Situated on the Pacific shoreline just a few minute’s walk (or bike ride) from the historic Santa Monica Pier, Shutters on the Beach offers a breath of fresh sea air from LA’s see-and-be-seen scene. Linen, wicker, and toile de Jouy replace the city’s usual flashy neon and leather. (The leather in the hotel’s cozy lobby is more library than rock concert—warm and worn.) A color palette of soft blues, creams, and sand transports you to Cape Cod…without losing that classic California cool atmosphere.
This Nancy Meyers aesthetic and “make yourself at home” vibe is all very deliberate, and it’s one that designer Amy Kehoe, cofounder of interior design studio Nickey Kehoe, was eager to embrace when she was tasked with refurbishing Shutters’ lobby in anticipation of Santa Monica’s 150th birthday, which the property will be celebrating all of 2025 with a special cocktail menu that nods to each decade of the city’s history.
“Shutters on the Beach has always been a beloved, sun-washed meeting place by the ocean, and with that comes a responsibility. Our approach was never to reinvent, but to carefully evolve what people already loved,” Kehoe says. “We wanted the lobby, or as it’s called, the Living Room, to feel like the heart of a well-loved coastal home, one that greets you with warmth and familiarity the moment you arrive.”
The key to nailing this look without veering into kitsch, says Kehoe, is to establish a foundation with color and texture, then add in unique items that reflect your personal style. “At Shutters, we layered a fresh base palette of ivory and tan, brought in rich mahogany as a subtle nod to the East Coast, and then combined vintage finds with custom pieces to create a sense of something collected over time,” she says. “For those shopping for their own homes, I always recommend a similar approach: Start with a few classic, well-made anchor pieces, then mix in vintage finds or something handmade to give the room personality and depth.”
Ready to embrace your inner (chic) coastal grandma? Kehoe shares how you can achieve an airy, welcoming ambiance in your own kitchen, dining room, or sitting room.
Courtesy Shutters on the Beach
Go for glow
“Lighting is everything,” Kehoe says. To set the right mood in the Shutters Living Room, Kehoe says she doubled the number of pendant lights in the room and introduced gilded sconces that give off a warm glow.
