting all of your walls, or just one.”
Referencing the four tone-setting neutrals in the range, Kelly adds inclusively: “Black and white are colours too!”
She’s talking about ‘Tar’, which captures the near-black shade of sunbaked desert highways and ‘Sand’, a hue that conjures images of Malibu, with its soft-sanded beaches.
And then there’s ‘Salt’, a crisp white reminiscent of the salty ocean air and ‘Stoke’, an effortless grey that brings strength to any palette – just as it does to the landscape on city streets and cloudy coastal days.
Kelly’s debut collection will exist as a standalone palette – one that effortlessly complements Farrow & Ball’s existing core range of 132 thoughtfully curated colours.
The culmination of more than two decades of the designer specifying the brand’s paint, this collaboration has been a long time coming and one that’s brought immense joy, says the designer. “It’s been a dream to partner with Farrow & Ball on a collection of paint that celebrates the emotions colour can evoke.”
Underpinned by Farrow & Ball’s ethos of sustainability, each shade in The California Collection is eco-friendly, low VOC, water-based and packaged in a recyclable tin.
The eight colours in the palette are available in four sheen levels, offering endless combinations for creating an interior decorating scheme with Kelly’s seal of approval.
farrow-ball.com; kellywearstler.com
Catch up on more of the latest designer launches and residential design. Plus, subscribe to receive the Daily Architecture News e-letter direct to your inbox.
Colour is the spirit of a room, and provides expressive power to transform a space with your personal voice.
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In this week’s architecture and design video round-up (above), pull up a chair at The Budapest Cafe in Melbourne. Designed by Biasol, the eatery was inspired by Wes Anderson’s catalogue of cinematic works. Venture into Smart Design Studio’s dynamic work space, complete with an upper-level residence sheltered by sweeping catenary vaults.
With light-filled interiors by famed American designer Kelly Wearstler, Santa Monica Proper has already become a smash-hit in Los Angeles’ bustling ‘Silicon Beach’. Step inside the glamorous coastal hotel.
Kyiv-based architecture and interiors firm Balbek Bureau has recently completed the Mama Manana restaurant, a four-level establishment in Ukraine that showcases generous Georgian hospitality. And finally this week, B20 has unveiled the latest collection from Brickworks – over 100 new and innovative products, each destined to influence the future of the built environment.
For more information on each of this week’s stories, see below.
- La Scala by Richards and Spence: The private residence of architects Ingrid Richards and Adrian Spence, La Scala is the culmination of four years of ideas where the outdoor space acts solidly as its centrepiece. Read more.
- Santa Monica Proper: With light-filled interiors by famed American designer Kelly Wearstler, Santa Monica Proper has already become a smash-hit with visitors and locals alike. Read more.
- Mana Manana restaurant: Kyiv-based architecture and interiors firm Balbek Bureau harnessed the spirit of Georgian hospitality when designing Mana Manana restaurant in Ukraine. Read more.
- B20 by Brickworks: Created in collaboration with experts from around the globe, the new Brickworks collection launched during B20 is destined to inspire, excite and endure. Read more.
From a residence in sunny Queensland to a four-storey restaurant in the heart of historic Kyiv.
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In Los Angeles, locals describe the Santa Monica neighbourhood as Silicon Beach, the surfside equivalent of Silicon Valley, due to the concentration of technology, entertainment and digital media companies that have established offices just a few blocks from the ocean. Among the liveliness, the Santa Monica Proper hotel has become a smash-hit since opening mid-2019, winning the hearts of visitors and locals alike. Nestled within a six-storey Spanish Colonial Revival-style building originally designed by Arthur E. Harvey in 1928 and renovated by Howard Laks Architects, the light-filled interiors of the hotel were created by famed American designer Kelly Wearstler.
The Santa Monica Proper hotel by Kelly Wearstler
The designer bestowed the hotel with collected wares among her signature palette of soft and warm colours. Raw materials including wood, stone and marble envelop each space alongside organic textiles and an abundance of artworks by local artists. In the 271 serene rooms and suites, many with sun-filled terraces, Kelly curated European-style, mid-century furniture against floral wallpapers and geometric motifs, evident in swoon-worthy pieces such as wall sconces and arc-shaped headboards.
Outside the sleeping quarters, the public grounds of the hotel continue the refined and relaxed beachside aesthetic. The ground floor comprises the Palma lounge and a relaxed library nook. On the rooftop, the Calabra restaurant and bar offers sparkling ocean views against which to savour Mediterranean and local cuisine.
As can be expected, the hotel pool is a star attraction for sun-seeking holidaymakers while event spaces and an on-site shop provide relief from the rays. The Surya Spa, created in collaboration with internationally acclaimed Ayurvedic doctor, chef and herbalist Martha Soffer, is also on-hand to allow guests a moment to luxuriate.
Santa Monica Proper forms the latest offering from Proper Hospitality, a company that Kelly’s husband Brad Korzen founded with Brian De Lowe. Located on Wilshire Boulevard in the coastal city, every corner of the impressive property is an ode to the spirit of Southern California.
kellywearstler.com; properhotel.com
