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      Eight interiors that embrace the principles of wabi-sabi

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      In this lookbook, we collect eight interiors informed by the Japanese design philosophy of wabi-sabi, which celebrates imperfection and impermanence.

      Notoriously difficult to define, wabi-sabi is a concept rooted in Zen Buddhism that author Beth Kempton describes as helping us “to see beauty in imperfection, appreciate simplicity and accept the transient nature of all things”.
      In interiors, it is often associated with the blending of rustic and minimalist elements as well as natural, earthy tones and raw surfaces. Below are eight interpretations of the aesthetic from around the world.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring Japandi living rooms, bedrooms with earthy colour palettes and calming organic-modern interiors.
      Photo by Roberto RuizPalau apartment, Spain, by Colombo and Serboli Architecture

      Barcelona studio Colombo and Serboli Architecture sought to highlight the “imperfect” features of this apartment in a renovation project.
      Rough-textured wooden beams were left exposed, with the contemporary elements prioritising sturdy, simple shapes like circles and squares.
      Find out more about Palau apartment ›
      Photo by Harold De PuymorinImperfect Residence, Hong Kong, by NC Design & Architecture
      Grainy wood and veiny marble come together as symbols of nature’s flaws at Imperfect Residence in Hong Kong.
      NC Design & Architecture also introduced finishes such as oxidised bronze and textured plaster to heighten the feeling of a sanctuary in the city.
      Find out more about Imperfect Residence ›
      Photo by Andrey AvdeenkoKyiv apartment, Ukraine, by Sergey Makhno
      Ukrainian architect Sergey Makhno is among the key European practitioners of the contemporary wabi-sabi style.
      He applied the concept at his own apartment in Kyiv (top and above), installing oak beams in the living room alongside furniture specifically designed for the home to complement his collection of ancient Eastern European ceramics.
      Find out more about this Kyiv apartment ›
      Photo by Koji Fujii/TOREAL, Takashi YasuiC4L House, Japan, by Cubo Design Architects
      Traditional Japanese materials sit alongside contemporary finishes at this house in  Tokyo designed by Cubo Design Architects.
      “We believe houses that are rooted in an understanding of Japan’s cultural context and a respect for the skills and innovations of our ancestors, which can nevertheless be passed onto future generations, are the kind of houses we should be building in Japan today,” said founder Hitoshi Saruta.
      Find out more about C4L House ›
      Photo by Daniel MulheranButterfly House, Australia, by Dane Taylor Design
      This home on the coast of New South Wales was designed to have a therapeutic effect for its owner, who lives with multiple sclerosis.
      Dane Taylor Design interpreted accessible design principles through a wabi-sabi lens, using a warm material palette and understated furniture pieces.
      Find out more about Butterfly House ›
      Photo courtesy of Tilden HotelTilden Hotel, USA, by Studio Tack
      Brooklyn design firm Studio Tack decided to evoke wabi-sabi in its revival of this art-deco hotel in San Francisco.
      In a subtle nod to the philosophy, clean lines were mixed with organic textures throughout the distinctly modernist interior.
      Find out more about Tilden Hotel ›
      Photo by Soar Design StudioWabi-Sabi House, Taiwan, by Soar Design Studio and Chen-Tien Chu
      Taiwanese practice Soar Design Studio and architect Chen-Tien Chu created an open-plan layout when renovating this house in Taichung, allowing all the spaces to have a connection to the outdoors via a series of garden terraces.
      In the lounge area, the wooden deck extends from the outside into the room, enhancing the feeling of nature being invited in.
      Find out more about Wabi-Sabi House ›
      Photo by Piet Albert GoethalsSilo apartment, Belgium, by Arjaan De Feyter
      Belgian interior architect Arjaan De Feyter is another prominent proponent of wabi-sabi design, as seen in his renovation of this apartment that occupies the former silos of a distillery outside Antwerp.
      Here, he left the structure’s curving concrete walls exposed and applied a micro-topping surface to the floors while installing bespoke oak furniture designed in collaboration with Tim Vranken.
      Find out more about Silo apartment ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring Japandi living rooms, bedrooms with earthy colour palettes and calming organic-modern interiors.

