What do Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Howard Hughes, and Elizabeth Taylor have in common? Aside from being some of Hollywood’s most celebrated icons, they were all fond of a certain rose-colored retreat on Sunset Boulevard.
With its gently swaying palms and legendary pink and green motif, The Beverly Hills Hotel—affectionately known as the “Pink Palace”—has been a refuge for Hollywood elite since it first opened in 1912. Now, its beloved bungalows are getting a multi-million-dollar makeover, with interiors that pay tribute to the stars who called them home-away-from-home.
Helmed by interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud (the mastermind behind the much-touted Hotel Bel-Air revamp), renovations include a handful of modern upgrades—from new furniture and lighting to Bang & Olufsen TVs—all in keeping with the hotel’s classic Golden Age vibe.
Bungalow #5, inspired by the late Elizabeth Taylor (who spent six of her eight honeymoons at the hotel), has been furnished with French and Hollywood Regency style decor, including leather, mohair and gilded accents. A giant portrait of the late starlet presides over the entry, and interiors include a full kitchen, grand living room and dining area, powder room and private patio with a pool and spa. Meanwhile, the decidedly more masculine #22, with its vaulted ceiling, leather-wrapped beams, and sleek, midcentury-style interior pays tribute to Frank Sinatra, boasting a spacious living room with a dining area, two fireplaces, two private terraces and an open parlor with a wet bar and grand piano.
While only three of the hotel’s renovated bungalows have been unveiled thus far (there are a total of 23 on the property), we can’t help but wonder which Hollywood stars will get a nod next. After all, Marilyn Monroe is said to have whiled away many a day between Bungalow #1 and #7, and let’s not forget the ever-illusive Howard Hughes, who lived in Bungalow #4, off and on, for 30 years. Rumor has it the reclusive star left his Cadillac parked outside the hotel for so long it sprouted weeds.
For more information about the hotel or to make a reservation, visit its website.
