Maison 140

Hotel description

Maison140 is essentially the boutique hotel take on the good old bed and breakfast, LA style, in a 44-room building that once belonged to actress Lilian Gish.

Like a true B & B, it's set away from the urban hub in residential Beverly Hills. From the outside 140 is hard to spot — it's a gray, narrow building, striking only in its plainness. Step in the lobby, and its a different story. Some people find it reminiscent of Blakes, in London, others of the Latin Quarter in Paris. In any case, 140 has an extreme case of wanna-be Europe (cynics might call it Euro-trash, but in this town, it's a relief). The lobby is black glass à la early seventies, with suspended ceiling medallions — the lounge, a cozy space all black and come-hither crimson, mahogany wood, chinoiserie-painted mirrors. Some might say 140 is like a 1920s Parisian B & B, but it would be more accurate to say it looks like a high class, turn of the century bordello — which of course, many Parisian B & B's were. The lounge, especially, with its reflective walls, slipper sofas, and its seating capacity of five, is suited to, er, snuggly tête-à-têtes.

Upstairs, the hallways are completely black; thank god they're narrow, or you would get completely lost. The rooms are also quite brothel-like. Designer Kelly Wearstler has picked a color scheme for every floor, each of them set to stun: scarlet, tangerine, lime. The bathrooms are patterned in white and black hexagonal tiles. There's wallpaper on the ceiling. The dressers are covered with mirrors. Louis XVI chairs look naughty with tasseled throws.

Because of 140's size, there's not much of a scene downstairs — you might have to hop over the near by Avalon to catch some buzz. But 140's rooms are designed for use. What you decide to do with that velvet headboard in your room is nobody's business.