A beachfront icon with a fresh, breezy design, stellar restaurants, and views, views, views.
Shutters came into the world as the left coast's idea of an east coast beach house, but with Pacific sunsets and interiors designed by the man who does the White House residence, it quickly became so much more. If you're traveling for work, this is the perfect place to guarantee that vacation feeling during limited downtime. If you're traveling for pleasure, lucky you. Note: many rooms don't have a full ocean view, so be sure when you book to secure the ones that do for the dream beach house experience.
How did it strike you on arrival?
The once novel and now iconic Shutters, which first opened in 1993, was the left coast's idea of an East Coast beach house. The white shingled oceanfront property got a top-to-bottom redo in 2005, led by Michael S. Smith, the interior designer who famously decorated the Obama White House. The lobby is warm and inviting like the living room of house in the Cape, with two large fireplaces. And the art! Around the hotel, you’ll see works by Modern art greats like David Hockney, Robert Motherwell, Claes Oldenburg, and Roy Lichtenstein.
Nice. What’s the crowd like?
Leisure travelers—plus a fair share of entertainment industry people, photographers, ad agency creatives, and anyone on an expense account who wants to pretend they're on vacation at the end of a long work day.
The good stuff: Tell us about your room.
The smallest of the 186 breezy guest rooms and 12 suites are 450 square feet, and they all feel very residential—hardwood floors with hand-woven Tibetan rugs instead of carpets, built-ins instead of bulky furniture. Most are designed with sliding shuttered doors, surprisingly few of which open to reveal the ocean below. Many rooms have no view at all, so be sure to get the skinny before you book.
How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that find its way into your suitcase?
Includes special hardback edition classics like Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. Rooms also come with a take-home souvenir: a rubber bath amenity of Shutter’s signature whale—perfect for the kiddos if you left them back at home.
Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.
Bathrooms are spacious, with hardwood floors, 15-inch LCD televisions (for those who need a TV in the bathroom), and large whirlpool tubs. Open the shutters for outdoor views if you've got them while you’re taking a soak.
Maybe the most important topic of all: Wi-Fi. What’s the word?
Basic Wifi is complimentary, high-speed internet is included in the resort fee.
Room service: Worth it?
Room service is available 24 hours per day, and you can order off of the Pico 1 or Coast menu. Our pick from Coast: tortilla soup and a lobster roll.
Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.
The hotel sits right on the sand of Santa Monica Bay; you can see the Pacific from the pool and Jacuzzi, surrounded by chaise loungers and private cabanas. The clean, natural palette of sand, wood, and stone will have you relaxed even before getting a treatment at the ONE Spa at Shutters on the Beach. Body treatments use products from Kerstin Florian, Scientific Organics, and Lalicious.
Michael S. Smith also designed the 85-seat 1 Pico, which is so-called for its address, and open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. The Italian-influenced and seafood-forward menu (think tuna tartar with avocado and roasted fish like arctic char and halibut) is solid, if a little passe, and is a bit player in the scheme of the restaurant's ocean views. The indoor-outdoor, all-day Coast Beach Café and Bar is right on the bike path. There’s an open kitchen and a self-heating floor (it gets cold by the beach!), and a communal table that gives it a laid-back vibe. Don’t miss the lemon ricotta pancakes for breakfast. Wednesday nights in the Living Room lobby lounge, there’s live jazz music and seasonal cocktails. It’s also the go-to spot for afternoon tea.
Bottom line: worth it, and why?
Love it for its womb-like lobby, spacious rooms, and location on the beach.
“Yeah, that sounds about right,” I say somewhat under my breath, but apparently Beau hears me.
“The Internet says you’re the most beautiful and perfect girl in the world and you’re all mine?”
“Awww,” I say looking up from my phone and I hug him with both arms just as the door opens.
“Beau!” a woman says extending her hand.
“Great to see you, Laura,” Beau says.
“And you must be, Ariella,” she says. “Pleasure to meet you,” she says and we shake hands.
While she’s still holding my hand she leans in closer to my ear and says in a loud whisper so Beau can hear, “Glad to see more ladies entering our field. You go girl!”
I can’t help but smile and like her. She’s in a very powerful position but warm and down to earth, just like Beau. And I can tell by the way they interact that they’re business friends and nothing more. It’s nice to know Beau is truly mine, and doesn’t have a history behind him like so many men in L.A. do.
And Laura is so beautiful too, and not only in her physical beauty but in the way she gives me her card and then writes her personal number on there and let’s me know I can call her anytime. I love it when women support and encourage other women and she is definitely doing that.
