Chic in LA: The Avalon Hotel

As I've mentioned a million times, I had an amazing time in LA! I didn't think anything could top my trip to Paris but LA came very close! Paris was all about the architecture and beauty of the city while LA was all about the people and design stores. I definitely could not have experienced as much as I did if I had not had LA local Christian May of Maison21 as my tour guide! Not only did he take me to the best local haunts, he also drove me all around town to see the fabulous sites and joined me to meet some wonderful blogger friends including the lovely world traveler Lisa of A Bloomsbury Life, the ridiculously beautiful and thoughtful Taryn of Taryn Cox The Wife, the talented and tall Becca of Rebecca June Interior Design, and sweet and chic Style Curator who would like to remain anonymous for now!

I also owe a big thank you to Andrea Borda Stanford, the Design + Style Editor of C Magazine who planned the most amazing day of design which included among other things, meeting Kathryn Ireland, Madeline Stuart, Peter Dunham, Windsor Smith, and Kelly Wearstler! It was a dream day! I wasn't sure where to even begin but I figured the best place to start on my LA posts would be the very chic Avalon Hotel Beverly Hills that was designed by Ms. Wearstler and was home away from home during my stay in LA.

Uber chic interior designer Kelly Wearstler originally designed the hotel 10 years ago and is now updating it. The lobby and restaurant have already been transformed in her new 70's glamorous style and the rooms are next in line for a make-over.

The hotel sits on a corner lot and is only three stories so you're guaranteed great service! The hotel staff couldn't have been nicer and even welcomed me "home" when I returned back at the end of the day which I thought was sweet!

A fun fact is that Marilyn Monroe and Mae West both lived here in the 1950's when it was the known as the Beverly Carlton.

I absolutely loved the color scheme of aqua and gold in the lobby and that painted ceiling!

The colors remind me of the ocean and look great with the always blue LA sky!

I'm calling these sculptures modern totem poles.

The Oliverio restaurant is garnering rave reviews for not only the design but the great cuisine! It was packed for lunch and dinner during my entire stay too!

You can see through to the pool when you enter the hotel.

All the lounge chairs face the sun for the serious tanning enthusiasts!

I would sit in the sun by the pool every morning while waiting for Christian to pick me up. It was heaven!

The cabanas are the best part of the pool area and can be reserved for lunch and dinner.

I had a great view of the pool when I walked to my room!

For a small hotel, it was full of greenery!

The rooms on the left have little balconies. I'm kind of jealous that I didn't have one too!

I had fabulous weather for my entire trip to LA as you can see by the bright blue sky in this photo!

As I mentioned, the rooms have not been renovated yet so they still retain the mid-century feel of Kelly Wearstler's first design. They are large and comfortable and will only get better if they decorate them in the blues of the lobby. I especially loved the floor to ceiling windows that afforded me a great view of the sunrise every morning! The rates are actually quite reasonable as well. I paid $168 per night plus tax for two nights and was graciously offered two complimentary nights.

My room also looked out over the little building across the street that can accommodate more hotel guests. I really enjoyed my stay at the Avalon Hotel Beverly Hills and can't wait to stay again after the rooms are updated. I enjoyed this trip to LA so much that I think they are going to become a regular habit!

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic