Design Travel: Hotel Wren in Twentynine Palms

A light led us to Hotel Wren—to be specific, the sculptural yet airy pendants by a Sydney-based artist that hang in the guest rooms (which Margot wrote about here). Muted, earthy, and serene, the newly renovated 1940s roadside motel in the high desert, “amidst the blooming ocotillo and palo verde trees,” is filled with considered, artist-made details like that. Have a look:

Photography via Hotel Wren, except where noted.

Above: Located 10 minutes from the north entrance to Joshua Tree, Hotel Wren began as a classic roadside motor lodge. It’s been redesigned for modern desert stays by LA-based Manola Studio, helmed by Jessica Pell. “Wren is both a love letter to the desert and a quiet expression of the studio’s values,” according to the studio, “shaped by story and intention, inspired by nature and nuance. Intuitive, grounded, and attuned to place, Wren invites guests into a gentle dialogue between self and space.” Above: This dining room, and the living area above, are actually in The Wren House, a separate midcentury house “perched on the northwestern edge of the Hotel Wren property, overlooking the open desert and the Pinto Mountains,” available for stays. Above: A vintage mix in Wren House. Above: The palette channels the high desert, with terra cotta floors and muted greens. Above: An airy, open guest room in the redone motor lodge itself. Included: white-washed pitched ceilings, a tasseled globe light, gauzy patchwork curtains by Lookout and Wonderland, and a pert little Casita Lamp by Twenty One Tonnes. Not included: a TV. Above: A commissioned lamp by Lana Launay hangs in this guest bedroom. “When Lana Launay couldn’t find the lampshades she was after, she started making her own,” Margot wrote in our feature. “It wasn’t a stretch. The Sydney-based artist has a background in jewelry making, textile design, and visual arts, and applied a range of these skills, improvisation included, to create her first pieces.” Photograph from Bright Light: Lana Launay Turns Natural Materials into Sculptural Lamps. Above: Desert flowers, desert light. Above: Rooms have kitchenettes and private patios. Above: A queen double room has built-in bedside tables; it’s pet friendly, though except for designated “family weekends,” Hotel Wren is adults-only. Above: An arched bath—and a glimpse of delft-esque tiles—in the king deluxe room. Above; Hotel Wren also has a saltwater pool, a community library in the lobby, and a “curated bodega” and shop called Windsong that is “usually open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ish.”

For more and to book, head to Hotel Wren. (P.S.: The hotel is currently offering 15 percent off stays.)

And for more desert escapes, might we suggest:

• At Play in the California Desert: Four Designers Build Their Own Off-Grid Camp in Joshua Tree
• Desert Dream: An Architect-Designed, Off-the Grid Cabin in Joshua Tree
• A California Creative Couple’s Desert-Modern Hotel in Santa Fe