Shutters on the Beach Hotel, hotel in Santa Monica, United States
Shutters on the Beach Hotel is a beachfront property in Santa Monica situated directly on the sand with a classic coastal home aesthetic. It contains two buildings, the Beach House on the shore and the Ocean House set back further, offering rooms from 450 square feet upward with hardwood floors, Tibetan rugs, and views of the ocean from many units.
The hotel opened in 1993 as a West Coast interpretation of an East Coast beach house style with white shingle exterior. A major renovation in 2005 under designer Michael S. Smith updated the interiors, and in 2025 the lobby underwent fresh design by Nickey Kehoe using softer tones and new furnishings.
The hotel's name comes from the shutters on balcony doors that guests can open or close as they wish. Throughout the rooms and public spaces, artwork by modern artists creates a sense of a private beach home rather than a corporate hotel.
The property sits in a quiet area with direct beach access and is walking distance from Santa Monica's Main Street shopping and dining scene. Complimentary bicycles are available for exploration, and it's worth asking staff about accessibility needs as some hallways and elevators may be narrow for guests with mobility concerns.
The large-scale artwork 'Sky Over Water' by Grant Levy-Lucero greets guests in the lobby with a striking modern composition. Michael S. Smith, the designer who decorated the White House during President Obama's administration, oversaw the major 2005 renovation that shaped the hotel's character.
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