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J O U R N E Y S | ES P E R A NZ A
concentric circles of shelving, filled with Style Union Home's
amorphous-shaped, open-bellied vases and the haute spirit
collection; all uplit for drama," Gold describes. Dylan baskets in
the back bar and black vases in the cocktail area complement
the atmosphere. "Since I am from Malibu, I draw inspiration from
the ocean, from the way you see the curvatures in the waves to
the textures in the sand," says Gold. "These elements tie perfectly
with our raw pieces, which are featured in Esperanza."
gullajonsdottir.com
styleunionhome.com
ITH AN ALL-OPEN FAÇADE, Espe-
ranza immediately catches
the attention of passersby
and captures the essence
of California indoor/outdoor
dining while welcoming
guests with open arms.
Icelandic-born, Los Angeles-based architect
Gulla Jónsdóttir is the creative mind behind the
project. "I've lived in Mexico before, so designing
a space related to Mexican design and food is
always a pleasure for me," she confesses. "The
colors are inspired by the sand dune beaches
of Los Cabos and represented in white plaster,
bronze details and light oak wood floors mixed
with two darker wood tones and a touch of lemon
yellow in the leather for the chairs."
The natural and sustainable materials were
chosen to be authentic and site-specific to
Manhattan Beach. "Esperanza is about splen-
dor and elegance where the hues of bronze,
marble and plaster decor exaggerate the
grandeur of a villa in an azure sky beach town
in [Baja California]," Jónsdóttir says. "My wish
is for the guests to feel like they have been
whisked away on a vacation by the Sea of
Cortez and enjoy the moment."
Curved and elegant forms characterize the
décor, where the design pieces — such as the
dining chairs and barstools by Luteca, and the
pendant lights by L'Aviva Home — blur the lines
between function and art.
Debuting in the restaurant, the new luxury ceramics line by
Style Union Home — a brand created by Kym Gold, cofounder
of True Religion Jeans — is another key element of the space.
"My ceramic line is based on how I've done fashion for the last
30 years," Gold says. "We build upon season to season and add
to what we've done with the season before. A lot of the pieces
are organic and have dual purpose, whether it's a pitcher or a
vase, or a bookend that can also be a candle holder."
At the bar, walls of flickering cubby-holed candles flank the space.
"A peapod-shape splits open the plaster wall to reveal wooded
W
