Design Lessons from The Santa Monica Proper Hotel

There are places you simply visit that fuel inspiration for your life. But then there are places that change you.

After a simple weekend getaway, the last thing I expected to walk away with was a recalibration to how I think about design. But then again, the core of Well Placed is about how deeply a space can affect the mind and body. And stepping into the Santa Monica Proper Hotel was like stepping into an entirely new understanding of what it means to feel well placed. It truly was an environment that made me feel at home within myself.

Check-In: When Design Becomes Emotional

Entering a space can become highly underrated at home. There’s no place like home, but home is also where a list of chores await you. And if you work from home, it may be where all your work takes place. It’s where a pile of shoes might greet you at the door and a pile of dishes stare at you. Hopefully your home brings you peace, but if not, let’s not forget it’s possible to curate that feeling. The Santa Monica Proper certainly gave me the same feeling I want my home to provide. A calm softness and sense of effortless beauty.

The textures were layered in a way that felt like nature itself: stone, wood, grasscloth, woven surfaces, ceramics. Everything was warm and organic without being overwhelming. The palette was coastal without the cliché. No starfish or beach signs in sight, but earthy neutrals and shadowy depth in just the right places.

More than that, my nervous system felt calm, like something was giving me permission to slow down and be more present.

Kelly Wearstler: Design as a Sensory Experience

Los Angeles–based designer behind The Santa Monica Proper was none other than Kelly Wearstler. Known for creating immersive, emotionally rich interiors across homes and commercial spaces, it’s no wonder her design philosophy was the perfect fit to create the space. 

Her work blends bold colors, textures, and form with a thoughtful mix of modern and vintage influences. Grounded in a deep respect for architecture, history, and place, her designs are meant to be felt as much as they are seen, creating spaces layered and deeply intentional.

I admire Kelly's ability to hold history and modernity in the same room, especially in a hotel where the space felt curated, rather than redundant. A reminder that your space is a physical extension of who you are.

Application: The Proper’s Design Principals

The Santa Monica Proper can definitely renew your body and mind (I mean, just check out their Surya Spa). But more than that, it can ground your senses and leave you with design principles to adopt long after check-out. Here are my favorite takeaways:

1. Texture is everything

At the Proper, texture becomes the main language: plaster walls, stone tables, woven chairs, sculptural ceramics.

In your own home, small textural elements create emotional warmth. Think a woven throw, a ceramic vase, a linen lamp shade. As a huge bonus, natural materials help you reduce toxic exposure in your home (for more on this, check out Ruan’s list for the best non-toxic fabrics).

Look for:

• Linen, bouclé, wool, or cotton with texture

• Choose fabrics in creams, sand, clay, and muted olives

Why it works: This helps create a soft and inviting atmosphere because nothing feels stiff. Texture creates comfort without decoration overload.

How to place it well: Drape a throw casually over a chair or layer two neutral pillows with different textures.

2. Neutrals are grounding

Neutrals aren’t boring. And Wearstler’s neutrals have depth. Try experimenting with a neutral base like taupe, sand, clay, smoke, brass. They create calm without feeling flat. Then you can layer in more color from there.

Look for:

• Warm whites, sand, clay, muted terracotta

• Soft olive, dusty green, charcoal for contrast

Why it works:The Santa Monica Proper palette feels calm but intentional. Nothing is stark. Nothing is overly trendy. The colors feel sun-warmed, natural, and slightly lived-in, which creates an immediate sense of ease.

How to place it well:Use color as a backdrop, not a statement. Let walls, large furniture, or rugs stay neutral, then layer deeper tones through objects, art, or greenery. A restrained palette allows texture and form to do the emotional work.

3. Mix the old with the new

We love Kelly’s staple ability to set vintage pieces next to modern lighting. It’s all about balance. How can you apply this? Look for organic shapes to sharp lines. Modern furniture with antique lamps. Opposition is tension that brings life to a space.

Look for:

• Hand-thrown ceramic, stoneware, or plaster-inspired vases

• Irregular shapes, matte finishes, visible texture

Why it works: These pieces feel collected, not styled. Even empty, they anchor a room and add quiet presence. Very Kelly Wearstler in spirit.

How to place it well: Add one statement vessel on a console, coffee table, or open shelf. Let it breathe with zero clutter around it.

4. Imperfection is beautiful

Nothing feels overly polished in The Proper. The charm comes from character, like weathered finishes (leather chairs), natural materials (palm trees), and handmade pieces (organic vases).

Look for:

• Stone bowls, vintage trays, carved wood objects

• Pieces that look like they’ve lived a life

Why it works: These objects create a story. They’re what make a space feel personal instead of staged.

How to place it well: Use objects functionally. Hold keys, jewelry, matches, or nothing at all. Function + beauty is the goal.

5. Support your inner world

A space like The Proper didn’t just look beautiful, but also made me feel better. And this is exactly what your space should do for you too.

Look for:

• Table or floor lamps with linen, parchment, or stone bases

• Warm light, never harsh white

Why it works: Lighting is emotional. The Proper’s glow is a huge part of why it feels grounding and restorative.

How to place it well: Aim for pools of light instead of overhead brightness. One lamp can change an entire room.

Why This Experience Matters

I share this because I believe your home should help you feel more:

• grounded

• inspired

• connected to yourself

• able to think, create, and rest

You don’t recreate something like The Santa Monica Proper by copying furniture. You recreate it by choosing fewer things, placing them with intention, and letting texture, warmth, and meaning lead.

Images courtesy of The Santa Monica Proper Hotel