And when Beau steps out to take a quick call Laura answers a few questions I hit her with rapid-fire style.
“Okay you two. I wish you a lovely evening,” she says when Beau returns. “And I hope I’m not overstepping my bounds here, but you really do make the perfect couple.”
“Thank you,” we say in unison.
“See!” she says and the three of us share a laugh.
But the moment we step inside the door to the suite laughing is the last thing on my mind.
I’m in complete awe. I see a pamphlet on the table that says we’re in the Beach House Suite. Apparently it’s the best room they have, but all I can think about right now is Beau having me for the first time.
“Over here,” he says and I join him at the sliding doors which open right on the sand.
I feel his hand bump mine and then his fingers wrap around mine as we watch the sun set over the Pacific.
At least I thought we were watching that, but when I look up I see he’s watching me.
“I have the best view in the world,” he says staring right at me. “My view of my woman,” he says before he leans in slowly and his lips gently meet mine in the softest of kisses from the biggest of men.
The ocean breeze tickles my senses as it flows across my skin and I swear I can feel the romance in the fresh saltwater air it brings.
And romance can come in so many forms, but right now there is but one…making love for the very first time.
CHAPTER 11
Ariella
“This is for you,” he says handing me the box from the bed.
“What’s this?” I ask.
“Something I picked out especially for you.”
“How? You were with me all day.”
“I have my ways…and I have good friends that might have helped out a little bit too.”
“Should I open it now?”
“You should, but let me leave the room first.”
“Okay.”
“Trust me…I want to see your face when you open it, but there’s a different reaction I’m looking forward to and I can only get that reaction if I step outside while you find out what’s inside.”
“You’re making me nervous now.”
“Don’t be nervous,” he says, his hand coming up to run his fingers through my hair. “Everything is perfect. You’re perfect. This is just the cherry on top,” he says.
“Okay, now I’m dying to know.”
“And I’m dying to…well, you’ll see, or should I say I’ll see.”
“I’ll see? You’ll see? I really have no idea what this could…,” I say as he steps backwar
ds and shuts the door the last thing I see is his face in the crack watching me until the very last second. I love how he never wants to take his eyes off me. “…possibly be,” I say finishing my sentence.
I put both hands under the white box and lift it a few times before gently tossing it in the air an inch or two above my hands.
“Well, it’s certainly light.”
I carefully remove the bright red bow, knowing I’ll want to keep this forever. I have no idea what’s going to be inside but I know it’s going to be something special and memorable.
It takes me a full minute to get the bow off and then I reach for the lid, but first I sit down on a chair by the bed and put the box in my lap. I want to still my movements and just focus on what’s inside. Plus, as crazy as it sounds I want to be seated in case I faint. I don’t think it’s a wedding ring or anything like that, I mean there is no noise coming from inside and I know he wouldn’t propose this way as it’s not at all something he would do from the other room, but maybe it’s something almost on that level.
“What did you put inside this box my Beau?” I say softly as I remove the lid…only to find perfectly folded white tissue paper.
But I can see there’s something underneath it.
The moment of truth.
I pull back the tissue paper and see the pristine white fabric the lace and the cut.
“Oh wow,” I say lifting the dress from the box and holding it in front of my face to get a good look.
I rotate my hands so I can see the back and then look at the front again.
It’s so beautiful and so perfect, especially for this moment we’re about to share.
I stand and slide out of the clothes we picked up at Target on the way from the Case Study House to here, the entire time I’m undressing I’m just focusing on the dress and how beautiful it is.
Suddenly I smile. What crazy kids we are. We left the Case Study House nearly as wet as we arrived so on the way down we decided to just be spontaneous and stop off at Target and buy the simplest clothes we could find…just basics wear.
After we paid for them we went right back to the changing rooms and swapped out our old clothes for the new. The attendant probably thought we were stealing or having sex back there or something seeing that we were giggling so much.
We stuck our wet clothes in the bag and left the store like spies on the run or something, our appearances completely different than when we’d walked in.
It was our little inside joke. Just something shared between the two of us and no-one else.
And now, in this dress I’m going to share something with him that I’ve never share with anyone else.
How perfect.
I do love me some Target, but I sure feel more elegant and special in this very expensive feeling dress than a seven dollar t-shirt and some twenty dollar jeans.
And when I slide into the dress I feel even more special because it’s a perfect fit.
How could he have guessed? There’s no way he told whoever picked this up my sizes after Target. They wouldn’t have had time.
