Introducing a new standard of understated luxury, Hideaway Santa Barbara is meticulously curated with a casual elegance. Housed in a 1908 California Craftsman, the intimate, nine-room hotel is composed of deluxe guestrooms and spacious suites, offering views of the Santa Ynez Mountains and the historic Fernald Mansion.
The pedestrian-friendly location is blocks from the beach, the Urban Wine Trail and the Funk Zone. The property was designed by Kirkwood Collection’s design director Michelle McClory, who has worked alongside acclaimed designers Jeffrey Alan Marks and Michael Smith. Delivering a high-end, residential, California Coastal aesthetic to a hospitality setting, Hideaway Santa Barbara offers understated elegance with a modern edge.
“I always begin with looking at the architecture of a space and listening closely to any clues it can divulge,” McClory said. “I strive to be truthful to the integrity of the space while seeking to find interesting ways to highlight key features, reimagining areas that are not functional and developing a strong through line for the design. At Hideaway, the architecture strikes a California Craftsman note, so that was a very exciting prospect. It presented the opportunity to move away from a more traditional Spanish Colonial Revival approach common to many of the local lodging options, and move instead toward interior and exterior spaces that had a much loftier touch. The use of light in the space was key and very deliberate.”
The governing design principle is use of natural light, which is reflected in the choice of skylights, finishes and artisan materials throughout the property. Beautifully appointed guestrooms are bright and breezy with contemporary organic furnishings and high-end residential elements that incorporate an overall feel of California coastal whimsy, a nod to the iconic setting where land meets the sea—the American Riviera.
A boutique hotel offering complimentary breakfast, Hideaway Santa Barbara caters to the international traveler and promises its guests a true “home away from home” experience. With thoughtfully incorporated features including Apple TVs and fireplaces, Hideaway guests receive a complimentary glass of champagne upon check-in and can also purchase champagne, wine or beer at reception to enjoy in the comfort of their rooms.
“Much of my initial inspiration for the direction of the space came from the numerous skylights and the specific way in which the sunlight streamed in through the double sided, triple-height windows of the Solarium onto the (then sunken) floor,” she said. “With such close proximity to the ocean, beach and marina, I also wanted to create an airy space that subtly referenced the Coast without too much emphasis on the often expected navy and white palette. I worked to develop the colors, textures, finishes and fabrics to all have an ethereal quality to them—much like a gentle ocean breeze. I worked to create a Californian leisure experience that Santa Barbara hasn’t seen before.”
