The Beverly Hills Hotel Restores Bungalows

Internationally renowned Champalimaud Design has been selected to oversee the project, which draws inspiration from the hotel's legacy and lush surrounding landscape. Bungalows 5, 8 and 22 have recently debuted, with work on the remaining 18 bungalows being conducted in various phases through 2018 to minimize disruption and guest inconvenience.

Designed exclusively to enhance the feeling of effortless and modern Californian style while maintaining the property's existing residential feel, the bungalows include color palettes inspired by warm Southern California tones, such as rust, pinks, greens and golds. Furniture styles include a mix of tailored 40's French and Hollywood Regency, enhancing the bungalows welcoming layout and design. Key finishes include decorative wallpapers, custom embroidered panels, hand-stenciled patterns, intricate floor inlays, and silk accent pillows. State-of-the-art technological upgrades, such as light and temperature control panels and premier Bang Olufsen TVs, are also planned. In addition, five distinct legendary bungalows featuring design elements inspired by select notable guests who have frequented the hotel over the past century will also be unveiled throughout various stages of the project.

First introduced in 1915 to accommodate families that wanted more space and privacy, the iconic bungalows remain an important part of the hotel's character. They are known the world over for their history with Hollywood royalty and colorful anecdotes, which include Gloria Swanson temporarily residing in one after getting divorced, Elizabeth Taylor spending six of her eight honeymoons there, and Lauren Bacall and Marlene Dietrich each calling them home for over a year. Marilyn Monroe spent weeks at a time in her favorite Bungalow 7, and filmed Lets Make Love in Bungalows 20 and 21. Howard Hughes lived on-and-off in Bungalow 4 for 30 years, and registered several others under his name so no one would know which one he was occupying. He also requested that one of his meals of choice, roast beef sandwiches, be left under a tree outside his bungalow almost every night.

Champalimaud Design was also one of the lead design teams for Dorchester Collection's Hotel Bel-Air, which reopened in 2011 after an extensive two-year renovation.

As part of the hotel's main house restoration, which took place in four phases from 2012 through 2015, the lobby, Polo Lounge, famed pool cabanas and Cabana Café, and all guestrooms and suites were updated. Throughout the process, careful attention was paid to respect the hotel's original style, ensuring that the signature red-carpet entrance, C.W. Stockwell-designed banana leaf wallpaper, green and white stripes, and famous pink exterior remained constants. With the completion of the bungalow restoration program at the end of 2018, all accommodations at the landmark property will have been refurbished.

For further details, visit dorchestercollection.com or, for reservations, call 310-276-2251.