Before Coachella Valley was filled with festival goers and golf courses, Lucien Hubbard, famous movie producer, commissioned John Lautner to build a Hollywood oasis in the desert in 1947. The hotel took a different approach on hospitality and made its luxury rooms almost like a residence. For those looking to dabble in ’50s design or for those who are already fans, Hotel Lautner is a great way to experience living in a midcentury home.
The Design
With John Lautner as their biggest inspiration, owners Tracy Beckmann and Ryan Trowbridge, created a space that made concrete beautiful and unique angles a staple. They wanted a design that would emphasize the importance of the hotel’s architecture and they did so by throwing out the rule book and making a style of their own. They adorned the hotel with vintage midcentury furnishings and mixed them with their very own collected items. Beckmann says that she didn’t want the hotel to be a time capsule. Rather, her and Trowbridge brought their interior design skills together to create a style for the hotel that exemplified their love for art and travel.
They were challenged by Lautner’s geometric spaces, but their efforts to bring the hotel to its feet paid off. They get visitors from all around the world that compliment them on their interior design. They also attract a very specific group of vacationers. Beckmann states, “We attract creative types, free spirits, free thinkers, and people that love to experience new things.”
Her biggest advice for creating a home reminiscent of The Lautner is to listen to the space. She says that “the room will tell you what it needs and what it doesn’t need.” Start collecting items that inspire you and that make you feel something.
The Experience
For those who are fans of John Lautner and his astonishing architecture, The Lautner is the only one of his residences that is open to the public. Beat the heat at the pool, sip a cold drink in your room, or go explore because the Coachella Valley and Palm Springs area have plenty to offer. The Lautner is dedicated to giving you a residential experience, while providing the opportunities to see one of California’s most popular getaway spots.
The Lautner offers something special with its architecture and design. MCM fans and decorators can agree that your environment and the design that surrounds you can affect the way that you live. Beckmann says that, “Great architecture and design can change your life. It impacts you in an indescribable way. You don’t know how but you’ll feel it. You’ll remember it. This is the feeling you will take away with you after staying at The Lautner.”
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay while you attend Palm Springs Modernism Week, call (760) 832-5288 or visit thelautner.com. While you’re there, make sure to catch Atomic Ranch at the Du Bois Talk & Tour co-sponsored by Atomic Ranch and H3K in addition to Atomic Ranch + Shag: Inside the Making of The Shag House.
Read on for more on John Lautner and his famous Chemosphere and Bob Hope House. And of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for more Mid Century Modern inspiration!