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      Design Theory updates mid-century coastal home in Perth

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      In the City Beach suburb of Perth in Western Australia, interiors studio Design Theory has updated a tired house from the 1960s while remaining true to the rich palette of natural materials in the original design.

      The young client wanted a home where she could entertain friends and live with her dogs in a durable, easy-to-clean, pet-proof home with a reworked plan making space for three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
      Design Theory has renovated a 1960s house in Perth”The brief was, on the surface, simple: to update the home while keeping its considerable mid-century charm,” said Design Theory.
      “While its strengths lay in its architectural form and south-facing windows, our innovative approach to the project was essential in bringing contemporary functionality and sustainability to the fore,” the studio added.
      “By specifying with our client’s lifestyle in mind and considering every detail, she feels relaxed to use the house the way she wants to.”

      Carpet tiles bring tactility into the sunken loungeOnce the project was underway, Design Theory quickly discovered that the structure was largely rotten and had suffered significant termite damage, so extensive restoration work was required.
      “We established an early rationale to restore base-building elements in keeping with the original architecture and interior elements,” the studio said.
      “Joinery, finishes and furniture would be new, informed by mid-century design. This allowed the home to evolve yet respect the heritage of this special building.”
      Yellow mosaic tiles feature across the kitchen counterOtherwise, the house only needed sensitive restoration and a light touch to bring it up to date, according to the studio, due to its prescient emphasis on natural light, fresh air and modern, unpretentious living.
      “Our design cues were taken from the era of the house’s original design, a time of humbler, honest materials and restrained detailing,” said Design Theory co-founder Lisa Reeves.
      “Where cabinetry needed restoration, it was updated in respectful ways, always with a nod to what may have come before us.”
      Design Theory introduced Blackbutt timber details to the interiorThe material palette celebrates warm, earthy materials: exposed brick in terracotta tones, native Blackbutt timber and a cork-like Forbo Marmoleum on the floors.
      In the sunken lounge area, carpet tiles bring an added element of comfort and a distinctive gridded visual effect.
      The heavy use of richly toned timber and brick is balanced by the white of the painted wall sections, the grid-like window frames and low-hanging pendant lighting.

      Ten timeless mid-century modern interiors

      For the kitchen counters and the bathrooms, simple mosaic tiles continue the textural theme, while referencing the home’s early-60s origins.
      “We embraced a quintessentially West Australia landscape-inspired palette of Eucalyptus greens, warm timbers and sunset oranges,” the studio said.
      Forbo Marmoleum flooring was added for textural interestIn the kitchen, subtle detailing on the cabinetry such as the full-width handles adds visual interest without grabbing undue attention, while an orange range cooker adds a retro touch.
      The client acquired several pieces of vintage furniture along with the house, which Design Theory was keen to retain and restore.
      Mint green tiles feature throughout one of the two bathroomsAs a counterpoint to these mid-century elements, contemporary furniture in gently curving forms softens the rigorous lines of the original architecture and prevents the interiors from feeling like a period pastiche.
      Key pieces of hardware such as original door furniture and pendant lighting were also refurbished and reinstated, “lending an authenticity to the home’s new life”, according to the studio.
      The built-in bathtub is also made from multicoloured mosaic tilesOther residential projects in Perth that have been featured on Dezeen include a family home formed from arched panels of precast concrete and a wood-and-brick extension for a couple of empty nesters.
      The photography is by Jack Lovel.

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      2LG Studio brings colour and personality into London family home

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      Ornately corniced ceilings were preserved and painted pastel inside this detached Edwardian house in southeast London, which local firm 2LG Studio has renovated for a returning client.

      Set in the leafy residential area of Forest Hill, the house on Sunderland Road belongs to a couple who needed space for their three young children to grow and play.
      2LG has completed Sunderland Road house in Forest Hill”Having designed this couple’s previous home, we had a strong sense of their tastes and wanted to evolve that for them in this house,” 2LG Studio founders Jordan Cluroe and Russell Whitehead told Dezeen.
      “We wanted to bring out their characters by emboldening their love of colour and finding ways to build pattern and joy into the materiality of the home,” the duo added.
      “The intent here was to respect the period elements of the building, whilst reflecting the modern style of the family who live there.”

