Capri Hotel gets Amalfi Coast-inspired makeover by Manola Studio

Designed by Manola Studio and owned and operated by Kenny Osehan of Shelter Social Club, Capri Hotel, a 1963 mid-century modern resort, is a true California-meets-Amalfi Coast gem. This hotel is at the forefront of a California coastal revival of roadside hospitality and the reimagination of the vintage motel. The touches that recall Capri and the Amalfi Coast add an eccentric identity that nonetheless creates an environment of elegance, sophistication, and relaxation.

The Capri Hotel is a historic 1963 mid-century modern retreat in Ojai, California owned and operated by Kenny Osehan of Shelter Social Club.. At the forefront of the California coastal roadside hospitality revival, its original design and identity is a relic along the California coast. With the property’s roots as a gorgeous vintage hotel designed in the true Amalfi Coast style, Manola Studio was commissioned to reimagine the hotel while preserving its identity and namesake. Manola Studio’s role was to execute the interior and overall design for the entirety of this unique and stunning hotel property inside and out: reimagining the rooms, the lobby, the pool, and the exterior.

With this modern take on a historic tradition of roadside stopovers for chic California roadtrippers, Manola Studio & Osehan saw an opportunity to appeal to style-conscious, young, lifestyle, and leisure-seeking millennial travelers of today, as well as cater to traveling families and creatives. The overall design concept was to lean into the mid-century California resort bones of the hotel, while emphasizing the nod to the Italian Riviera through a series of carefully crafted aesthetic decisions. Chief among these moves is a palette composed of the unmistakably Italian sun-bleached hues like cream, dusty pink, sage, beige, and burnt orange that recall salty and sunny beach days. Pops of indigo and lavender give character to the environment and brighten the composition. 

The lobby is a precious centerpiece to the hotel’s design: a warm, inviting, and buzzing space. It has stunning mid-century original features, including an A-frame roof of white wooden beams juxtaposing an exposed stone lodge-style wall with an open fireplace at its center. These elements are uniquely emphasized by the burnt orange velvet couches and the mid-century metal-framed auburn leather chairs, both nods to a fun 1960s/70s Italian modernism. Outside, the grounds are decorated with beautiful strings of orange pendant lights which illuminate the sprawling green lawns under the Californian palm trees at dusk. To sip a cocktail poolside is to enjoy the perfect Californian meets Amalfitano “aperitivo”.

The rest of the hotel unfolds in a fascinating labyrinth of curved walls and intriguing geometry. Manola Studio wished to move away from the standard motel-room layout that was intrinsic to the hotel’s design before the remodel. The custom wood paneled rounded walls and  custom tiled-walls breathed new life into the spaces. Manola Studio created custom beds in collaboration with Dusk with rounded headboards and wooden frames to match the wood paneling on the walls. The custom millwork was created from laminated sheets of Abet Laminati  and trimmed with walnut, elevating and making each guest room feel unique. Honoring the California heat, highly breathable cork flooring additionally adds warmth and texture to the aesthetic, and sound absorption for functionality. The cork’s burnt hue recalls the desert and playfully offsets the custom orange tiles it is interspersed with. Further evoking the vibrancy and playfulness of the Italian coast are the hand-cut and designed tiles of the bathrooms.

Original pieces in the hotel include organic ceramic lamps and sconces by Eny Lee Parker, made at a pivotal moment in her career. The irregular and biotic shapes of these lighting pieces add originality and character to each space. Mattea Perrotta  painted rich pieces within the rooms. Rewire Gallery, Amigo Modern, Luckey Remington, and A. Mano Studio also contributed to original art and design. In fact, each piece appearing in the guest rooms is custom designed. Throughout the hotel, pieces also include lobby furniture by Cassina, poolside loungers by Brown Jordan, a Roly Poly Chair by Faye Toogood, furniture  by Amigo Modern, lobby lighting by Santa Cole, Concrete Collaborative countertops, and an original outdoor art installation by Luckey Remington.

The article Capri Hotel gets Amalfi Coast-inspired makeover by Manola Studio first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.