New nine-room, luxury hotel on Montecito Street opening todayLuxury hotel brand Kirkwood Collection will debut its new nine-room luxury hotel, Hideaway Santa Barbara, today, just in time for summer.
Hideaway is the latest of four hotels owned by the Culver City-based brand. For a few years now, Kirkwood Collection has owned the property and others such as the Garden Street Inn in San Luis Obispo, Blue Sands Inn in Santa Barbara, and Palm Springs Hotel in Palm Springs. However, according to Kirkwood Collection developer and operator Alex Kirkwood, the properties did not have a brand affiliation until Kirkwood Collection properly launched this year.
Located at 420 W Montecito St., Hideaway Santa Barbara is near the beach and the Funk Zone, which Mr. Kirkwood said is a huge part of the new hotel’s uniqueness. After more than a year of renovating the Hideaway property, he’s pleased the hotel is finally opening.
“To bring it to market has been really gratifying,” he said.
The developer said the property went on the market circa 2016, but was taken off within a few months. However, it piqued his interest enough that he inquired about it a year and a half later and found out it was still available.
“II just got lucky when reaching out about a year and a half later,” he recalled
Kirkwood Collection bought the Hideaway property in February 2018 and finished renovations last month. The property was originally a bed and breakfast and required extensive renovation, as no improvements had been made on the buildings for well over 20 years. Changes included updating the facility’s mechanical systems, plumbing and lighting in addition to cosmetic changes like a new paint job and flooring.
“We changed every square inch,” Mr. Kirkwood said.
Typically, Kirkwood Collection acquires properties with historic qualities, so the company takes the time to determine “what it wants to be” before going forth with renovations.
As a result, Mr. Kirkwood said, each hotel his company owns has “its own flavor.” Whereas the Garden Street Inn’s aesthetic harkens back to Victorian England and the Blue Sands Inn and Palm Springs Hotel sport respective beach bohemian and mid-century modern styles, Hideaway has California Craftsman architecture with what the developer called a “coastal beach, whimsical vibe.”
The hotel’s primary design feature is its use of natural lighting, which Mr. Kirkwood said was decided upon due to the reception area’s skylights and the 15-foot windows in the solarium, according to a news release.
Hideaway Santa Barbara’s suites offer “a true ‘home away from home’ experience,” with fireplaces and Apple TVs in every room and a view of the Santa Ynez Mountains and historic Fernald Mansion, according to the release.
Complimentary breakfast is served in the hotel’s French bistro-styled solarium and guests receive a glass of champagne upon checking into the hotel.
Nightly rates for Hideaway Santa Barbara begin at $350.