      Hand-printed wallpaper by Custhom Studio features in the lounge and hallwayThroughout the house, playful elements are in balance with a more serious aesthetic.
      Instead of treating the home’s elaborate ceiling mouldings separately – as tradition dictates – 2LG Studio applied a colour-block philosophy and painted them in the same pastel tones used across the upper walls and ceilings.
      The studio drew on a range of references for the interior, from 1980s colours to Italian design elements such as marble and Murano glass lighting, all the way to the Scandinavian influences seen in the natural materials and minimalist approach to furnishing.
      The kitchen is defined by sky-blue cabinetry and marble countertopsCreating impact in the entrance hall is a hand-printed wallpaper, designed by 2LG Studio with long-term collaborator Custhom Studio and used here in a bespoke calamine-pink colourway that’s repeated in the connecting spaces throughout the house, as well as in the rear living area.
      “It creates a welcoming, human feel as soon as you enter,” the design team said.
      This ballet-slipper colour is paired with a brighter candy pink, bringing calm and warmth to the overall scheme.
      2LG painted ceilings, mouldings and upper walls in pastel coloursPink-heavy palettes have become a signature for 2LG, also reflected in the natural pink undertones of the extra-wide Douglas fir floorboards that feature throughout the house alongside a grey poured-resin floor in the kitchen.
      “The floorboards set the tone with a nod to Scandi minimalism, adding a natural soul throughout that unites the bolder elements,” said 2LG Studio.

      2LG Studio shares favourite projects from their book Making Living Lovely

      In the kitchen, sky-blue cabinetry is used alongside marble countertops and splashbacks, with arched forms uniting the two finishes while pink elements such as bar stools pop against this calm backdrop.
      “The colours are a key part of the atmosphere and identity of this house,” said 2LG. “The blues gets deeper and bolder as you move upstairs into the study and the family bathroom.”
      “Primary red details give structure to the colour palette in the living room. Pastel green in the baby’s room is serene and fresh, warmed up with a mix of wood tones and creams.”
      Pink details feature throughout the home’s interiorsThe project features bespoke joinery including a playhouse on stilts in one of the kids’ rooms alongside existing 2LG pieces such as the Luca bedhead in the loft bedroom and the Tilda sofa, both designed for London furniture company Love Your Home and upholstered here in Kvadrat x Raf Simons fabric.
      “The fitted elements of the furniture give a sense of coherent design and function to the spaces whilst the classic design pieces bring a curated gallery feel, not unlike a contemporary luxury fashion store,” said 2LG Studio.
      2LG designed custom joinery including a stilted playhouseVarious recycled materials provide textural interest throughout the house, among them the recycled plastic wall lights in the living room by Spark and Bell.
      2LG Studio also added a pink Foresso top made using waste wood chips and resin to the dining table, while the bespoke bathroom cabinet was made using leftover Douglas fir floorboards with recycled plastic details by UK company Smile Plastics.
      Pastel green was used to finish the baby’s roomSince Cluroe and Whitehead founded their design practice in 2014 under the name 2 Lovely Gays, the studio has completed a number of residential projects in the British capital.
      Among them is the couple’s own home and office – to which they recently added a garden pavilion with a “touch of Beetlejuice” – and an equally colour-led renovation of a period property in the Heaver Estate conservation area.
      The photography is by Megan Taylor.

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      Note Design Studio enriches Stockholm apartment with “cloudy” ceiling stucco

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      Note Design Studio has updated this formerly characterless apartment in Stockholm to feature bespoke Douglas fir joinery and curvy stucco ceilings designed to suggest cloud formations.

      Although the Cloudy Outlines apartment sits within a building dating back to 1842, Note Design Studio says the interior had been stripped of any historic charm and “traces of craftsmanship” during previous renovations.
      Douglas fir joinery appears throughout the Cloudy Outlines apartmentIt also had a poor layout, with a living area that could only be accessed via a dark, lengthy corridor snaking around the back of the apartment while the remaining rooms were awkwardly shaped and difficult to furnish.
      The studio decided to redesign the home from scratch, knocking down all of its internal walls to form a more cohesive floor plan.
      The apartment’s corridor was repositioned to allow for more natural lightThe corridor was repositioned to run parallel to the building’s window-lined facade and, as a result, is now flooded with natural light.

