The Trendsetter: 9 Of-the-Moment Ideas to Steal from Hotel Joaquin in Laguna, California

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Over the summer I spent a full week admiring, from afar, interior designer Robert McKinley’s latest opening in Montauk: a rehabbed beach bungalow with a distinctly seventies vibe (call it the “it” look of the summer—see A Seventies-Style Shoppable Airbnb in Montauk). Now I’ve spent another week poring over McKinley’s latest endeavor, this one on the opposite coast. The newly opened Hotel Joaquin in Laguna, California, is a 22-room hotel revamped with sculptural lights, low-slung daybeds, and vintage barware. Not to mention, it’s housed in a former roadside motor lodge, taken down to the studs—another trend we’re noting this fall.

Consider this the trendsetting hotel for fall 2018. Here are nine reasons.

Photography by Roger Davies, courtesy of Hotel Joaquin.

1. Primitive wood shapes.

the team took the \1930s motor lodge down to the nails over the course of a yea 17 — Above: The team took the 1930s motor lodge down to the nails over the course of a year and a half, and rebuilt with minimal, organic materials. Of note in the lobby and throughout: primitive, sculptural wood speakers and furniture, much of it built custom by local artisans.

at the hotel&#8\2\17;s restaurant, saline: wood cladding, oversized brick c 18 — Above: At the hotel’s restaurant, Saline: wood cladding, oversized brick-colored tiles, and sculptural stools.

2. Ad-hoc art.

guest rooms feature work by california artists, much of it on cloth pinned to t 19 — Above: Guest rooms feature work by California artists, much of it on cloth pinned to the walls. Shown here: a work on canvas by Sean W. Spellman in the Shaws guest room. The rooms are also fitted with round mirrors, hung on pegs.

3. Sculptural lights.

guest rooms are fitted with bentwood furniture (a trend we love: see trend aler 20 — Above: Guest rooms are fitted with bentwood furniture (a trend we love: see Trend Alert: Rattan Furniture Made Modern (Plus 15 to Buy)) and sculptural hanging lights with pleated linen shades in the style of the French-designed Matégot Satellite Lamp.

4. Unexpected art and vintage barware.

side tables come equipped with retro style wicker decanters and unexpected oil 21 — Above: Side tables come equipped with retro-style wicker decanters and unexpected oil paintings. The team scoured flea markets in Paris and Normandy to outfit the hotel.

5. Caned furniture.

in lieu of closets, stately wardrobes with caned fronts offer guests a place to 22 — Above: In lieu of closets, stately wardrobes with caned fronts offer guests a place to store clothing.

6. Dressing tables in the bath.

guest baths mix glam with retro: a charming vintage dressing table sits alongsi 23 — Above: Guest baths mix glam with retro: a charming vintage dressing table sits alongside a luxe vanity in veined marble.

7. Monochrome tile.

other baths are tiled floor to ceiling in hand cut mexican clay tiles (in homag 24 — Above: Other baths are tiled floor-to ceiling in hand-cut Mexican clay tiles (in homage to the area’s history: it was part of the land grant of Rancho San Joaquin).

8. Vinyl.

in the spirit of old fashioned unplugging, there&#8\2\17;s not a television 25 — Above: In the spirit of old-fashioned unplugging, there’s not a television to be found at Hotel Joaquin—just record players (and a vinyl library in the common area, where you can select your soundtrack of choice).

9. Low-slung lounges.

each guest room also has ample lounge space, with multi purpose, built in daybe 26 — Above: Each guest room also has ample lounge space, with multi-purpose, built-in daybeds with generous cushions.

a lounge space, kitted out for screen free relaxation. 27 — Above: A lounge space, kitted out for screen-free relaxation.

Revamped motor lodges are trending. Here are a few more of our favorites, available for stays:

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