6 Striking Southern Hotels Designed by Top Talent

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Part of the charm of a boutique hotel or resort is that it feels more like a beautifully designed home than a corporate stay. The lobbies feel like living rooms from the pages of Architectural Digest, and the guest rooms are layered with thoughtful details. The most unforgettable ones are often created by interior designers with residential backgrounds. Their spaces tend to feel warmer, more personal, and effortlessly stylish. Here are a few of the Southern hotels where celebrated designers have created seriously memorable interiors.

The Proper Hotel | Austin, TX

Over the decades, Kelly Wearstler has become one of the biggest names in interior design (she even offers a MasterClass!). Her projects span residential, commercial, and hospitality-focused properties, with retail partnerships along the way. The South Carolina native expanded into hotel design more than 20 years ago, but you can still see her residential roots in everything she does.

At The Proper Hotel in Austin, Kelly infused the space with a style that reflects its heritage but merges it with a layered, modern look. Distressed wood, vintage rugs, and arts-and-crafts details give it an aesthetic that’s equal parts rustic Texas and sleek boutique space.

Eclectic lounge with floral armchairs, patterned rug, blue bar stools, wood-paneled walls, and a fully stocked bar in the background—showcasing Southern hotels' flair for inviting interior design. Geometric light fixture hangs from the ceiling. — Kelly Wearstler infused Texas spirit and modern flair at The Proper. Image: Austin Proper Hotel

Spacious hotel room with a double bed, small table and chairs, lounge area by large windows, and a view of greenery outside—perfect for those seeking a stay in one of the most beautiful hotels. — The hotel has a mix of cowboy rustic meets city modern. Image: Austin Proper Hotel

A bartender is shaking a cocktail behind a bar with green chairs, floral wallpaper, a large decorative mirror, and shelves stocked with bottles. — Kelly held nothing back with the bold, rich, saturated color palette. Image: Austin Proper Hotel

The Colony Hotel | Palm Beach, FL

The Colony is a classic Palm Beach hotel, but Kemble Interiors reimagined its identity as the Pink Paradise for the modern era. Led by Celerie Kemble and Mimi Maddock McMakin, the New York, London, and Palm Beach-based design firm is known for its pattern-heavy, bright, traditional style.

That aesthetic translated perfectly into the light, slightly retro, oh-so-fun rooms of The Colony. Think punchy wallpaper, vibrant textiles, and warm rattan accents that would be right at home in a friend’s chic beach house.

The “living room” of The Colony features a custom de Gournay wallpaper that displays Palm Beach pink and green in a fresh, unexpected, and slightly muted way. Book your reservation HERE.

A stylish pastel hotel space with four upholstered armchairs, green coffee tables, a fireplace with a pagoda-style mantle, and a tropical mural covering the pink walls. — The living room at The Colony reinterprets a classic Palm Beach pink-and-green palette. Image: Carmel Brantley

Two twin beds with floral headboards flank a white nightstand with yellow flowers, under two wall lamps, in a pastel-colored bedroom with patterned wallpaper. — It wouldn’t be “Palm Beach style” without a lime green moment. Image: Carmel Brantley

The Dunlin | Johns Island, SC

Born in Florida, Amanda Lindroth spent her formative years in New York and Nassau, which shaped her vibrant, classic style with a casual, island air. She brought that effortlessly timeless vibe to The Dunlin, an Auberge property just outside of Charleston, SC, but interpreted it in a way that feels right at home in the Lowcountry. Rather than bright colors, she opted for a palette rooted in marsh green, inspired by the landscape just outside.

Elegant bar area with high stools, wicker decor, checkered floor, and hanging lights. Shelves behind the bar display bottles. The room has a green ceiling and soft natural light—an ambiance found in the most beautiful hotels. — Lowcountry green is a hue that runs throughout the entire hotel. Image: Facebook

Amanda’s offices are located in Palm Beach, Charleston, and Nassau, and she channels the hospitality of each space into her designs. She opts for bespoke furniture, typically custom-created, and carefully contrasts the warmth of natural elements like wood, rattan, and wicker with the breeziness of cotton and linen. Board-and-batten is featured in every guest room, tying the spaces to traditional Southern design elements.

