The cabana collaboration everyone is talking about
Few locations in the ‘City of Angels’ encompass the glamour, intrigue and mystery of old Hollywood better than the Beverly Hills Hotel. Nestled within the palatial neighbourhood of Beverly Hills its pink walls and Art Deco facade glisten in the California sun reflecting over a century of Los Angeles heritage.
Opened in 1912 by a wealthy Californian couple, the hotel known as ‘The Pink Palace’ is steeped in Hollywood anecdotes, stories and myths. The Eagles’ song ‘Hotel California’ is based on it, eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes hid out in it and many of the film and music industries biggest stars made it their home.
“Back in the days when celebrity was worn with the elegance and grace of diamonds and mink, the Beverly Hills Hotel was where the stars played. W.C. Fields, Humphrey Bogart and the Rat Pack tippled at the bar, Katharine Hepburn did a back flip into the pool in her tennis clothes, and Elizabeth Taylor honeymooned in the bungalows out back – six times. The Beverly Hills Hotel, known affectionately as “the pink palace,” is as Old Hollywood as it gets. Joan Crawford regularly pulled up for lunch in a chauffeured Rolls Royce the colo(u)r of money, the Beatles slipped in through the back door for an after-hours dip in the pool, and Sidney Poitier danced barefoot in the lobby after winning an Oscar for Lilies of the Field. Over the years, Hollywood discovered that the hotel’s original 21 bungalows made an ideal spot to write a screenplay (Neil Simon), have a secret affair (Warren Beatty, pre-Annette Benning [sic]), and recover from plastic surgery or a broken marriage”.
CNN on The Beverly Hills Hotel
Today, the centre-piece of this majestic building remains the swimming pool; its shimmering blue waters contrasting the signature pink and green colours of its surrounding bungalows, cabanas and chairs. In a whimsical nod to the long and decadent history of the hotel, jet-set photographer and NY Times best-selling author, Gray Malin has transformed the cabanas into an ode to old Hollywood.
Featuring whimsical prints, canopies of rattan, raffia and other natural textures – these private cabanas capture the timeless chic of LA style and a coastal colour palette of sand, pink, white and green. From end of July, guests can reserve these cabanas for privacy and indulge in the colourful history of their surroundings.
There is no doubt that Malin’s impeccable taste (his iconic beach scenes and bucolic shots of decadent locations around the world feature regularly on in top art collections around the world) will make this a go-to destination for all hip travellers coming to the sunny shores of California.
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