Each room of the Austin Proper Hotel & Residences is carefully curated by storied designer Kelly Wearstler. Her vision for the space? To capture the heart and soul of the city.
These two Texas properties make for the perfect weekend excursion. Grab your bags and let’s go...
Designer Digs
A culmination of creativity, uniqueness and history made Texas’ buzzing state capital the ideal location for Los Angeles-based Proper Hospitality’s first hotel outside California. After landing arguably the city’s best location (steps from downtown’s 2nd Street District and situated on the edge of Lady Bird Lake), Proper tapped a team of industry leaders to bring the 32-story, 244-room Austin Proper Hotel & Residences to life. At the helm of the interiors? Seasoned designer Kelly Wearstler, whose overarching goal was to capture Austin’s distinctive soul. “I was inspired to infuse the surrounding authentic elements into the design, juxtaposing old and new,” says the designer, who drew inspiration from the historic Craftsman-style homes in the area. Wearstler filled the space with a curated selection of vintage and contemporary pieces, along with original artwork from local artisans including Rick Van Dyke, who contributed ceramics to an installation that Wearstler calls the hotel’s “wow” factor. Van Dyke’s ceramic pots top the lobby’s monolithic wood staircase, which is covered in more than 60 conjoined vintage carpets. Wearstler also drew on the city for inspo. From a showstopping light fixture boasting neon accents—similar to the iconic neon signs around town—to the columns, walls and furnishings crafted using elmwood, a material indigenous to the area, the city’s culture remained a core theme. “I wanted guests to feel immersed and inspired from the moment they stepped inside,” says Wearstler. Mission accomplished. Rates from $350 per night.
The Suite Life
Past meets present at the newly renovated Hotel Settles, a hidden gem in the heart of Big Spring. Originally built in the 1930s, the aging landmark has been meticulously restored thanks to a $30 million renovation by Dallasite G. Brint Ryan. The businessman and owner teamed up with Jeff Trigger and La Corsha Hospitality Group to bring back that spark of Texas hospitality and effortless elegance only an art deco hotel in the middle of ranch land can evoke. The grand ballroom and 65 guest rooms, which, along with the rest of the building, have been restored to their original floor plans with traditional furnishings, pedestal-style fixtures and luxe fabrics, exude Southern charm, while the pool, fitness center and 15,000 square feet of meeting and event space offer 21st- century amenities. And don’t forget to stop by in-house restaurant The Settles Grill, a longtime Big Spring destination visited by the likes of Elvis Presley, Lawrence Welk and President Herbert Hoover. We foresee many long nights spent over a bottle of wine and a steak—after all, that’s the Texan way. Rates from $200 per night.
The grand ballroom of Hotel Settles has been restored to its original floor plan.
The hotel still embodies the original essence from when it was first built in the 1930s.
The Mezzanine Lobby provides the perfect spot for an afternoon reading nook, meeting, or post-dinner spirit.
Photography by: THE INGALLS; HOTEL SETTLES
