Santa Monica Art Deco hotel The Georgian is set for an April 2023 reopening, following extensive restoration and redesign. A fixture of the Southern California coastline since its debut in 1933, the hotel has seen various iterations over the years, with its latest seeking to channel glimpses into the hotel’s 1930’s heyday.
Hoteliers Jon Blanchard and Nicolo Rusconi of BLVD Hospitality are the leading forces of the hotel’s restoration, with Fettle and HLW leading architecture and interior design. The new design sees the 84-key property’s roots, steeped in old Hollywood and Art Deco, maintained alongside new additions.
The redesigned hotel has kept the turquoise façade that has long made it a striking property on the Santa Monica waterfront. As guests approach the entrance however, they will find new additions to the exterior: peach hibiscus and vibrant foliage designed and procured by LA-based Rolling Greens, as well as whimsical topiaries flanking the navy awning of Sunset Terrace.
Stepping inside a Wes Anderson-inspired reception, guests will walk upon a Havana Deco-inspired floor and look up to high ceilings and custom Art Deco chandeliers. The space – adorned with seasonal floral installations by LA-based French floral artist Jean Pascal – is accompanied by the horseshoe-shaped Sunset Bar to the left, and an intimate dining room to the right, a space designed for up to 10 seated guests or 20 standing, and equipped with AV technology.
Rooms, which have maintained their original peephole, feature custom golden-hued headboards designed by Fettle, and globe-shaped crystal light fixtures. Beds are draped in sustainable Italian linens by Bellino, with accent cushions by Italian textile designer Lisa Corti. An antique bar cart and Marshall speaker, as well as vegan R+Co toiletries and Harry Josh hair dryers are just some of the additional amenities integrated into the room. The Georgian will also be the first hotel in the world to offer Alo Moves, which will allow guests to complete a selection of yoga tutorials via the in-room television.
The Georgian’s suites feature bedrooms and large living rooms with pastel-toned couches, as well as additional touches like Polaroid cameras, Victrola record players and curated records from California-based Ubiquity Records. Especially striking are the custom-made, brass floor-to-ceiling bars, crafted with antique and backlit textured glass and adorned with ornate buttons that facilitate a “press for” concierge service.
Guests will find additional facilities across the property, including a gallery, library, 24-hour gym, designated retail area and multiple F&B offerings. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at Restaurant at The Georgian, while The Georgian Room is a historic dinner-only restaurant and piano bar – home to a 1918 ebony polished Steinway & Sons piano – that will reopen for the first time in over 50 years.
