Few interior designers have shifted the cultural landscape quite like Kelly Wearstler. With a fearless blend of Old Hollywood glamour, sculptural modernism, and raw, layered textures, her work defies categorization and that’s exactly the point.
From luxury hotels to private residences and lifestyle collections, Kelly has built a signature design language that’s immersive, emotional, and instantly recognizable. Her spaces tell stories: bold, expressive, and never afraid of color. As founder and principal of her namesake studio based in Los Angeles, she’s one of the most influential figures in American design a tastemaker whose projects have redefined what it means to live (and travel) with style.
Designing Destinations: Kelly Wearstler’s Best Projects
Kelly’s distinctive approach has transformed several hospitality landmarks into high-design experiences. Let’s take a closer look at a few of her most celebrated hotel interiors:
Tides South Beach, Miami. Hotel
Before tropical modernism became an Instagram trend, Kelly Wearstler was already reshaping the genre. At the Tides South Beach, she strips back the kitsch and leans into sleek sophistication, reimagining classic Art Deco lines with sculptural furniture, soft metallics, and oceanic tones. The result? A hotel that feels like a golden-age film set with a minimalist twist.
Think sun-drenched rooms, textural contrasts, and subtle nods to 1930s Miami but without falling into cliché. It’s pure Wearstler: timeless with a whisper of rebellion.
Malibu Beach Residence, Malibu. Residence
Kelly Wearstler’s Malibu Beach Residence captures the essence of California living: natural, airy, and quietly luxurious. With a palette inspired by sand and sea, the space blends organic textures, sculptural furniture, and curated vintage pieces.
Every detail feels intentional from raw wood beams to stone finishes creating a calm, sunlit sanctuary that feels more like a living gallery than a house. It’s beachside minimalism, reimagined through Kelly’s unmistakable lens.
Bergdorf Goodman, New York. Restaurant
Kelly Wearstler’s redesign of the Bergdorf Goodman Restaurant quickly became the ultimate NYC hotspot. Inspired by elegant salons and the building’s Beaux-Arts roots, the space blends 1930s glamour with bold 1970s vibes.
With custom hooded bergère chairs, turquoise chinoiserie wallcoverings, and stunning views of Central Park, it’s a chic, intimate setting where old-school sophistication meets modern flair perfect for seeing and being seen in the city that never sleeps.
Viceroy Miami, Miami. Hotel
Set within one of Miami’s most iconic luxury towers, the Viceroy Miami is a masterclass in design where drama, elegance, and exotic energy collide. Designed by Kelly Wearstler, this five-star hotel channels her signature style decadent textures, sculptural forms, and daring juxtapositions.
Inspired by East Asian influences and filtered through her West Coast sensibility, the interiors feature lacquered finishes, silk wallcoverings, and oversized custom furnishings that blur the line between function and art.
From the opulent lobby to the rooftop pool deck, every detail is immersive.
Bellagio Residence, Bel Air. Residence
Originally built in 1939 as a Georgian Revival estate, the Bellagio Residence sits grandly above the rolling greens of the Bel-Air Country Club. But under Kelly Wearstler’s transformative vision, this classic home has become a celebration of California glamour unapologetically lavish, sensual, and seamless in its connection to the outdoors.
With over 10,000 square feet of layered sophistication, the residence blends timeless architectural bones with Kelly’s signature edge: think custom furnishings, rich textures, dramatic materials, and statement art in every room.
The interiors feel sculptural and sunlit, evoking the kind of indoor/outdoor lifestyle that defines luxury in Los Angeles.
The Vibrant Legacy of Kelly Wearstler
We close this journey through the world of Kelly Wearstler with hearts racing in inspiration exactly the way she intended. The designer has turned boutique hotels, private residences, and restaurants into a parade of bold colors, sculptural forms, and daring textures.From her early beginnings in the 1990s to iconic projects like Avalon Beverly Hills and the Viceroy Hotels, she has redefined contemporary sophistication with a maximalist spirit.
Today, Kelly’s influence extends far beyond interiors. She has authored cult-favorite design books, collaborated with renowned global brands, and expanded her creative empire with collections of furniture, lighting, ceramics, and textiles.
In the end, Kelly Wearstler is not just a designer; she is a living manifesto of fearless style. She invites us to take risks to mix eras, embrace the unexpected, and tell stories with every choice of fabric, color, or object. Like the glossy pages of a luxury magazine, her art never fears excess and that is precisely what makes it unforgettable.
See also: Top 10 Contemporany Interior Designers
