Santa Monica Proper by Kelly Wearstler

Injecting a vibrant, eclectic energy into the coastal California locale where it resides, 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 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 also blessed with views of the Pacific Ocean on one side and the city on the other. This junction between the city and the beach is something Wearstler aims to emulate through her design.

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.

Santa Monica Proper offers two dining experiences: The Palma Lounge in the lobby and Calabra, a rooftop bistro with a pool deck, both complemented by the Japanese-inspired Olea Garden terrace. 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 rugs with elegant touches like travertine tables, handblown glass pendants and bold artworks. Meanwhile, the pool and deck area of the 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 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. Rooms in the curved extension feature a more neutral palette complemented by concrete walls, clean lines and more refined finishes. For the rooms spanning both buildings of the hotel, textures replicate those found at nearby beaches; light hardwood timber and taupe dominate, while hues are defined 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.

Wearstler thoughtfully balances luxury and a relaxed coastal feel with ease, creating a style of hotel perfectly suited to the Santa Monica locale.

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 luxury hotel offers, from the amenities to the moments of rest and relaxation found in the rooms. Yet, the ocean never feels too far away. Large windows welcome natural light and the soft ocean breeze is balanced with constant glimpses of the shore and 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 a hotel that allows guests to feel removed yet simultaneously connected – perhaps the cornerstone of quality hotel design.

Architecture, interior 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.