Search

Mar Monte Hotel: Beleco Reviving a Santa Barbara Icon

Los Angeles-based interior design firm Beleco recently revealed the result of an ambitious task consisting of remodeling a Spanish revival beachfront hotel, which opened its doors along the coast in 1931.

By

Share

In Santa Barbara, the Mar Monte Hotel Starts a New Chapter of Its Life Thanks to a Recently Completed Renovation That Honors the Past While Looking to the Future

With its five individual buildings influenced by Colonial architecture and art deco, the Mar Monte Hotel in Santa Barbara is a jewel that needed to be both preserved and revived. Original features such as the grand staircase and the painted beams were naturally protected by the Beleco team, who looked at the DNA of the property as the starting point for their intervention to bring it back to its former glory.

“The rough stucco on the exterior and the textured plaster walls and ceilings on the interiors made clear that the design had to embrace the quirky and less refined qualities,” says Christian Schnyder, principal at Beleco.

“The material and color selections were chosen to work with what existed, rather than trying to force the building into something it could not become.”

Character and authenticity prevail throughout, including in the guest rooms adorned with Moroccan-inspired carpets as a reference to the Moorish influence of Spanish colonial architecture, among other elements.

In the poolside Café Lido, the Moroccan zellige tiles also celebrate the hotel’s past while hanging plants introduce fresh touches.

“Located in what used to be the main entrance, the iconic arches and ceiling are part of the building’s original architecture and now act as a stylish focal point to expose its significant history,” describes Christian Schnyder, who also used custom hand-painted murals depicting local flora and fauna, as well as “pencil sketch” floor tile to evoke an artist’s studio.

Situated in what was a dining room in the 1930s, Costa Kitchen & Bar—an independent restaurant within the Mar Monte Hotel—was also transformed by Beleco, who took cues from Italy‘s Amalfi Coast to “bring a taste of the Mediterranean to the California coast” as Christian Schnyder says.

The space was completely reorganized to create different areas that connect to each other, a newly designed patio provides diners with exceptional views of the Pacific Ocean and a large wine room is now part of the intimate restaurant.

“The wire brushed ceiling paneling, white-washed brick walls, and dark hardwood floor add texture and depth,” says Christian Schnyder.

The vibrant yellow chairs and the custom wallpaper with motifs of lemons—an ingredient often found in Mediterranean cuisine—add visual dynamism to the whole. 

With a combination of influences from several eras, all the public and private areas of the Mar Monte Hotel hold surprises at every turn.

“The interiors are an eclectic mix of modern, art deco and Spanish revival,” says Christian Schnyder. “The design unifies the hotel and gave it back its soul, charm, and relevance.”

Christian Schnyder | Beleco | belecodesign.com

Photographer: Shawn O’Connor; opposite page: Bethany Nauert

RELATED TAGS

Designing Zeru Miami: Faci Leboreiro’s Artful Fusion of Spanish Soul and Miami Vibes

Transporting you to the sun-soaked shores of the Spanish Coast, Zeru, the latest endeavor by Mexico City-based design studio Faci Leboreiro, has made its debut in Miami's vibrant Brickell neighborhood. Spanning 4,843 square feet, this third installment of the Zeru Group took two years to meticulously craft, marking the brand's inaugural venture beyond Mexico City.
  • November 15, 2023
  • Karine Monié

Casa Bautista: A Tropical Escape Redefining Eco-Luxe Living

Discover the allure of Casa Bautista, a private eco-luxe retreat nestled between the pristine Mexican Caribbean and the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve near Tulum, Mexico. This remarkable architectural gem, a collaborative effort between owner Ezequiel Ayarza Sforza and Mexico City-based architecture studio PRODUCTORA, offers a unique blend of chic sustainability and contemporary design.
  • November 1, 2023
  • Jenn Thornton

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe: Man of Steel, Bronze & Glass Curtain Walls

Perhaps no one better understood how to positively exploit the potential of technology and engineering than van der Rohe, a founding father of Modernist architecture who was central to the Great Age of the Skyscraper during the 1950s and 1960s—a time when many city landscapes would shift from horizontal to vertical.
  • October 4, 2023
  • Constance Dunn

A Duplex in the Clouds: Inside Barbara Cartategui’s NYC Transformation

Nestled on the 78th and 79th floors of a Tribeca skyscraper, this New York City duplex boasts breathtaking views of the Statue of Liberty and the city skyline. Transformed by Workshop/APD, the interior is a gallery of contemporary art curated by expert art advisor Barbara Cartategui.
  • September 6, 2023
  • Karine Monié

Walter Gropius & the Enduring Legacy of the Bauhaus

In the early 20th century, architect Walter Gropius aimed to harmonize art, technology, and craftsmanship—a vision that birthed the groundbreaking Bauhaus school in 1919. Gropius's call to unite architecture, sculpture, and painting underpinned the school's ethos. Rejecting tradition, the Bauhaus propelled design and art into a new era, embracing functional forms and interdisciplinary collaboration.
  • August 23, 2023
  • Constance Dunn

The Rebirth of Santa Monica’s Iconic Georgian Hotel

The iconic Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica reopened its doors in April, unveiling a stunning transformation led by Fettle Design. With a rich history that hosted Hollywood legends like Marilyn Monroe, the hotel's restoration, guided by BLVD Hospitality, gracefully balances its storied past with modern hospitality.
  • August 23, 2023
  • Karine Monié
Sign Up for DIGS Newsletters