      Rooms were classically finished with white-painted walls and Douglas fir flooring.
      Curved stucco gives the ceilings a soft, cloud-like qualityBillowy stucco moulding was added throughout to give a soft “cloudy” quality to the ceilings and provide a contrast with the “rationality and material robustness” of the apartment, the studio explained.
      “With the previous interior and finishes removed, a new holistic design was developed with a limited amount of design principles, all with a timeless ambition,” Note Design Studio said.

      Note Design Studio draws on Swedish Grace style for Habitat 100 apartment

      In the kitchen, Douglas fir was used again to create simple cupboards and a striking circular cover for the extractor fan.
      The countertop, on the other hand, is overlaid with a sleek metallic finish.
      Furnishings in pastel hues disrupt the otherwise neutral colour schemeAll of the apartment’s doors, as well as its window sills, are also made from Douglas fir.
      The material palette only deviates slightly in the bathroom, which features grey-tile surfaces and flecked terrazzo-like flooring.
      The stucco effect can also be seen in the bedroomThe Cloudy Outlines apartment is one of several residential renovations that Note Design Studio has completed in the Swedish capital, where the firm is based.
      Among them is Habitat 100 – an apartment littered with references to the Swedish Grace movement – and the Mantelpiece Loft, which is distinguished by its colour-block bedrooms.
      The photography is courtesy of the studio.

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      Allsteel’s Experience Center reimagines the role of the contract furniture showroom

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      Promotion: workplace furniture brand Allsteel’s latest showroom in Chicago is designed to showcase its latest products and share new workplace concepts  through architectural features and experiences.

      Designed by Partners by Design and located in the Fulton Market district in Chicago, the 24,000-square-foot Experience Center houses more than 150 products by Allsteel, Gunlocke, HBF, HBF Textiles, Normann Copenhagen, Zilenzio and Corral arranged across various workspace environments.
      Allsteel’s Experience Centre is based in ChicagoFunctioning like neighbourhoods, these workspaces were designed to reflect evolving work behaviours with spaces for working together, apart, or somewhere in between.
      They include micro-collaborative spaces within the larger environments, an executive retreat space, an all-day cafe, an open-concept lounge area designed to feel like an extension of the outdoors and a lab where customers can test products and materials first-hand.
      The Experience Centre showcases its latest productsAllsteel said that its Experience Center was a move away from a traditional showroom format – where the only function is to showcase product – towards a place for education, inspiration and collaboration.

      “We wanted to design a place that would celebrate and encourage collaboration, be a destination for education and inspiration, be an experience for our clients trying to solve meaningful workplace challenges and transform their ways of working,” said Allsteel’s director of brand and marketing Natalie Johansen Murray.
      The brand aims for the Experience Centre to be a place for encouragement and collaboration”We partnered and consulted with a wide range of local and national designers and creative visionaries to bring this space to life,” Johansen Murray continued.
      “Each of our partners along the journey really challenged us to reimagine the role of a traditional contract furniture showroom – pushing us to explore and bring forward new architectural features and experiences.”
      Products incorporated range from a flexible kit-of-parts that enable office layouts to be easily extended or adapted along with the needs of a growing business to a collection of accessories inspired by the traditional Shaker rail-and-peg system that allows workers to store and display objects that express their individuality.
      The brand aims for its Experience Centre to be a place for education, inspiration and collaborationAllsteel welcomed partners, clients and industry leaders to the new showroom for the first time at this year’s Fulton Market Design Days from 12 to 14 June 2023.
      “We are thrilled to open our doors and welcome our clients, the design community and commercial real estate professionals to our new Experience Center,” said Johansen Murray.
      “Throughout the entire design journey, we focused on developing a space to celebrate and encourage collaboration, a space that is designed to help our clients and design community do more.”
      Allsteel said that its Experience Center is a move away from a traditional showroom formatThe Allsteel Experience Center is located at 345 N Morgan, third floor, Fulton Market District, Chicago, IL 60607. Take a 360-degree tour of the Experience Center or visit Allsteel’s website for more information.
      Partnership content
      This article was written by Dezeen for Allsteel as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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      Michael Hsu utilises soft shapes for Austin skyscraper interiors

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      US studio Michael Hsu Office of Architecture has designed the common areas and amenity spaces for a residential skyscraper in Austin, Texas, which include a circular outdoor swimming pool.

