If there’s any American design movement that appeals across the generations, it’s got to be midcentury modern — an evocative retro style that left its mark on everything from architecture and furnishings to graphic design during the period between the early 1930s and the mid-1960s.
With modernism and Bauhaus influences, midcentury modern is easy to recognize when you see it — think minimalist and streamlined furnishings, glass everywhere, artsy and airy lighting fixtures, and strategic use of color, and you’ve got an idea of the key elements.
Ready to be cocooned in soothing midcentury modern aesthetics everywhere from the shores of the Black Sea in the country of Georgia to Florida, California and Hawaii? We’ve got you covered below.
As always, check for travel guidelines or closures before planning your trip.
Le Méridien, Indianapolis
Conventiongoers from the nearby Indiana Convention Center and design aficionados in search of a different stay in Indy are among the guests at Le Méridien, Indianapolis.
Housed inside a 1928 building that underwent $13 million in upgrades to become one of the city’s most buzzworthy hotels, the property weaves stunning art, references to Indianapolis’ racing roots and Le Méridien’s signature European flair into its public spaces and 100 guest rooms.
Abundant wood and metal touches round out the midcentury modern and contemporary aesthetics. And the onsite restaurant, Spoke & Steele, houses one of the city’s most notable craft cocktail bars, where sipping a barrel-aged old-fashioned is a must.
The Laylow, Autograph Collection, Honolulu
Less than 10-minutes by foot from Waikiki Beach, The Laylow, Autograph Collection strikes the right note of retro Aloha feels, whisking guests back to an ambience of circa-1960s Honolulu glamour in a fun-loving environment.
Note the clean lines of the swimming pool, with partially submerged lounge chairs on a shallow deck in the water. And chill out with sunset cocktails around the fire pits flickering on the hotel’s atmospheric, open-air lanai.
In the rooms, custom-made furnishings inspired by midcentury modern designs pair with bold pops of color and murals with strong graphic prints to complete the look.
Hotel June, Los Angeles, a Member of Design Hotels
The hills, streets and Pacific beaches of Los Angeles brim with iconic examples of some of the country’s finest midcentury modern architecture. To bed down ensconced in the elegant lines and minimalism that defined the movement, stay at the Hotel June, Los Angeles, a Member of Design Hotels, which whisks guests away to a kinder and gentler era.
In L.A.’s Westside neighborhood, less than 10 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport, the hotel occupies a midcentury building and breathes California glamour throughout every space — from the Caravan Swim Club rooftop pool bar, with its raw bar at the ready, to minimalist, whitewashed rooms that envelop you in crisp linens and furnishings inspired by the era.
The Sarasota Modern, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
Located within the stylish downtown Rosemary District in the Gulf Coast Florida city of Sarasota, this 89-room boutique property could just have easily been plucked from Miami Beach, so striking are the building’s midcentury and modernist angles.
Make The Sarasota Modern, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel your art-focused base for exploring Sarasota’s other treasures, including the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the Sarasota Art Museum and the sublime Gulf of Mexico beaches along Longboat Key and Lido Key (all within a 10-minute drive of the hotel).
The property has a gorgeous pool and excellent onsite restaurant, Wink Wink Lounge, that conjures a midcentury supper club.
Le Méridien Batumi
Home to the Caucasus Mountains, Black Sea beaches and an outsized reputation for good wine (and even better hospitality), the tiny country of Georgia is experiencing a tourist boom among intrepid travelers. And if you want to experience a sublime Black Sea setting in style, look no further than Le Méridien Batumi, located in the southern reaches of the country in Georgia’s second-largest city.
This hotel’s design sense pulls heavily from midcentury influences and a French sensibility. As you arrive in the city, it’s impossible to miss the hotel’s particularly eye-catching tower feature, crowned with a panoramic wheel. Indoor and outdoor pools make year-round swimming possible here, and the rooms and suites take in sweeping views of the Black Sea.
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