I just chalk it up to another of the amazing things he does for me.
I feel one side is a bit heavier than the other and my eyebrows raise. Am I imagining things or am I lopsided or something.
I try and straighten the bottom of the dress and when I do I feel something heavy on the bottom on one side.
What the heck?
I grab the bottom and turn it inside out and see that there is a small magnet that’s been inserted into the dress with a super tiny strand of fabric. Attached to the magnet is a tiny note.
I go great with what’s under the bed.
He bought me a dress that talks? Or at least one that leaves me messages and the words play in my head in the tone and rhythm that the dress would say if it could talk.
Okay, I’m officially losing my mind or I’m just so caught up in this I feel like I’m a princess in a Disney movie.
But this is so much better, because this is real. He’s real. And this won’t be over in two hours like some movie…this will truly last forever.
I carefully bend down and look under the bed.
“Another box,” I say and carefully slide it out.
Five minutes later I’m standing in front of the mirror in the nicest piece of clothing that’s ever touched my skin and a pair of Christian Louboutin red heels.
If I look one percent as good as I feel he’s going to eat me up.
If I don’t hug him to death first.
I want to cry I’m so happy right now for all the things he’s done for me today and how special he’s made me feel.
There’s just no way this day could be any better I think to myself as I turn and put my hand on the door, slowly opening it ready to present myself to him in his gifts for his viewing pleasure, but when I open the door open I freeze at the sight in front of me.
CHAPTER 12
Beau
I can’t remember the last time, if ever, I was nervous.
This is that time.
“I knew you were going to look absolutely beautiful, but you look even more beautiful than I could have imagined…and I imagined you as a princess…my princess,” I say from a knee down on the floor in my tuxedo.
While Ariella was changing I quickly pulled the tux from the bag, which was hung in the shower for me, and put it on.
Here I am racing against the clock to get dressed, my mind running frantically, and what happens after I get dressed?
I get in position and wait, thinking about how this is going to be so perfect.
And it is, because she’s perfect.
“Oh my god,” she says as both her hands come up to her face. I can see them shaking from here and dammit if it doesn't makes my eyes water a bit.
I’m not ashamed to admit it either. I’m completely confident in who I am and in a few minutes, or less, I plan on being half of the team that is officially us. And nothing is more special than two people coming together to become one, especially when one of those two people is her.
“Beautiful, we’ve got a lot in common. And of all the things we share, the most important is our desire to make each other the happiest people on the face of the earth and to make a family together. You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted and ever will want. I want you there next to me each and every morning when I wake up. I want you there each and every night to see the thousands and thousands of sunsets we’re going to watch just like tonight. And I want you right by my side for every minute in-between. And the best way for that to happen is for the two of us to become one. With this ring I want the whole world to know you’re my other half. I want them to know I’m so proud of you and where you’re headed in life and that I’m going to be right there with you each and every step of the way…because you’re mine. Be mine forever and say you’ll be my bride. Will you marry me?”
CHAPTER 13
Ariella
I squeeze my eyes closed tight and when I open them a fountain of tears pours from them. But these are the ultimate tears of joy. The two of us are so perfect it’s literally like we were made for each other and each other only. Of all the decisions I’ve ever had to make in my life this one is certainly the easiest, because there’s nothing to think about…just feel.
And this feels so perfect and so right. Every single part of my being wants this and to hear him say he wants me forever…nothing could ever make me happier.
“Yes,” I say nodding as I try and brush away the tears. I take a step forward and give him my hand and he slides the ring on my finger all the while never taking his eyes from mine.
“Kiss me my Beau,” I say.
“You mean my lover forever,” he says as he stands.
“Yes,” I say.
“Because now that’s exactly what we are…each other’s forever,” he says as he leans in and his lips meet mine.
CHAPTER 14
Ariella
I feel my feet come off the ground as he scoops me up
in his big, strong arms as he carries me toward the bed.
He cradles me in one arm, and I have no idea how he’s able to do that, as he moves the covers and sheets off the bed with his other before laying me down, but I wrap my arms around his neck not allowing us to break contact.
I need to be in constant contact with him right now. I’m so emotional, and in a good way.
I feel so much happiness and joy from the proposal and our engagement.
I strangely feel a relief that I’ve got the man I’ve always wanted, never really knowing how much anxiety it was really causing me.
Blue Collar Billionaire: An Older Man Younger Woman Romance (A Man Who Knows What He Wants Book 73) Page 5