Hollywood Royalty
Los Angeles firm Kevin Klein Design gives the Gable and Lombard Penthouse at The Hotel Roosevelt a glamorous glow-up.
The Hollywood Roosevelt’s Gable and Lombard Penthouse features a handsome two-story living room with a staircase that leads to the roof. The redesign by Kevin Klein Design brings this historic jewel into the 21st century.
If these walls could talk. The Hollywood Roosevelt has served as both a residence and locale for extravagant celebrity parties thrown by the likes of Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, Guns n’ Roses, and Prince for nearly a century. It recently transformed two beloved suites–The Gable and Lombard Penthouse (named after silver screen lovers-turned-spouses Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, who lived there in the 30s) as well as the Johnny Grant Penthouse, named after the radio personality and television producer known as LA’s honorary mayor, who made the hotel his permanent home in the nineties. Both suites have access to a shared 3,000-square-foot rooftop entertaining space, that offers panoramic views of Los Angeles.
Left: The second story of the sunken living room features a leather conversation pit, antique mirrors, and a bar, perfect for throwing an Oscar-night bash.
Right: Klein also worked on the Johnny Grant Penthouse next door. Its bold red kitchen features appliances by Fisher & Paykel.
After nearly a century of debauchery, it was time for a glow-up. Los Angeles–based Kevin Klein Design was charged with revitalizing the historic suites, by maximizing the common spaces and creating an inviting atmosphere ideal for travelers, as well as for local industry executives, celebrities, and event planners to entertain.
A bedroom and bath in the Gable and Lombard suite provide a calming oasis from the bustle of life in Hollywood.
“The story goes that Gable and Lombard had their initial tryst in there; you can feel the history oozing through the walls,” says fourth generation LA native Klein, who studied as an architect at USC. Klein specializes in hospitality, working with firms such as SBE, the Kor Group, and Sydell Group. After a decade under his belt, he opened his own design firm. “It’s rewarding to see something through to completion, and then to have people occupy it, eat there, drink there, share stories; there’s a magical moment, when you can stand back and watch it all unfold. That’s the most gratifying part of it, and you can’t get that with residential design,” Klein explains.
“One of the nice things about having an existing building with innate charm is that you don’t
have to reinvent the wheel.”
Klein took care to keep in mind that The Hollywood Roosevelt is on the National Register of Historic Places, while also refreshing the aesthetic with distinct Los Angeles and Hollywood style. “One of the nice things about having an existing building with innate charm is that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. It’s Spanish colonial, with Hollywood regency flair, and that makes my job easier finding the perfect pieces.”
Left: One of the suite’s two baths is clad head to toe in dramatic Nero Marquina marble.
Center: The rooftop provides 360-degree views of Hollywood.
Right: The glamorous bath evokes the golden age of Hollywood with a mix of marble, polished nickel finishes, and elegant accessories.
The 2,100-square-foot suite boasts a sunken living room with a 20-foot vaulted ceiling, bar, and a staircase to the second floor, that leads to the roof; two bedrooms, a bold red kitchen including a red retro electric oven from Fisher & Paykel, two full bathrooms that incorporate Italian marble, and a powder room.
In the living room, Klein says, “We were going to put a TV on the wall and we thought it would be a nice idea to automate it, so a drape would roll up and down. We found a fantastic tapestry from 18th century France that fit perfectly, really kind of beautiful, a bit sexy, with people feeding each other grapes. If this is gonna be the party room, it’s not so outlandish. It works perfectly.”
The primary bedroom is a study in warm wood tones and texture.
The Gable and Lombard suite has already been in high demand since its reopening for bookings. One of Klein’s upcoming projects is another spot rich with history and star power: Elvis Presley’s old house in Beverly Hills. “The property is pretty magical.”