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Seaside Splendour
how the charles hotel in pacific grove blendns timeless british Elegance with calafornia costal charm On the misty shores of California’s Central Coast, just a short walk from Monterey Bay’s crashing waves, a jewel of Anglo-American refinement has quietly redefined the Pacific Grove hospitality scene. The Charles Pacific Grove, a boutique bed and breakfast housed in a century-old manor, has emerged from a top-to-bottom interior transformation and it is nothing short of a masterclass in British-inspired luxury.
Guided by renowned interior designer Charles Gruwell, the hotel’s redesign is an homage to the stately grace of London’s grand hotels and bed and breakfasts. Having wandered the hallowed halls of the English capital’s finest establishments, Gruwell has transpor ted that signature sophistication across the Atlantic, blending it seamlessly with the rugged charm of California’s coastline. “The City of London’s classical architecture deeply influenced this project,” Gruwell shares. “I wanted to bring that sense of enduring sophistication back to my hometown.” Inside, guests are immediately enveloped in a rich tableau of textures and period detail. The lobby stuns with a bold black-and-camel patterned carpet, punctuated by antique furnishings procured from High Point, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Tufted leather seating and tailored drapery echo a gentleman’s club in Mayfair, while original Victorian wallpaper and woodwork root the space firmly in its historic context. Remarkably, the original chandeliers, sconces, and Lincrusta wall panels remain—restored to gleaming glory. The pièce de résistance may well be the elegant dining rotunda. Framed by towering bookcases and anchored by a neoclassical breakfast table, the space is at once grand and intimate. It is a place to
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sip morning tea and feel transpor ted. Each of the hotel’s guest suites channels its own interpretation of the manor-house mood, with swags, coverlets, and pillows tying the rooms together through a cohesive yet custom palette. No two rooms are alike, though all whisper of a time when leisure was an ar t form. The Charles is also the flagship of the Metro Lifestyle Brand, a new venture by Gruwell and hospitality par tners Don and Jay Desai. Their choice of Pacific Grove is no accident; the town offers whale watching, kelp forest diving, and coastal trails just moments away, marrying Gruwell’s vision of quiet opulence with nature’s grandeur. “I hope guests notice the curated individuality of every design detail,” Gruwell says. “But more than anything, I want them to feel welcomed, comfor table, and pampered.” With a sister location in Napa currently under renovation, The Charles is poised to become a name synonymous with heritage, hospitality, and high style—whether by the sea or among the vines. www.TheCharlesPG.com By Larry Olsen