Covell Chic

Dustin Lancaster, the epicurean entrepreneur behind LA’s Silverlake scenester spots L&E Oyster Bar and El Condor, has gone into the boutique hostelry business with Hotel Covell. His latest project opened last month, and was an add-on to his existing uber hip Los Feliz wine bar, Covell. Lancaster pursued opening the five-room hotel above his bar based on clamoring he routinely heard for more hotel options in the area, which were pretty much non existent. The five converted apartments range from an 800 square-foot, two bedroom space to a 350 square foot, one bed perch. Each room has its own personality in the manner of the Chateau Marmont, and Lancaster envisions an affluent, artistic, creative clientele, leaning toward the music business, in keeping with Covell’s regular patrons.

Interior designer Sally Breer of the firm Co-Mingle and the Shopclass decor store in Highland Park created a life story for the fictional character of George Covell, a bon vivant writer whose imagined biography is the basis of the decorating schemes in each room. Each chapter- or room- is a whole sensory environment, and no two rooms are alike. It’s all designed to be cohesive, even if you don’t know the story. Chapter 2’s room is set in NYC in the early 1950’s with well-appointed iconic midcentury pieces, while Chapter 3’s room alludes to a 1960-70’s romantic Parisian sojourn. At just 34 years old, Lancaster is working on claiming the unofficial title of king of the Eastside, with more hospitality projects in the works throughout Los Angeles.  www.hotelcovell.com