The Winston is an upscale boutique hotel that opened in summer 2020 in Solvang, CA with just 14 rooms built in the charming Danish village’s historic Old Mill Clock Tower.
“The Winston is built within Solvang’s clock tower—an iconic structure within the charming destination, and one of the most photographed buildings in town,” explained Charity Baxter, regional director, operations, Highway West Vacations. “We wanted our clock tower to maintain cohesiveness with the Solvang center and community while creating a complete surprise when a guest enters our lobby. We had the original clock tower restored into our iconic Clock Tower Suite, ideal for a romantic getaway or a bridal suite. Here, a light-filled grand entry foyer leads you to a splendid sitting room, among a separate bedroom with a king-sized bed providing a little extra privacy, while the clock face mural provides a reminder of the tower’s exterior charm.”
The repurposed building adds old-world charm to the new hotel, while vibrant and daring decor, outfitted with pieces personally collected from around the world, gives a contemporary feel. Each room is uniquely designed with oversized headboards and bold colors, interesting textures and contrasting patterns.
“Each room has its own feel—one with a sense of Hollywood glamour, another a New York studio and yet another with Asian artistic influences,” Baxter said. “Additionally, the lobby was designed with a striking orange color with the intent to be bright, welcoming, and elevate ones senses and spirit.”
Featuring a warm, residential feel, the entire hotel is well-suited for buyouts. The Winston’s Clock Tower Suite has a light-filled grand entry foyer leading to a sitting room with a separate bedroom. A clock-face mural provides a reminder of the tower’s exterior charm.
Rather than creating a place to escape, The Winston created a place to awaken the senses and spark a renewed sense of curiosity and exploration. Architecture was kept fairly traditional and allowed the unique spaces to inform their own design vision while using color and unique furnishings and textures to bring in the feeling of a newer age in Solvang. Solvang itself is charming and colorful in its interpretation of Danish culture, and The Winston was designed to emulate that in a sophisticated manner.
“We strived for refined functionality wrapped in elegant sophistication,” Baxter said. “Each room has its own unique design curated with every detail in mind. The most rewarding part of this project was bringing each space together in a way that evoked a variety of personality options while ensuring our guests have a tailored experience made just for them.”
According to psychological research, colors have a profound effect on our bodies and minds; red evokes feelings of warmth and comfort, whereas blue can evoke calmness and tranquility. Staying in one of The Winston’s rooms can evoke the following emotions based on its color:
Red can make you feel passionate, excited and energized, making it the perfect room to stay in for a romantic getaway.
Yellow can make you feel joy, augmenting your feelings of optimism and cheer, giving you an extra kick of positivity heading into the new year.
Orange can make you feel enthusiastic, enhancing your feeling of vitality and happiness.
Green can make you feel optimistic and refreshed, making it the perfect-colored room if you need to reset.
Blue can make you feel safe and relaxed, which can help you decompress from everyday life.
Purple can make you feel creative, which makes the room perfect if you need a place to become inspired.
“We describe The Winston as a jewel box—sophisticated and unassuming on the outside and then a burst of color and beauty on the inside,” Baxter said. “Our idea was for The Winston to feel like your personal vacation home where you’re inspired to get comfortable and relax in any of our intentionally crafted spaces.”
