Tasked with refreshing the public spaces at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, the Los Angeles office of Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA) looked to the central California coast to energize its design vision. “We derived inspiration from Santa Barbara’s bountiful coastline to form our palette,” says HBA partner Kathleen Dauber. “Vibrant blues from cascading waves of the surrounding ocean meet the soft tones of sand and the rolling hills of nearby valleys.” The thoughtful redesign included the lobby, lobby bar, spa lobby and lounge, and meeting and event spaces, as well as the addition of the new indoor-outdoor Club Lounge. Each space is rendered in homage to the city’s landscape and rich culture while still embracing luxury. “Natural organic textures interplay with polished surfaces and metals to exemplify the smooth gleams of water and rich minerals of the Earth,” notes Dauber.
In the lobby lounge, a variety of plush seating options from Astoria Compass, including custom wood-framed wingback lounge chairs featuring Designtex and Cowtan & Tout fabrics, are arranged atop handtufted areas rugs from Royal Thai Carpets. Embroidered pillows by Sabira Collection and metal tables from IFD Hospitality stacked with books infuse the space with a residential feel. “One of our main goals in the lobby renovation was to open sightlines while providing function and flexibility for guests,” says HBA associate Ashley Bright. “We activated spaces by further encouraging a connected and reciprocal flow.”
The reception is punctuated by a mixed media installation by Atlanta-based artist Niki Zarrabi and commissioned by Canvas Art Consultants, a division of HBA, while the desk features a hand-chiseled Calacattino marble surround from Praxis Imports that honors the beauty of Santa Barbara’s rocky cliffsides.
A Forestier pendant hangs above a sculpted metal and glass coffee table from IFD Hospitality. The lounge also features an Arteriors floor lamp with a custom shade by Trinity Lighting, along with a pair of Moore & Giles-upholstered lounge chairs custom made by Astoria Compass and drapery by Valley Forge Fabrics.
This article originally appeared in HD’s 2020 Product Marketplace issue.
