One of my favorite things about being an interior designer in Los Angeles is how inspiring the city is. There are constant sources of inspiration around that are always setting trends, pushing limits and of course, catching my eye. After all, Los Angeles is home to some of the world’s most incredible and renowned designs. Whether it’s luxurious glam in Hollywood, bohemian in Venice or modern coastal in the South Bay, Los Angeles is a special place sprinkled with inspiration.
From hotels to restaurants, here are some of my favorite sources of inspiration and design trends right now.
THE BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL
I have always adored the Beverly Hills hotel. Since it opened in 1912, it has remained one of the most iconic hotels in the world. That title doesn’t come without timeless interior design. Its whimsy California classic style is the perfect backdrop for an inspiration stay-cation.
The hotel’s whimsy California classic style greets you at the door with bold stripes, pops of color and a lush landscaping. Whether it’s a hotel or a home, a well designed entrance is so important. It introduces you to the tone of the property and starts your experience.
The color schemes used in this restaurant seating area had me feeling some major nostalgia. Hunter green & pale pink remind me of my bedroom colors as a child. I love when interiors push the boundaries like this and dress up a traditionally younger color combination. These classic colors will always be popular and stripes will be an element I just can’t live without. The lighted mirrors above the banquettes are a nice way to add a little glitz & glam to a softer design like this. We are in Beverly Hills after all!
Scalloped edge cabanas are one pool element I can’t get enough of. It brings in some major 1920’s pool vibes which are so fitting here. Only thing missing is a cabana boy and a cocktail. :)
Nothing says the Beverly Hills Hotel like these iconic Martinque wall coverings. Easily one of the most recognizable patterns ever produced. These leaves have adorned the walls of the hotel since a remodel in 1949 and I have a feeling they aren’t going anywhere. I’ve coveted this pattern for years and it remains a staple in the most current designs of today. I love this pattern so much I even had it placed on one of our Hermosa Beach showroom walls.
Pink, palm trees and patios add up to perfection. Enough said. I was loving how this custom palm tree cabana brought some youthfulness to the pool deck and also served as an art installation.
THE STANDARD HOLLYWOOD
A little further down Sunset Boulevard is another one of my favorite hotels. For a bit more of an urban design edge, The Standard in West Hollywood fit my stay-cation summer list. The Standard was designed to grab your attention with quirky and artistic accents. Starting with their upside down signage on the façade leading your eye to the curvature of the balconies. It’s almost as if the ripples from the pool are extending throughout the entire property.
Window coverings are another essential design element to give a room that finishing touch. It’s an area where you can get creative and be a little playful with the prints and textures. In the rooms at The Standard, they transformed Andy Warhol’s iconic flower print into a beautiful set of drapes. The print contrasts the minimal aesthetic and gives the room a nice pop art feel.
The pool side bar, Cactus Lounge, is the perfect desert oasis escape for a beverage after soaking up some sun. It's calm and organic color palette is so soothing after a long pool day and their desert mural wraps the entire wall, completely transforming the space and making you feel like you really are sitting in the middle of the Mojave.
No filter here, the contrast really is just that high. It’s totally invigorating and I love it. The Standard’s electric blue pool deck mixed with the all-white furnishings is such a fun and abstract way of using traditional nautical colors and completely dressing up the pool. Makes a great backdrop for Instagram photos too! :)
ROSALINÉ
I always have to stop at Rosaliné when I’m in West Hollywood. For an interior designer, the best restaurants have to have not only great food but also impressive interiors and that’s exactly why Rosaliné makes my list. One pattern I can never get enough of is herringbone. The floor, walls and wood paneling (in an over-scaled manner) is perfection in my book. The pattern has variations depending on the location but still is cohesive throughout the entire restaurant.
I’m thinking I need to get a pink neon sign like this… I absolutely love how it pops and brings in some femininity to the restaurant design. The way the neon reflects off the white stone tiles looks amazing and it softens the restaurant’s modern atmosphere a bit.
The monochromatic bar area is full of natural elements and patterns. I thought the wine rack was a genius way of continuing the large angles on the wall in the dining area into this space. It also feels a little coastal which you don’t see a lot of in the Hollywood area, so the diversity in design is much appreciated.
And last but not least, plants! Have I mentioned how fabulous of a design elements they are? They can be used in any style of space and always add so much texture, life and love! This dining room area is literally covered in plants and it really is what completes the space. It almost feels like you’re in a modern rainforest when you’re dining here with all the plants above you.
