CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, Calif., June 27, 2013— A slingshot from the sea and shaker away from a sinful martini, Carmel’s Cypress Inn celebrates fall/2013 with a fresh spin on vintage travel. The iconic 1929 historic landmark, co-owned by legendary Hollywood actor Doris Day, debuts a Glam-Meets-Morocco interior renovation perfectly cast to its Mediterranean footprint. Known as one of the West Coast’s top Hollywood hideaways and pioneer in pet friendly travel, the Inn steps up with a crisp, contemporary interior awash with elegance and simplicity.
GLAM-MEETS-MOROCCO by the SEA
Inspired by the Inn’s fluid architecture and Spanish Colonial flair, Carmel-based designer Julie Gardner of Jan Gardner & Associates put her vision into play with a residential-style interior design of all 44 guestrooms and suites, including the coveted Queen Tower with its triad of impeccable views. The new style fuses Hollywood glam with Spanish-Moroccan overtones in a fresh spiced-tone palette of paprika, ginger and clove. Suites are offset with silver and copper overtones. From the ornate hotel facade to the arched walkways, hand-crafted tile and wrought iron embellishments, Cypress Inn’s new renovation delivers a seamless transition from guest check in to check out.
Local artisans were tapped to integrate the new design which includes two distinct guestroom palettes. Textured fabrics, sunken tubs, in-room fireplaces and custom wrought iron guest beds round out the suites, which are set in cooler tones of camel and silver with alder wood furnishings. Guestrooms showcase custom Moroccan-inspired window treatments, Casablanca shutters and deluxe shades as well as mosaic tiles, limestone bathrooms, contemporary calf-skin studded chairs and alabaster Moroccan-themed lanterns. Matching pillows and bed scarves are designed by Robert Allen. The Queen Tower – the Inn’s most requested guestroom with an ‘altitude’ — also boasts hand-painted tiles designed by architect Julia Morgan of Hearst Castle fame.
Artwork runs the gamut from a series of original mixed media set in 14 kt., gold leaf, sea green and terracotta by local artist Rebecca Koury to sepia-toned photography depicting vignettes of old Spanish churches and haciendas by Carmel’s Kenneth Gregg. An additional focal point is the lavish silver and copper-toned IKAT wall treatment behind the suite’s guest bed.
Focused on Fido, the renovation has been carried throughout with custom-designed dog blankets and accoutrements in commercial-grade fabrics. New iPod docking stations round out the upgrades along with a daily breakfast, nightly turn down service, filtered water, fresh florals, Gilchrist & Soames amenities, flat screen televisions and complimentary WiFi.
CARMEL 2.0
Call it a “Sea Change” — in a few short years, the village of Carmel-by-the-Sea has stepped up with a fresh line-up of dining venues, vibrant after-hours options, walk-friendly wine zone (DIY vs. DUI) and rebirth of top lodging properties. Visitors can kiss the chintz goodbye with a multitude of properties across town newly-infused with contemporary designs. On tap are the 44-room Cypress Inn renovation (fall/2013), multi-year renovation of the 75-room La Playa Carmel and recent 20-room renovation of L’Auberge Carmel, a Relais & Chateaux property. Inland, Carmel Valley joins the lineup with the opening of Quail Lodge and Golf Club, a 91-room property fresh off a $28 million retool.
More evolution than trend, Carmel’s stunning seascapes and coveted estates now share space with Starlight 65° Rooftop Lounge – complete with fire pits and moody mojitos – sultry sazeracs at Grazings expanded bar, new classic cocktail carte at Terry’s Lounge, revived Bud Allen hour at La Playa Carmel (martinis for 10 cents) or the ever-present party weaving hip hop and late night tapas at Mundaka. After a night of liquid luxury, visitors can reboot at Refuge, the country’s first sanctuary solely dedicated to thermal therapy with 10 alfresco mineral pools, meditation rooms, spa treatments and the largest Finnish cedar sauna in the U.S. (Ranked #2 on TripAdvisor® for things to do in the region).
Carmel’s wine scene boasts enough juice to keep the country of Bhutan buzzed. With nine AVAs spanning Monterey County, top wineries have set up shop under the banner Carmel Wine Walk by-the-Sea, offering a tight combo of 14 wine tasting options laced within four blocks from the Pacific. Venues include Wrath Wines, Scheid Vineyards Tasting Room, Figge Cellars, De Tierra Vineyards and Caraccioli Cellars, which stretches to 10 p.m., on weekends. The new Trio Carmel takes tasting a step further pairing three local winemakers with a tasty lineup of olive oils and vinegars.
Fork in hand, Carmel’s unique location delivers an enviable array of raw product from both land and sea. Top toques pull from a variety of sources including Big Sur fungi foragers, Earthbound Farm and Salinas Valley farmers, local hops and herb producers, coffee and chocolate artisans and a daily haul of fresh seafood. The arrival of new options continues including the renovation of award-winning Aubergine under the helm of Food & Wine/2013 “Best New Chef” Justin Cogley, La Balena, Vesuvio Bistro, The Bench at Pebble Beach, Yafa Mediterranean and the airy new design of Anton & Michel. Nearby, LokaL, Rocky Point Restaurant and the recently redesigned Marinus at Bernardus Lodge tip a hat to hard core regional sourcing with a twist.
PIONEER IN PET FRIENDLY
Ahead of the curve, Cypress Inn was one of California’s first hotel properties to welcome pets in the mid-1980s and has since seen everything from parrots to pot bellied pigs check in for an adventure by the sea. Standard operating procedure includes concierges carrying grain-free all-natural dog treats and guestrooms appointed with dog bowls, plush dog blankets and in-room fireplaces. Terry’s Lounge rolls out a daily Yappy Hour saluting all things retro with a classic cocktail carte for adults and Muttinis for four-legged companions. A new Culinary Canine menu is also offered featuring Chowhound Chicken, Buster Burger and Muttloaf
