Travel by Design
Travel in Style: 10 Designer Hotels to Inspire You
Pick up some decorating ideas or just revel in the decor and furnishings of these eye-popping hotels by famous designers
Most of us experience famous architecture in short bursts. We might spend half a day wandering around the Guggenheim museum, an hour strolling through Fallingwater or a few moments in the lobby of a building whose interiors were done by Philippe Stark. But unless you actually own a home designed by a famous architect — or have enough cash to dump on Jonathan Adler's lawn to coax him into designing your house — there's little opportunity to truly become intimate with world-famous design.
That is, unless you book a night in one of these buildings. Many famous architects and designers have tried their hand at hotel design, producing some incredible concepts. And they're completely accessible. Located all over the world and spanning every style — from traditional to ubermodern to brazenly individual — these 10 hotels offer some of the most luxurious accommodations created by some of the world's most interesting designers.
That is, unless you book a night in one of these buildings. Many famous architects and designers have tried their hand at hotel design, producing some incredible concepts. And they're completely accessible. Located all over the world and spanning every style — from traditional to ubermodern to brazenly individual — these 10 hotels offer some of the most luxurious accommodations created by some of the world's most interesting designers.
The Villas also have dining rooms, private patios and fully equipped kitchens.
From $250 per night | Viceroy Palm Springs
From $250 per night | Viceroy Palm Springs
Mama Shelter, Lyon, France
Architect and interior designer: Philippe Starck
Bright colors, colorful inflatable inner tubes and nothing but the smartest and coolest furniture designs — what else would you expect from modern French designer Philippe Stark?
The famed Louis Ghost Chair designer's hipster hangout opened in April 2013 and immediately established itself as a new breed of modern hotel. With an iMac in every room, chalk-like graffiti on the floors and funky colors, this surprisingly affordable hotel is sure to become one of the most sought-after spots in Lyon.
Here, one of six meeting and event spaces shows off the colorful and fun aesthetic.
Architect and interior designer: Philippe Starck
Bright colors, colorful inflatable inner tubes and nothing but the smartest and coolest furniture designs — what else would you expect from modern French designer Philippe Stark?
The famed Louis Ghost Chair designer's hipster hangout opened in April 2013 and immediately established itself as a new breed of modern hotel. With an iMac in every room, chalk-like graffiti on the floors and funky colors, this surprisingly affordable hotel is sure to become one of the most sought-after spots in Lyon.
Here, one of six meeting and event spaces shows off the colorful and fun aesthetic.
The bright orange in the penthouse bathroom recalls the color of the Starck logo; it appears throughout the hotel.
From $64 | Mama Shelter Lyon
From $64 | Mama Shelter Lyon
The rooftop lounge and wine bar have panoramic views, a fireplace and a library.
From 300 euros (about U.S.$390) per night | Hotel Marqués de Riscal
From 300 euros (about U.S.$390) per night | Hotel Marqués de Riscal
Hotel Lautner, Desert Hot Springs, California
Architect: John Lautner
Lautner began designing this space in 1947 as a master planned community with 100 buildings, storefronts and pools on 600 acres for famous director Lucien Hubbard. After four units, though, the project ground to a stop.
The units became various motels over the decades, until Los Angeles interior designer Tracy Beckmann and furniture designer Ryan Trowbridge purchased the property and spent more than four years renovating and relaunching the site as a four-suite boutique resort in 2011.
The Desert Retreat, seen here, has a black and cream base palette with metallic accents and a chocolate brown Milo Baughman sofa.
Architect: John Lautner
Lautner began designing this space in 1947 as a master planned community with 100 buildings, storefronts and pools on 600 acres for famous director Lucien Hubbard. After four units, though, the project ground to a stop.
The units became various motels over the decades, until Los Angeles interior designer Tracy Beckmann and furniture designer Ryan Trowbridge purchased the property and spent more than four years renovating and relaunching the site as a four-suite boutique resort in 2011.
The Desert Retreat, seen here, has a black and cream base palette with metallic accents and a chocolate brown Milo Baughman sofa.
The interiors in The Redwood Lounge suite feature vintage modern furniture, like a Warren Platner table and chairs.
