Surrounded by the desert and nestled in the Coachella Valley, the Sands Hotel & Spa is worth the trip. Ideally located near El Paseo Shopping District—often described as the Rodeo Drive of the desert—and adjacent to the popular live music and restaurant venue The Nest, the first boutique hotel in Indian Wells is the result of a successful collaboration between PRG Hospitality Group and interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard.
The team already has a number of unique hospitality projects under its belt, including the Holiday House in Palm Springs and Casa Laguna Hotel & Spa in Laguna Beach. For this project, the challenge consisted of completely remodeling a late 1950s-era property. New buildings were added to the existent structure and renovations took place both outside and inside. On the exterior, the pink backdrop sets the tone for what is discovered inside the hotel.
The rich color palette features emerald greens and deep blues, as well as black-and-white details. “The one rule I’ve always stuck to is be honest,” says Bullard. “There’s no point in creating a decorative scheme on or around something you don’t believe in. . . . To be a straight shooter is always the best policy. Then you know where you stand and can create something beautiful together.” Precisely like this project.
Moroccan influences that are visible throughout the hotel combine with midcentury heritage, and the contemporary aesthetic that pervades the spaces. Different color combinations, bespoke furniture and custom textiles make each one of the 46 guest rooms—including two suites and one bi-level presidential suite—unique.
Acqua di Parma bath essentials, Revival New York bed linens and Sonifi entertainment systems provide the highest level of comfort while the private patios or balconies—many adorned with Moroccan fountains—offer peaceful views of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto mountain ranges.
The highest level and biggest suite (approximately 1,000 square feet) is Le Riad, which refers to traditional palaces in Morocco used by royalty and the elite class. Spread over two stories, it comprises two outdoor patios, one balcony, a full size kitchen, billiards table, professional dressing/makeup vanity and an in-room soaking tub at the foot of the bed in the master bedroom, allowing guests to experience true luxury.
Bullard also took care of the public spaces, which feature a pool deck and a private wedding garden. In the Pink Cabana restaurant helmed by chef Jason Niederkorn—who prepares Mediterranean cuisine with Moroccan influence—a tropical, fresh atmosphere inspired by 1950s- and 1960s-era Palm Springs is achieved through the colorful wallpaper and chairs, as well as the green and white tiles on the floor that complement the pink ceiling and booths.
After entering through a serene and olive tree-lined garden walkway that leads to the spa, guests discover a charming relaxation area decorated with lanterns, mirrors, metal accents and patterned decorative elements. Glamorous and exotic, colorful and crisp, the Sands Hotel & Spa reinvents different aesthetic codes without fear of eclecticism. sandshotelandspa.com