The guest experience is at the core of each room in The Dunlin; every detail is designed to make them feel right at home. Book your stay HERE.

A living room with a blue built-in bookshelf, a checkered blue and white sofa, a coffee table with books and tulips, and wicker pendant lights echoes the inviting interior design found in charming Southern hotels. — Amanda Lindroth took her signature design and gave it a Lowcountry color palette at The Dunlin. Image: Facebook

A neatly arranged bedroom with twin beds, light green panel walls, a striped chair, a ceiling fan, and decorative wall lights. — The color palette is more muted than in Lindroth’s typical work, but it maintains her effortless island style. Image: Facebook

The Greenbrier | White Sulphur Springs, WV

Ever since Dorothy Draper took over the design of The Greenbrier in 1946, it’s been known as one of the most iconic hotels in the country. While the resort dates back to 1778, it was Dorothy who turned it into a destination for those looking to immerse themselves in over-the-top florals and decor.

She chose every detail, including the intentionally bold patterns that spill over from drapery to bedding to the matchboxes. And though she passed away in the 1960s, her design legacy continues. She was succeeded both in her business and her work at The Greenbrier by Carleton Varney. He passed away in 2022, but his sons now lead Dorothy Draper & Co., ensuring the original vision continues to define The Greenbrier’s aesthetic.

Elegant room with a marble fireplace, ornate circular mirror, floral armchair and ottoman, a lamp, and deep green walls with red carpet—showcasing classic interior design often found in stylish hotels. — The Victorian writing room is supposedly the most photographed in America. Image: Heather Bien

A brightly lit room in one of the most beautiful hotels, featuring floral patterned chairs and curtains, a red velvet sofa, a large ornate mirror, and black-and-white checkered floor tiles. — This black-and-white floor is one of The Greenbrier’s iconic design elements. Image: Heather Bien

A spacious room in one of the most beautiful hotels, featuring a floral carpet, white columns, pastel green walls, a fireplace, armchairs, and a round central table beneath a large framed painting. — Dorothy Draper’s signature florals are all over The Greenbrier, and Carleton Varney kept that legacy going throughout his tenure. Image: Heather Bien

Commodore Perry Estate | Austin, TX

Ken Fulk is a multi-faceted design powerhouse, but his roots are in residential design, where he got his start simply by designing friends’ homes. Today, his reach spans residential, retail, and hospitality properties, and he is the designer behind the transformation of the Commodore Perry Estate. This classic Austin landmark is now an Auberge property.

A bedroom with a gold canopy bed, white linens, a vintage chair, two small side tables, a large ornate mirror, and peach-colored walls and curtains. — The century-old Commodore Perry Estate is the epitome of European elegance meets Texas eclectic. Image: Facebook

The 10,000-square-foot 1920s Italian Renaissance Revival mansion demanded decor that felt equally elegant. Ken combined an air of European sophistication with masculine Texas touches and an eclectic mix of antiques, interesting millwork, and art. Reserve a room HERE.

A doorway with wall murals of trees opens to a room in one of the most beautiful hotels, featuring framed art, a lamp on a dark table, an upholstered chair, and a canopy bedpost visible. — You’ll spot European influence throughout the Commodore Perry property, including on this mural.
Image: Facebook

A lounge area in one of the most beautiful hotels, featuring a brown leather sectional sofa, two gray armchairs, a glass coffee table, and wall art, seamlessly connecting to the dining area and outdoor patio. — Masculine leather and moody tones give the property a nod to its Texas Hill Country roots. Image: Facebook

Zero George | Charleston, SC

While Zero George doesn’t technically have a celebrated interior designer at its helm, it does have a celebrated event design and hospitality firm behind it. The Charleston hotel is the brainchild of Lynn Easton of the Easton Porter Group. The style is elegant and historic, with a fresh touch, combining classic furniture silhouettes with contemporary art by local Charleston artists. Reserve a room HERE.