Casa Del Mar Gets a Designer Upgrade

Photo Credit: Lisa Romerein

Casa Del Mar has been a Santa Monica institution since the roaring 20s, when it was the see-and-be-seen destination of the old Hollywood elite. Now, the beloved hotel has been revived with modern-day amenities and some luxurious upgrades courtesy of celebrity designer Michael S. Smith. 

It is the lobby lounge, in particular that Smith—a-five time honoree of Architectural Digest’s “The AD 100”, and is the recipient of the Pacific Design Center’s West Week “Stars of Design” as well as the man who was personally appointed by President Obama to the Committee for the Preservation of the White House—has gifted with his Midas Touch. The updated lounge features a brand-new check-in area with Spanish tiles and hand-blown glass beading.

There are also three new suites that have received a generous upgrade thanks to Rooms & Gardens. The multi-level Penthouse suites are reminiscent of Italian seaside villas, featuring eclectic Venetian-designed furnishings, a living room with a fireplace, a formal dining area, and either one, two, or three bedrooms with separate sitting areas, giving guests the feeling they are in their own private, beachfront pied-a-terre. A single Presidential Suite includes two bedrooms, a living and dining room, guest bath, bar, a Bang & Olufsen stereo system, hydrothermal massage tubs, and a separate shower and vanity. The suites are priced from $2,700 to $4,200 per night.