Photo Credit: Nancy Neil

Editors' Notes

Heather Levine pendants illuminate the 17-room Ojai Rancho Inn. "Ceramics are so big there with Beatrice Wood's legacy. We thought having [Levine's] pendants and mobiles throughout the property would be perfect for how we wanted to relate to Ojai," says Shelter Social Club's Kenny Osehan.

Photo Credit: Nancy Neil

Editors' Notes

Ojai Rancho Inn

Photo Credit: Nancy Neil

Editors' Notes

Ojai Rancho Inn

Photo Credit: Nancy Neil

Editors' Notes

Ojai Rancho Inn's pool cottage will add a wine bar this year.

Photo Credit: Nancy Neil

Editors' Notes

In Solvang, Hamlet Inn's Danish modern elements.

Photo Credit: Nancy Neil

Editors' Notes

Hamlet Inn

Photo Credit: Nancy Neil

Editors' Notes

Hamlet Inn

Photo Credit: Nancy Neil

Editors' Notes

Sama Sama Kitchen on State Street in Santa Barbara.

Chris Sewell and Kenny Osehan, the husband-and-wife team behind Shelter Social Club, resuscitated Santa Barbara’s Presidio Motel in 2007. Since then, they’ve spread their polished, comfortable, yet “under”-designed aesthetic around the area: to an S.B. lodging (Agave Inn, 805-687-6009); to ever-charming Danish Solvang (Hamlet Inn, 805-688-4413); and, most recently, to naturally minded Ojai (Ojai Rancho Inn, 805-646-1434). SSC hasn’t limited itself to hotels, either; on S.B.’s State Street, farm-driven Indonesian restaurant Sama Sama Kitchen (805-965-4566) is in development, gado-gado salad and all.
In renovating an old motel to satisfy the kind of weekenders who appreciate indigo-dyed curtains, the couple called upon artisan friends to give Rancho such one-of-a-kind accents. The getaway also hosts music bands and gift pop-ups à la Echo Park Craft Fair. Says Osehan, “We needed to create a place where like-minded people could come, meet others in the community and from out of town—not just a place to stay. It’s artisanal California with a spiritual twist.”

By Alison Clare Steingold