Prior to its $1 million makeover, the Carlyle Inn felt like a Hollywood starlet who had seen better days, says Pacifica Hotel Design Manager Christina McCain Franklin. With its Beverly Hills address and existing architectural curiosities calling to mind the silent film era, a classic 1920s Art Deco design fell into place during the property’s face-lift. The 32-room boutique hotel, owned and operated by Pacifica, is meant to evoke a sense of wonder and nostalgia. In the refreshed lobby, Franklin treated every design element as art. Tone-on-tone herringbone wallcoverings lure guests into the space, while geometric vinyl dome chairs provide the perfect vantage point for a quirky bowler hat art installation. A stylized nook with a black-and-white hand drawing of clouds on the wall features a hunter green mohair loveseat that’s
ideal for curling up with a book. “By creating vignettes with art installations and group seating, I was able to update each element of the lobby in an impactful way.”
Hat Trick
A custom art installation with floating bowler hats pays homage to Charlie Chaplin, the king of silent films. The artist painted the heads underneath a rich graphite color. A golden, palm-up hand chair underneath begs to be sat in. “My hope is that the guest is at first captivated, then inspired to try on a hat and Instagram it,” Franklin says.
Optical Illusion
Since the renovation didn’t involve structural changes, Franklin needed a creative way to give the illusion of space. She filled up the barreled ceiling with antiqued mirrors to capture the patterns and textures throughout the lobby. “The hexagon tile is impactful on its own, but with the mirror reflection, it goes on forever and creates an optical illusion.”
Black or White
The richness of the floor tile comes from a cream, graphite, and charcoal outline, while multiple shades of gray add depth, Franklin explains. “At first glance, the lobby may read black and white, but it’s actually the positive and negative relationship on the color spectrum that creates the magic.” A mix of metal on the pendants, table bases, and hardware adds a playful element.
