Industrial News

Due to his distinct style and national media acclaim, Barclay Butera was recognized by L'Auberge del Mar's parent company, Destination Hotels & Resorts, as a premier luxury designer in today's residential market. Butera's approach embraces L'Auberge's grand chateau environment, while creating a new, desired residential essence for the impressively scaled hospitality structure. As the company's flagship property, L'Auberge needed to make a visionary 'statement' in hospitality design, and Barclay was given the reins to create a no-holds barred paradise retreat for their discriminating clientele.

"I consider this project to be a great opportunity for me to showcase my work in the hospitality industry, and I am looking forward to being a significant force in hotel design," states Barclay Butera CEO of Barclay Butera Inc.

As Creative Director of the $25 million renovation, Butera is overseeing every aspect -- from exterior colors and landscaping, to the main entrance, a circular approach to the lobby and valet parking. Every item has his input: the front desk, the lobby seating arrangement, hardwood floors, water features, cabana details, textures, and so on. Working directly with the architect, landscaper, and contractor has resulted in a harmonious environment incorporating more than 90% of Barclay Butera Home-branded collections throughout the hotel.

The lobby is entirely furnished in Barclay Butera Home furniture and textiles. This carries through all the common areas, and the 140 hotel rooms, which themselves are dramatically different from hotel rooms throughout the country. A cohesive color palette of mossy greens and chocolates is highlighted, along with many of Barclay's signature animal and abstract and prints. Textures include velvet, mohair, woven silk and wool, along with crisp bed linen. Accessories, too, are by Barclay Butera Home, including picture frames, vases, pillows, and bedding. The contiguous feel Butera has created is that of walking into a grand estate and entering an estate bedroom.

L'Auberge del Mar is all about indoor / outdoor living and great outdoor gathering spaces - matching Butera's design philosophy - with unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean. Ground floor rooms surrounding the pool area will each have a cabana to extend the room outdoors. This design also evokes the hotel's original Hollywood era and history, when Bing Crosby, Lucille Ball and Pat O'Brien graced the area, particularly while visiting the Del Mar Faigrounds and Racetrack ("Where the Surf Meets the Turf"). Originally named The Stratford Inn when built in 1910, in 1926 it became the Hotel Del Mar. Torn down in 1969, the hotel was rebuilt on its historic site, and opened its doors as L'Auberge in 1989. (www.delmarhistoricalsociety.com)

The hotel pays homage to its celebrated past with a montage of black-and-white photos of classic Hollywood visitors who frequented the hotel. Being an expert in residential interiors and an admirer of that early Hollywood era, the designer has owned several significant homes, including those of Frank Sinatra, Bette Davis and Desi Arnaz, Jr., Butera's mission includes honoring its history, but not being tied to a specific style. Transitional with an added contemporary twist is his specialty; embracing the indoor / outdoor concept adds a soothing element, enhanced with a number of water features and fire elements.

This renovation will mark Butera's first major hospitality project. Last year, he worked with the St. Regis New York, and he is currently working on a large commercial project in Mexico City, as well as working toward significant hospitality involvement in the coming years.

In additional news, Barclay Butera this past Fall designed New York apartments for both Veranda and Esquire magazines. The designer's own Newport Beach, CA, home was also featured in Traditional Home magazine (October 2007). He is also one of 17 renowned designers featured in Assouline Publishing's new Inspired Styles coffee table book, which highlights designers with licensed collections for Kravet or Lee Jofa.

ABOUT BARCLAY BUTERA
Barclay Butera, Inc. is based in Newport Beach, CA, and entails the Barclay Butera collection showrooms in Newport Beach and Los Angeles, CA, and Park City, UT. Barclay Butera Home, Inc. products (www.barclaybuterahome.com) are distributed through over 300 showrooms and To the Trade nationwide, and are represented in the designer's retail showrooms and his 'to the trade' showroom in New York's Design & Decoration (D&D) Building. Butera designs and manufactures his products in Los Angeles, CA. Please visit www.barclaybutera.com/media for a full introduction.