Mondrian Los Angeles Reveals A $19 Million Renovation And Jaw-Dropping New Skyloft

Mondrian Los Angeles is one of the city’s most famous buildings on the Sunset Strip. First constructed as an apartment complex in 1959, it was converted into a hotel in 1985 by L’Ermitage Hotel Group and called Le Mondrian. In 1996, the building was sold to Ian Schrager and the Morgans Hotel Group. Ten years later, that company was acquired by powerhouse global hospitality group SBE, making it a welcome addition to their renowned portfolio which also includes Delano and SLS. In 2011, Mondrian was sold to Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, which is the current owner.

Although the 2008 renovation by designer Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz was beautiful, more than a decade later, it was time for a refresh. Spearheaded by Andrea Dawson, the owners poured $19 million into the Mondrian’s redesign project. A total of 236 rooms including the Penthouse and Skyloft were renovated along with the lobby, which added a new front desk. The meeting spaces, hallways, and other amenities were also updated as was the fitness room, which was furnished with new equipment. 

“Mondrian Los Angeles is an iconic hotel in our SBE portfolio,” Sam Nazarian, Founder and CEO of SBE tells me. “We are proud with our owner and longtime partner Pebblebrook Hotel Trust to have redesigned the property, from the rooms to the lobby, continuing the legacy of this iconic property by disrupting the hospitality space. The whimsical design by award-winning design agency Dawson Design Associates (DDA) brings a refreshing new energy to the hotel.”

New Guest Rooms

In a color palette of neutrals and blues, these new rooms were designed with an old Hollywood glamour meets Alice In Wonderland theme. Equally sophisticated and whimsical, every single detail is absolutely intentional.

There are many design elements that were directly inspired by the children’s book. One notable example is the entryway art installation in each room that depicts a female figure falling through space. Other examples include bunny ear shaped lighting and swirl wallpaper.

Scale is another theme explored throughout the tale. This is expressed through the black and white checkerboard pattern behind the bar, iridescent dragonfly wings and, oversized blue lamps.

Because Mondrian is such a social place, every room has plenty of extra seating for guests and visitors. The design of the Cappellini chair was inspired by the Mad Hatter’s tea party, while the Philippe Starck style chair serves as a tribute to the hotel’s original designer.

All of the rooms have been upgraded with luxury amenities including new safes (you can’t be too careful), plush robes, an abundance of outlets to charge devices, Lavazza coffee makers and Smart TVs that have Hulu and Netflix.

Introducing The All New Skyloft

One of the most notable renovations at Mondrian is the Skyloft. With 1120 square feet of space, this room is the size of an apartment. It has one and a half bathrooms, which includes a luxurious rainfall shower in the full bathroom. There’s also a dining area (Mondrian has 24 hour room service, after all), a king size bed appointed with a plush down comforter and pillows, as well as an additional oversized daybed for lounging.

This room is equally whimsical and elegant. While the Alice In Wonderland theme stays consistent, there are additional stylistic elements taken from the Victorian age of England.

One of the most notable features is the mural called A Walk Through Alice’s Garden. Created by JCAA studio, this piece is inspired by the garden that Alice sees after she drinks the potion that makes her small. Based on a concept drawing by Rachel Hebert, she hand drew the artwork along with Julie Coyle and Shawn Man Roland.

Another important theme here is shape. Lead designer Dawson approached this project seeing shape as a suggestion as opposed to a constant. This is exemplified through the Clizia floor lamp from Slamp and Art Chairs by Mascheroni.

Additionally, the jaw-dropping view from the windows and full-length balcony give the illusion of falling down a rabbit hole. The city sky feels transportive, while the Mondrian’s famous pool and mainstay Skybar connect back to living in the present. 

This post first appeared on Forbes.com. To see the original, click here.