The Drift Hotels brand has arrived on the West Coast with the 45-key Drift Santa Barbara. Housed within a traditional 1920s building transformed by locally based architecture firm ANACAPA, the modern boutique retreat accentuates its Mediterranean-style bones while reinvigorating the structure with a refreshing, minimalist ethos.
Drift Santa Barbara complements the surrounding vernacular with white stucco walls, arched windows, and terracotta tiles that nod to Spanish architecture. Concrete anchors material palette of the interior, while blackened elements are softened by warm white oak and brass. “We wanted every material selection to be raw and unadorned,” says ANACAPA senior designer Lila Boyce.
The juxtaposition of old and new also serves as a key theme of Drift Santa Barbara, abounding in forms like suspended floor joists salvaged from the original structure showcased on the first floor. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the property with natural light and coastal breezes while overlooking the State Street promenade.
Dawn and Dusk serve as the two onsite dining options, with bright and airy Dawn evoking Southern California surf culture via warm textiles, natural wood, and soothing white walls. Agave and raw bar Dusk contrasts this sensibility with a moody, Baja-inspired aesthetic that includes dark steel and raw wood.
Neutral hues and custom handmade millwork characterize guestrooms, which span a trio of configurations. Original joists are also highlighted in the penthouse suite, where floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor lounge endowed with a firepit reinforces a sense of place.
Drift also plans to open hotels in Palm Springs and Nashville this year.
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