Charles Doell

Published: August 15, 2014

The getaway that inspires me most
Anywhere with a good beach, but specifically, Tulum, Mexico

You may not know, but I

Was the lead singer in a rock band in the sixth grade called The Sunny Daze
Most challenging part of the job
Purchasing
Favorite hotel for design
Patricia Urquiola’s Mandarin Oriental in Barcelona

Nightclub design is
A wonderful canvas if you have the right client. Otherwise it’s a wilted cliché salad.
Big break
Hitting it out of the park with our very first lounge project, Red Room, San Francisco, in 1994

My style is
What I would like to think of as an artful mix of old, new, high, and low
Charles Doell
Mr. Important Design, Oakland

Projects on the boards
Neo Nightclub, Ludhiana, India; Crystal Sky indoor/outdoor nightclub and restaurant, Dubai; Velvet Wine bar, Orlando; Blu Sushi, Hallendale, Florida; outdoor beach bar and pool areas at the W San Diego; a new lounge in Las Vegas; and a boutique casino, Bratislava
Recently completed projects
Vanity Nightclub and Johnny Smalls, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas; Pure Urban Resort, Naples, Florida (pictured); Monroe Lounge and the re-concept and remodel of various F&B outlets at the Phoenix Hotel, San Francisco
Fad to bring back
Peace and love





I want to see less
Bare light bulbs

I own too many
Converse


Music I’m listening to

Basement Apartment, Broken Social Scene, Of Montreal, Peter Bjorn and John, Say Hi to Your Mom

Favorite TV show
Mad Men
Biggest challenge of the industry
Being original. You can’t help but cut and paste in this business, but the challenge is to create new immersive experiences with fresh arrangements of old and new.