From $250 per night | Hotel Lautner
From $250 per night | Hotel Lautner
The Hotel Luzern, Lucerne, Switzerland
Architect and interior designer: Jean Nouvel
Pritzker Prize–winning French starchitect Jean Nouvel designed every square inch of this jaw-dropping interior space. Individual color schemes highlight each of the 30 rooms, and film stills from the designer's favorite directors — like David Lynch and Federico Fellini — are on many of the walls and ceilings.
The Penthouse Suite, seen here, is spacious, with warm wood floors, crisp minimalist decor and a rooftop terrace. The film still is from The Matador, directed by Pedro Almodóvar.
Architect and interior designer: Jean Nouvel
Pritzker Prize–winning French starchitect Jean Nouvel designed every square inch of this jaw-dropping interior space. Individual color schemes highlight each of the 30 rooms, and film stills from the designer's favorite directors — like David Lynch and Federico Fellini — are on many of the walls and ceilings.
The Penthouse Suite, seen here, is spacious, with warm wood floors, crisp minimalist decor and a rooftop terrace. The film still is from The Matador, directed by Pedro Almodóvar.
Inn at Price Tower, Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright
This is the famed architect's only skyscraper. In 2003 New York architect Wendy Evans Joseph turned the top five floors into a 19-room hotel that nods to Wright's aesthetic. There are two-story suites and a cantilevered restaurant and bar called Copper.
The Price Tower Arts Center takes up the rest of the building, with art exhibitions and tours of the restored 1956 interiors.
Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright
This is the famed architect's only skyscraper. In 2003 New York architect Wendy Evans Joseph turned the top five floors into a 19-room hotel that nods to Wright's aesthetic. There are two-story suites and a cantilevered restaurant and bar called Copper.
The Price Tower Arts Center takes up the rest of the building, with art exhibitions and tours of the restored 1956 interiors.
All the rooms nod to Wright's midcentury design ethos, with retro colors and slanted lines.
From $140 | Inn at Price Tower
From $140 | Inn at Price Tower
The Parker Palm Springs, Palm Springs, California
Interior designer: Jonathan Adler
It-boy designer Jonathan Adler made over this old-Hollywood haven in 2004, adding his pop white style and kitschy-cool accents. The site was once Gene Autry's Melody Ranch and Merv Griffin's Givenchy Resort and Spa. If you can swing the expense, go for the Gene Autry suite, the spacious former residence of the movie star.
Interior designer: Jonathan Adler
It-boy designer Jonathan Adler made over this old-Hollywood haven in 2004, adding his pop white style and kitschy-cool accents. The site was once Gene Autry's Melody Ranch and Merv Griffin's Givenchy Resort and Spa. If you can swing the expense, go for the Gene Autry suite, the spacious former residence of the movie star.
The Autry suite has a private enclosed patio and sophisticated yet relaxing decor.
The large living, dining and kitchen areas blend similar Adler stylings and open to a terrace.
The one-bedroom Villas include an enclosed patio, a marble bathroom and a living room, shown here, with a cool hanging chair and wet bar.
Even the Estate rooms feature dazzling design. There are also bath products from Hermès, Molton Brown and Peter Thomas Roth.
The lavish and vibrant 13-acre site includes three pools, three restaurants, four tennis courts, two pétanque courts and an 18-hole golf course.
From $385 | Parker Palm Springs
From $385 | Parker Palm Springs
The Tides Beach Club, Kennebunkport, Maine
Designer inspiration: Jonathan Adler
Though not exactly designed by Jonathan Adler himself, this revamped hundred-year-old property features two suites completely furnished by the Jonathan Adler Company. The suites have eye-catching upholstered headboards, Peruvian wool textile pillows and, of course, decorative pottery.
Designer inspiration: Jonathan Adler
Though not exactly designed by Jonathan Adler himself, this revamped hundred-year-old property features two suites completely furnished by the Jonathan Adler Company. The suites have eye-catching upholstered headboards, Peruvian wool textile pillows and, of course, decorative pottery.
The boutique hotel has 21 rooms, many of which have ocean views, so the contemporary coastal decor is a perfect fit. Signature crisp Adler white pops with ocean blues in this suite bathroom.
