The beachside lifestyle hotel unveils a
top-to-bottom reimagination spearheaded by award-winning design
studio EDG, featuring beach-inspired, open-air design, plus an
extensive new art collection from local artists
SANTA
MONICA, Calif., April 10,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Viceroy Santa Monica–the iconic beachside hotel
located steps away from the water on Ocean Avenue in the heart of
Santa Monica-announced the
completion of its all-encompassing renovation at the hands of
award-winning design studio EDG.
The hotel, owned by Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, one of the
country's leading owners of lifestyle hotels, originally opened in
2000 as the first Viceroy Hotels & Resorts property. The
reimagination gives the Santa
Monica legend a fresh, new edge, featuring all-new
guestrooms and suites, newly designed common areas, an expansive
outdoor space, and a signature restaurant and bar, Sugar Palm. The
enhancement also added a new art collection inclusive of
commissioned works and interactive augmented reality pieces from
various local artists.
"We are thrilled to unveil this stunning transformation of
Viceroy Santa Monica, where our brand originally debuted," says
Bill Walshe, CEO of Viceroy Hotels
& Resorts. "The renovation has reinvigorated this iconic
property, infusing it with a fresh, contemporary aesthetic that
celebrates our West Coast roots and pays homage to the property's
rich history. We look forward to welcoming guests to experience the
elevated level of luxury, personalized service, and immersive
experiences that define the Viceroy brand."
Design
The new guestroom and suite design is inspired
by Southern California's crowning
feature, the beach, bringing the shore closer than ever. The design
brings the outdoors in through abundant natural textures in a
sun-washed color palette of aquamarines, sunny yellows, and neutral
sand tones. Mid-century-style furnishings and graphic carpet
complement sea-grass inspired wall coverings. Patterned curtains
evoke the reflection of the sun on the water. All rooms have a
Juliet balcony to let in the ocean breeze, with western-facing
rooms offering guests views of the Pacific Ocean and west coast
sunsets.
The hotel's public spaces, including the lobby, indoor lounge,
outdoor patio, and pool area with private cabanas, feature a
vibrant color palette and eclectic, vintage furnishings. Upon
entry, guests are immediately greeted by a two-ton driftwood bench
and wood-planked ceilings that mimic walking beneath the Santa
Monica Pier, inviting guests to drift in and linger for a while,
whether for a business meeting, a celebration with friends, or an
after-work cocktail.
The entire hotel was designed with sustainability at the
forefront. EDG brought existing pieces new life, repurposing
original materials and furnishings wherever possible to minimize
waste. Decorative woodwork in the guestrooms was painted rather
than replaced, original furnishings were reupholstered, and in
hallways, existing wall coverings were stenciled over to add
interest and conserve resources. Many of the commissioned art
pieces throughout the property were also created with repurposed
objects, including skateboard wheels and vintage cameras.
The renovation brings an all-new indoor-outdoor experience in
which cocktails and conversations flow throughout. Perfect for
year-round relaxation, luxurious, open-air cabanas inspired by the
lifeguard towers on Santa Monica
beach surround two sparkling, palm-tree lined pools. The
intermingled, open-air dining patio and bar, comfortable lounge
seating throughout the lobby, and inspired new meeting spaces
encourage guests to mix business with pleasure. New programming,
including New Moon Meditations led by Calming Spot Santa Monica
brings opportunities for guests and locals to enjoy the reinvented
outdoor experience.
"Our design goal was for guests to feel rejuvenated, relaxed,
and alive, with a clear sense of being in Santa Monica," said EDG Principal Jennifer Johanson. "Every aspect of this sunny
sanctuary reflects Santa Monica's
vibrant energy."
Sugar Palm
Sugar Palm, Viceroy Santa Monica's
signature indoor-outdoor dining concept helmed by Executive Chef
Jason Francisco, is the hotel's
social hub. The indoor lounge, wraparound bar, breezy, outdoor
patio featuring a large firepit, and private dining cabanas offer
plenty of ways to gather and connect over brunch or dinner.
The restaurant offers a journey through California's diverse coastline, showcasing
line-caught seafood and market fresh produce sourced from local
farmers and purveyors. Chef Jason's seasonally rotating brunch
("Sunrise") and dinner ("Sunset") menus honor and celebrate the
melting pot of cultures in Los
Angeles through the use of globally inspired flavors and
techniques. A curated cocktail menu reminiscent of the colors and
flavors of Santa Monica calls for
celebratory toasts any time of day.
An advocate for sustainability, Chef Jason is leading the charge
among the Viceroy Hotel Group with unique plant-based menu items
featuring out-of-the-box ingredients like watermelon, lychee,
mushrooms, and more to mimic the umami flavors found in meat and
seafood. He encourages his kitchen to find ways to upcycle all
parts of produce and meat, whether it's for stocks, juices, syrups,
and garnishes used across a variety of dishes and beverages, thus
reducing food waste.
Art
Art is a key tenet of the Viceroy Hotels
& Resorts brand. Every guestroom at Viceroy Santa Monica
includes new original works from local artisans Erin Miller Wray, Kelcey
Fisher, and Priscilla Witte
curated by Art x Co. Continuing the theme of blurring the lines
between indoors and out, each piece is inspired by coastal
elements, like Miller Wray's
colorful surf fins, Fisher's abstract sky and water scenes, and
Witte's augmented reality illustration showcasing a bird's eye view
of the hotel's pools.
The in-room art is an extension of the local collection
scattered throughout the common areas, including three marquee
murals: "Endless," also by Miller
Wray, is inspired by ocean horizons and adorns the hotel's
facade, "Ijeoma" by Evelyn Leigh,
located on the exterior wall of Sugar Palm, evokes a palm tree
swaying and the calming effect of the ocean water, and finally,
"Deep Roots," by Spencer Mar Guilburt, located on the Pico side of
the property, represents the unseen roots that connect us as we
look collectively to an unseen future. Sugar Palm's indoor lounge
contains paintings by Monica Perez
that celebrate the ability to coexist after separation.
In the lobby, Karen Bystedt's
art, created especially for Viceroy Santa Monica, called "The Lost
Warhols, " showcases once lost photographs taken by Bystedt of
famed artist Andy Warhol that fellow
artists have painted atop of. The digitally augmented pieces slowly
transform on screens from raw photos to finished, multi-layered
artwork featuring scenes of Santa
Monica surf and skate culture and colors from "Ijeoma."
Viceroy Santa Monica, is
located a block from the beach at 1819 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA, 90401. Whether it's through
a Priority bike ride down the boardwalk, a picnic on the beach, or
cocktails under the palms, locals and guests from around the world
can relax, unwind, and enjoy the best Santa Monica has to offer, just steps away
from a variety of upscale and casual restaurants, world class
shopping, and the famed Santa Monica Pier. Follow along on
Instagram and visit the hotel's website for more information.
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SOURCE Viceroy Santa Monica