Nestled in the heart of San Jose and the Silicon Valley, Hotel Valencia Santana Row is in the final stages of a multimillion-dollar renovation to enhance its Mediterranean styling. The 215-room boutique hotel transports guests to a place reminiscent of the Spanish Golden Age with embossed plaster wall treatments, wrought iron chandeliers, raked plaster ceiling, and Iberian-inspired furniture. Long oak credenzas with custom stenciling and nail head decorated chairs round out the Old World Spain-inspired design. “We emphasized more of a Spanish colonial feeling, but not in a predictable way,” says Lauren Rottett, founding principal and president of Rottet Studio, the firm that oversaw the project. Among the updates is a new outdoor gathering place called the Terrace, where guests can relax under a glass canopy while sipping wine, sharing small plates, and soaking in the beauty of the blooming bougainvillea and reflective water fountain.
All Aglow
Hanging LED lights add a festive ambience to the Terrace, so guests can dine in a casual setting. “It’s meant to feel like a Spanish fiesta,” she says.
Raise the Roof
Prior to the renovation, guests couldn’t access the courtyard from the lobby, so Rottett Studio relocated the front desk and opened up the space. A new glass roof with wrought iron trim draws guests outdoors. “The traditional Spanish motifs we used in the canopy allude back to the sidewalk cafes from southern Spain,” Rottet says.
Down to Earth
The color palette complements the hotel’s traditional Spanish colonial architecture, Rottet explains. “Much of the design is influenced by natural, earth tone clay tile materials, so we used warm beiges, golden tones, and slightly orange tones.”