      The 51-storey 44 East Avenue development on the city’s riverfront was designed by Page Architects, and includes 330 condominiums and a variety of shared amenities for residents.
      The ground-floor lobby of 44 East Avenue includes a glazed atrium that divides the spaceLocal studio Michael Hsu Office of Architecture took an organic approach when designing the communal spaces, introducing soft shapes and natural materials to the glass and concrete structure.
      “44 East combines nature and design with the idea of home,” said studio founder Michael Hsu. “It’s an unexpected expression of what beautiful, livable, modern spaces can be.”
      Michael Hsu Office of Architecture has layered a variety of vintage and custom furniture in the lobbyThe bright lobby features light colours, curved surfaces, and a blend of hard and soft materials.

      Poured concrete terrazzo floors are intended to echo the gravel of the nearby riverside trail, while plaster ceilings are subtly smooth-edged to mimic the undersides of boats.
      A rounded mint-green reception desk sits in front of a white tambour wallA glazed atrium with curved corners divides the ground floor and brings the landscaping by DWG further into the building.
      Lounges on either side are furnished with a mix of vintage and contemporary pieces, which add colour and texture.
      On the 11th floor, spaces feature pastel tones to match the interiors of the residencesThe reception desk has rounded edges and sides, and a glossy mint-green finish. It sits on a chrome base that matches a custom pendant light over a nearby seating area.
      “[The communal areas are] a completely designed experience, one that allows for a multitude of ways of living,” Hsu said. “It represents creativity and design without pretension.”
      A circular outdoor swimming pool has loungers and pebble-shaped islands at its shallow endsOn the 11th floor, a series of spaces are oriented towards views of the Colorado River and the leafy neighbourhoods to the south.
      A circular outdoor swimming pool features loungers dipped into the shallow water and a series of pebble-shaped islands.
      A tree grows through a hole in the canopy that covers a patio area for grillingAdjacent is a partially covered patio for barbecuing and dining al fresco, oriented around a planter with a tree that grows up through a hole in the slatted canopy.
      Indoor spaces on this level are decorated in pastel hues to match those found in the residences, which were designed by Page.

      HKS reduces plans for its supertall Austin skyscraper by half

      Further amenity areas on the 37th floor feature jewel tones and darker materials, such as the stone flooring, as well as fixtures including a large moon-like pendant light above a circular sofa.
      “We hope that this space feels both fresh and welcoming, a place that has new moments to discover, but that is comfortable and familiar,” said Hsu. “Design here is part of the resident’s everyday experience, rather than reserved for a special occasion.”
      Another lounge on the 37th floor has darker decor and a view of the Austin skylineAustin continues to grow as a desirable place to live and work, and has seen a boom in development across residential, commercial and hospitality sectors as a result.
      Plans for a supertall skyscraper in the city were unveiled in November 2022, although cut back significantly six months later, leaving another supertall by KPF in the running to become Texas’ tallest building.
      44 East Avenue is located beside the Colorado River, east of Downtown AustinMeanwhile, a concrete office complex, a sculptural tower, and a technologically advanced sports arena have all been completed in Austin over the past year.
      Michael Hsu Office of Architecture has also wrapped up a string of projects in its home state, from converting a 1930s Austin church into a design office to designing a cosy Japanese restaurant in Houston.
      The photography is by Chase Daniel.
      Project credits:
      Common areas/amenity spaces: Michael Hsu Office of ArchitectureHome interiors: PageLandscape architect: DWGDeveloper: IntracorpPre-construction: FlintcoCivil engineering: WGI

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      Eight interiors where Barbiecore pink adds a playful touch of colour

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      As the upcoming Barbie film has created a shortage of pink colour and launched a real-life dollhouse in Malibu, we gathered eight pink interiors to exemplify the Barbiecore aesthetic for this lookbook.

