Chaminade High School was constructed as a boy’s school in the Santa Cruz Mountains in 1930, and in 1985 the original schoolhouse became the cornerstone of a 300 acre resort and spa. Multiple renovations and additions over the years had obscured the Mission-style heritage and roots of this iconic destination, and the design team was engaged to restore the destination’s sense of hospitality and romance and position Chaminade as a quintessential California coastal retreat.

The arrival lobby is a series of intimate spaces with a modern Spanish sensibility, and a grand stairway is fashioned in colorful encaustic tile. An intimate lounge invites guests to relax around a central fireplace surrounded by warm tones, abstract art and curated bookshelves. Details like custom forged ironwork, wood ceilings and Saltillo tile floors add a touch of rustic flare.

A half-level below, on the ocean-view side, the restaurant and bar have been reimagined and redesigned with a fireplace lounge, contemporary bar and solarium dining space. The restaurant opens out to terraced patios and unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean. Custom metalwork, Millwork, furniture and fabrics enhance the Mission-style legacy with a contemporary point of view.

When it came to the design and restoration of almost 12,000 square-feet of flexible meeting space, the design team celebrated Chaminade High School’s legacy with historic wainscot, and patterned wall coverings, milk-glass light fixtures and historic photos of the original life of the building. The palette, furnishings and finishes are contemporary and fresh, versus thematic, reinforce the holistic sense of the building as an integrated social hub. One meeting room was designated “The Archive” and houses maps and vintage photos of the property.

Chaminade Resort and Spa celebrates a new chapter in hospitality, pays homage to a bygone era, and recaptures the spirit of an icon on the Pacific.

Photography: Dan Ham