BLVD Hospitality, in partnership with ESI Ventures, has revealed plans for the restoration of Santa Monica’s iconic hotel, The Georgian, slated for January 2023.
Located on Ocean Avenue perched above the Santa Monica waterfront, The Georgian has been a fixture of the Southern California coastline since it first opened in 1933. BLVD acquired the landmark hotel in August 2020 with the intent to restore one of Los Angeles’ most recognisable and photogenic hotels to its former glory.
Known as Santa Monica’s First Lady due to being one of the first high-rises built along Ocean Ave, the turquoise Period Revival-meets-Art Deco monument offers a rare glimpse into Old Hollywood and golden-age California history. Refining its presence for a new era, the project is being approached as a historically-inspired restoration rather than a redesign by London and Los Angeles-based boutique interior architecture and design firm, Fettle.
The next chapter for The Georgian will see a restoration of the 84 guestrooms and 28 suites, alongside new and refreshed offerings including the famous ocean-view Sunset Terrace, Dining Room, and Sunset Bar. In addition to The Library and gymnasium, The Georgian will also be home to two private meeting and dining spaces, The Gallery and The Writer’s Room. The Gallery will showcase an evolving curation of work by international artists on a quarterly basis.
The refreshed concept will embrace much of the hotel’s retained original detailing, while thoughtful materials and an elaborate art programme will bring a new chapter to The Georgian. Touches including fully custom Art Deco furniture, ornate lighting, rare imported Italian marble, and the Sunset Bar’s Havana Deco-inspired floor pattern will set an architecturally striking stage for a very modern set of operations and service standards.
“The story of Santa Monica’s First Lady is one filled with magic, intrigue, sophistication, and quite certainly, a touch of debauchery,” reveals Nicolo Rusconi, Co-Founder and President at BLVD. “Our vision is that each one of those elements will coalesce with contemporary California culture to once again make The Georgian California’s crown jewel. And we’re honoured to be a part of such an inspired and passionate community as Santa Monica.”