      The pink hues that are usually associated with Barbie, a children’s toy first launched by manufacturer Mattel in 1959, are influencing both clothes and interiors ahead of Great Gerwig’s live-action Barbie film.
      The style, which has become known as Barbiecore, can add a joyful touch of colour to otherwise pared-back interiors, or be used as a hyper-bright nod to 1980s opulence.
      Here, we have gathered eight interiors where pink was used to give interiors additional warmth and a touch of whimsy.
      This is the latest in our lookbook series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring rustic interiors, Wes Anderson-style interiors and welcoming wood-panelled dining rooms.

      Photo by JC de MarcosMinimal Fantasy, Spain, by Patricia Bustos Studio
      The Minimal Fantasy apartment is anything but minimalist – instead, Patricia Bustos Studio aimed to create an “aesthetic madness” for the interior of this Madrid rental in a 1950s residential building.
      The holiday home features 12 different shades of pink, with the entire living room covered in a pastel bubblegum pink.
      “Pink vindicates the fall of stereotypes – everything is possible, nothing is planned or established and that’s the beauty of it,” the studio told Dezeen.
      Find out more about Minimal Fantasy ›
      Photo by Matthew MillmanSan Francisco house, US, by Jamie Bush
      A more discrete take on adding pink to an interior can be found in this San Francisco house by architect Jamie Bush, who gave it an overhaul using an eclectic array of furniture.
      Bush added pink walls to the dining room, where they contrast against dark-wood vintage furniture and white details including a lamp and sheer curtains to create a playful, yet elegant atmosphere.
      Find out more about San Francisco House ›
      Photo by Hogwash StudiosBarbie’s Malibu Dreamhouse, US, by Ken
      The most Barbiecore interior of them all can naturally be found in the Barbie Malibu Dreamhouse, which is being rented out by the doll’s boyfriend Ken on Airbnb.
      Inside the California mansion, located beachside in Malibu, guests can enjoy pink rooms including the bright-fuchsia bedroom that has been decorated with cowboy hats, boots and cowhide rugs to add more “Kenergy”.
      Find out more about Barbie’s Malibu Dreamhouse ›
      Photo by Luis Díaz DíazMixtape apartment, Spain, by Azab
      A dusky baby-pink kitchen decorates the Mixtape apartment in Bilbao, which was designed by architecture studio Azab.
      The white and pink cupboards are boarded by light timber strips, and the appliances in the room have also been painted pink. A multicoloured floor with pale green and yellow as well as darker red herringbone tiles give the space a vibrant feel.
      Find out more about Mixtape apartment ›
      Photo by Rei Moon of Moon Ray Studio130-square-metre-house, UK, by Studiomama
      “London’s smallest house”, a conceptual design by Studiomama, features an abundance of pink details throughout, including in its plywood-clad kitchen.
      Here, the clever fold-out seating has been decorated with blush-pink cushions and pillows, with a pink cushion also forming a cosy backrest.
      Find out more about 130-square-metre house ›
      Photo by Salva LopezMoco Barcelona, Spain, by Isern Serra
      A computer-generated image was transformed into a real-life interior for the Moco Barcelona store, a rose-coloured shop inside the city’s Moco Museum.
      Designer Isern Serra used pink micro-cement to achieve the same uniform, ultra-smooth surfaces as those of the computer-generated image, creating a dream-like interior filled with rounded corners and arches.
      Find out more about Moco Barcelona ›
      Photo by Lorenzo ZandriPigment House, UK, by Unknown Works
      London studio Unknown Works went all in on the pink for Pigment House, a Hampstead home that was renovated to add a pink-toned patio area.
      While not technically part of the interior, it adds a splash of colour to the ground floor area, and is used for indoor-outdoor living in the summer months. The choice of pink was a reference to the colourful buildings of Mexican architect Luiz Barragán.
      Find out more about Pigment House ›
      Photo by Hey! CheeseCats’ Pink House, Taiwan, by KC Design Studio
      This holiday home in Taiwan got its name, Cats’ Pink House, as it includes cat ladders, a rotating carousel-shaped climbing frame and a fluffy pink cat swing.
      KC Design Studio used a mineral-based paint to create the pink walls throughout the home, which also features a pink bathroom – with a pink cat litter box.
      Find out more about Cats’ Pink House ›
      This is the latest in our lookbook series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring rustic interiors, Wes Anderson-style interiors and welcoming wood-panelled dining rooms.

