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Presidio Motel
1620 State Street
Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Style: Modern Design
Atmosphere: Lively
16 Rooms
It doesn’t get much more Californian than this. The West Coast is blessed with a surplus of mid-century motor inns, in varying states of repair, and more and more of them are being reborn as something a little bit more stylish. The Presidio, in downtown Santa Barbara, is a case in point — its owners must have seen something worth preserving underneath the layers of thoughtless renovations, because they’ve kept the bones of the place intact, even as they’ve completely replaced its skin.
And while some developers might opt for a bland luxury concept (with prices to match), the Presidio stays accessible: while the design, by local artists Kat Trajano and Stephanie Mansolf, looks like a million dollars, the comforts are pared-down, with the atmosphere doing most of the work. It’s a slightly whimsical look, which suits both the sunny California setting and the quirky motel building itself, with its off-kilter peaked timber roof.
It’s a breath of fresh air for anyone who’s seen enough anodyne corporate luxury, and it goes without saying that it’s a massive improvement on what came before. Attached is the Supply Room, which has quickly become one of Santa Barbara’s best-curated women’s boutiques — and from there you’re off and running, with the city center’s shops and restaurants beginning practically at the end of the driveway.
