The Charles Opens as an Inclusive Hotel in Pacific Grove
Words by Laith Agha
Photos by Mary E. Nichols
Charles Gruwell feels a lot of pride for his newest interior design endeavor, transforming the Pacific Grove Inn into The Charles.
Along with designing all of the interior, Gruwell is co-owner of the new hotel (partnering with local hotelier brothers Don and Jay Desai), it’s named after him, and, perhaps most important to Gruwell, it is branded as an LGBTQ+-friendly establishment in his hometown.
“The whole concept is a stylish hotel that is inclusive, letting the LGBTQ community know that there is a safe and stylish hotel for them to come and stay in Pacific Grove,” Gruwell says.
Appropriately, The Charles planned for its grand opening in June—which is also Pride Month.
Located on the corner of Forest and Pine, just up the hill from downtown Pacific Grove, The Charles features 16 guest rooms in the Frank LaVerne Buck House, a 1904 Victorian-style home that resides on the National Register of Historic Places. The classic architecture of the building informed Gruwell’s aesthetic choice for the interior, which he focused on making “timeless and elegant.”
“I have an affinity for the hotels in London,” Gruwell says. “Bed and breakfasts, elegant six-star hotels. I wanted to bring the style and flair of London to the Monterey Peninsula.”
An accomplished designer and architectural consultant whose resume features a long list of luxury homes, restaurants, and country clubs, Gruwell has designed the interiors of more than 40 hotels, from Los Angeles to Seattle and to the East Coast. Most recently, he served as the design lead for the Stilwell Hotel in Carmel. He has also put his touch on local establishments such as Hotel Pacific in Monterey, Tickle Pink Inn in the Carmel Highlands, and The Lodge at Pebble Beach. Elsewhere, he has worked on the Monte Carlo and the Four Seasons in Las Vegas, The Huntington in San Francisco, The Sorrento in Seattle, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge in Florida.
“I love hotels,” Gruwell says. “I’ve made it my passion.”
The Charles Hotel, 581 Pine Ave., Pacific Grove.