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      Fettle returns The Georgian hotel in Santa Monica to its 1930s “glory”

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      Design studio Fettle has restored an art deco hotel in Santa Monica, California, refreshing its distinctive turquoise facade and using the original style to inform the interiors.

      Facing Ocean Avenue and the water beyond, The Georgian hotel was originally built in 1933 to serve tourists visiting the beachside city west of Los Angeles.
      Restoring The Georgian hotel involved refreshing its turquoise facadeThe eight-storey building was recently acquired by BLVD Hospitality, which tasked London and Los Angeles-based Fettle with bringing it back to life while embracing its heritage.
      “The brief for The Georgian was very simple: to restore the building to her former and deserved glory,” said the studio’s co-founder and creative director Tom Parker.
      The dining terrace facing Ocean Avenue is surrounded by foliage”Not necessarily by going back in time, but more so by understanding how an art deco building right on the shoreline in Santa Monica would look and feel in a modern hospitality landscape,” he added.

      Under the navy-striped awnings on either side of the entrance, the shaded dining terrace is surrounded by foliage designed and procured by LA nursery Rolling Greens.
      The design of the Sunset Bar was intended to exaggerate the symmetry of the architectural detailsScalloped-back banquettes set the tone for a motif repeated throughout the interiors, including above the red key box in the lobby and for dramatic custom headboards in the guest rooms.
      In the lobby, the high ceilings are accented by deco-style chandeliers and original reliefs, and the floor is geometrically patterned to reference the designs of the 1930s.
      The dining room features mismatched custom lounge furnitureTo one side is the Sunset Bar, where a horseshoe-shaped counter of Italian emerald quartzite is strategically placed to highlight the symmetry of the arches overhead.
      The dining room is located on the other side of the lobby, and features mismatched custom lounge furniture among weekly installations by French floral artist Jean Pascal.
      Scalloped details are found throughout the hotel, including atop the red key box behind the reception deskTucked behind the reception area, past a spiral staircase and through a door, is Gallery 33 – an art gallery that also hosts private events.
      “This dramatic space has been designed to celebrate the best of culture, the arts and the most unique of gatherings as well as showcase the work of local, internationally renowned and up-and-coming artists through an evolving program throughout the year,” said The Georgian team.
      The Writer’s Room offers a private dining area for intimate gatheringsNext door is a red-walled library stocked with books curated by Lee Kaplan of Culver City’s Arcana: Books on the Arts, while the nearby Writer’s Room offers a private dining space for up to 20 guests.
      The Georgian has 56 classic rooms and 28 one-bedroom suites, all of which have art deco-influenced interiors.

      Kelly Wearstler designs relaxed and beachy Santa Monica Proper hotel

      Pale blue window valance boxes, globe-shaped crystal light fixtures and vintage-style record players are all included.
      Bedroom doors, cornices, window frames and bathroom tiles all match the bright hue of the building’s facade.
      All of The Georgian’s guest rooms have art deco-influenced interiorsOn the exterior above the entrance, Fettle also added a new brass framed neon sign based on the hotel’s 1930s original, tying together a celebratory restoration.
      “The end result presents a gleaming celebration of the building’s rich history with sensitive yet striking design elements,” Parker said.
      Window valances and globe-shaped chandeliers are among the guest rooms design featuresEnjoying the best of California’s beach culture and warm weather, Santa Monica is a popular destination for visitors travelling over from LA, as well as in its own right.
      Other accommodation options in the city include the Santa Monica Proper, designed by Kelly Wearstler with a relaxed feel and eclectic furniture, while a mixed-use development by Frank Gehry that’s currently underway will also include a hotel.
      A new brass framed neon sign based on the hotel’s 1930s original was also addedFettle’s portfolio of hospitality projects spans both sides of the Atlantic, with the 1 Warwick members’ club in London and the Schwan Locke Hotel in Munich among recently completed examples.
      The studio has also completed the public areas for several branches of the hotel chain The Hoxton, including the locations in Rome and Portland, Oregon.
      The photography is by Douglas Friedman.

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