Adler suites from $224 | The Tides Beach Club
Adler suites from $224 | The Tides Beach Club
Four Seasons New York, New York City
Architect: I.M. Pei
This 52-story limestone building is the famous Chinese designer's only fully completed design in the Western hemisphere. The limestone is the same used in Pei's expansion of the Louvre in Paris.
Here the West Lobby offers a peak at the tower's luxurious design, as well as interiors by the company Chhada, Siembieda, Remedios.
Architect: I.M. Pei
This 52-story limestone building is the famous Chinese designer's only fully completed design in the Western hemisphere. The limestone is the same used in Pei's expansion of the Louvre in Paris.
Here the West Lobby offers a peak at the tower's luxurious design, as well as interiors by the company Chhada, Siembieda, Remedios.
The 4,300-square-foot Ty Warner penthouse suite (shown here), named after the Ty toy company owner, who bought the building in 1999, is reportedly the third-most-expensive suite in the world, at more than $41,000 per night, according to CNN Travel.
Pei, who finished work on the building in 1993 but was unable to design the penthouse he had originally planned, came out of retirement in 1999 to create the Ty Warner suite with designer Peter Marino.
Cantilevered glass balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows offer sweeping views of Manhattan. There are also a full marble bathroom and a library.
Cantilevered glass balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows offer sweeping views of Manhattan. There are also a full marble bathroom and a library.
The Studio Suite, on the 50th floor, is only slightly less dramatic. The 1,000-square-foot room is swathed in silk and velvet, with English sycamore wood furnishings.
There are two terraces and a marble bathroom with a deep soaking tub and a TV as well.
There are two terraces and a marble bathroom with a deep soaking tub and a TV as well.
Pei also did the interiors in the Ty Lounge, where guests can sip champagne and nosh on hors d'oeuvres near a large roaring fire.
From $995 per night | Four Seasons New York
From $995 per night | Four Seasons New York
The Parco dei Principi Grand Hotel & Spa, Rome, Italy
Architect: Gio Ponti
Built in 1964 by acclaimed Italian architect Gio Ponti, and with room views that overlook the park of art gallery Villa Borghese, this 179-room romantic hotel recently got an overhaul with gilded stuccowork, plush fabrics, classic paintings and more.
The elegant Royal Suite bedroom has a double bed, a marble bathroom and a steam sauna. There's also a separate dining area that seats 15, with a decorative fireplace.
Architect: Gio Ponti
Built in 1964 by acclaimed Italian architect Gio Ponti, and with room views that overlook the park of art gallery Villa Borghese, this 179-room romantic hotel recently got an overhaul with gilded stuccowork, plush fabrics, classic paintings and more.
The elegant Royal Suite bedroom has a double bed, a marble bathroom and a steam sauna. There's also a separate dining area that seats 15, with a decorative fireplace.
The recently renovated suite is about 3,700 square feet and features a panoramic terrace, a private kitchen and views of the dome of St. Peter's.
An expansive event area overlooks a central courtyard.
The entrance to the hotel brims with romantic zeal.
The Deluxe Room offers views of Villa Borghese park and has multiple balconies, ornate wood paneling (boiserie), elegant furnishings and Italian marble bathrooms.
A private solarium and panoramic terrace make the Presidential Suite a one-of-a-kind stay.
There are also fine paintings, a king-size bed and a hot tub.
There are also fine paintings, a king-size bed and a hot tub.
The Italian marble hot tub in the Superior suite also has a view of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica.
From about $380 per night | Parco de Principi
Tell us: Which one of these would you pick? Where do you like to travel for design ideas?
From about $380 per night | Parco de Principi
Tell us: Which one of these would you pick? Where do you like to travel for design ideas?
Interior designer: Kelly Wearstler
Famed interior designer Kelly Wearstler's elegant contemporary West Coast style pours over every nook and cranny at this boutique hotel.
The Premium Courtyard studio, shown here, has a fresh black and white color scheme with scoops of lemon yellow. There are plush furnishings, mountain views, vaulted ceilings, private patios, fireplaces and more.