“The Mastery of the Art of Design
brings vision to Life”
charles gruwell
Designer, Artist, Innovator
With over 40 years of experience – spanning from the Monterey Peninsula, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Indonesia and beyond – Charles Gruwell has achieved national recognition for his outstanding level of design integrity and innovation.
Specializing in one-of-a-kind boutique hotels and resorts, exclusive residential properties, restaurants, retail, and country clubs, Charles has dictated the design direction of many world-renowned establishments.
Charles and his design accomplishments have been featured in industry respected publications such as Architectural Digest, Interior Design Magazine, Metropolitan Home and Hospitality Design. He has also garnered numerous National Design Awards for his talent and experience in Hospitality and Residential Design.
charles gruwell
Luxury PENTHOUSE, SAN FRANCISCO
Education
Bachelors of Arts in Psychology, Minor in Arts, Fresno State University | Fresno, California
design partnerships
Senior Designer for Marlene Grant, Falls Grant Lucas, Los Altos, CA
Founder & Principal of Gruwell Design Associates
Design Director for Studio Encanto, a division of Hirsch Bedner Associates International
Director of Design for the Beverly Hills office of Bent Severin & Associates International Design Group
Design Director for Anita Brooks and Associates, Las Vegas
Design Director for Avery Brooks and Associates, Las Vegas
Founder & Principal of Charles Gruwell Design Studio, Monterey Peninsula
hotels
Four Seasons Hotel - Las Vegas, NV
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino - Las Vegas, NV
Green Valley Ranch Hotel & Casino- Las Vegas, NV
The Lodge at Pebble Beach - Pebble Beach, CA
Hotel Bel-Air (Chanock Suite) - Beverly Hills, CA
The Pfister Hotel - Milwaukee, WI
The Sorrento Hotel - Seattle, WA
The Huntington Hotel - Nob Hill, San Francisco, CA
The Claremont Hotel & Spa - Oakland, CA
The Spindrift Inn, Cannery Row - Monterey, CA
Tickle Pink Inn - Carmel Highlands, CA
Hotel Pacific - Monterey, CA
The Intercontinental Hotel - Maui, HI
St. Julien Hotel - Boulder, CO
Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa - Sausalito, CA
The Cottages & Royce Manor - The Ritz-Carlton - Pasadena, CA
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge - Lake Buena Vista, FL
Tradewinds - Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
La Costa Resort & Spa - Carlsbad, CA
La Quinta Resort & Spa - La Quinta, CA
Westin Jakarta - Jakarta, Indonesia
Puri Wulandari - Bali, Indonesia
The Doral Golf Resort & Spa - Miami, FL
Beverly Hills Inn - Beverly Hills, CA
Radisson Hotel - Santa Barbara, CA
Restaurants
The Veranda Restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel - Las Vegas, NV
The Grill at the Four Seasons Hotel - Las Vegas, NV
Club XIX Restaurant at The Lodge at Pebble Beach - Pebble Beach, CA
Regina Coeli Ristorante - Los Angeles, CA
Sardine Factory Restaurant - Monterey, CA
Cibo Restaurant - Monterey, CA
The Icehouse Lounge & Restaurant - Las Vegas, NV
The Hunt Club Restaurant - Seattle, WA
Downtown Cocktail Room - Las Vegas, NV
Sharon Heights Country Club - Los Altos, CA
Jordan's Restaurant at the Claremont Hotel - Oakland, CA
Billy Quon's Restaurant - Carmel, CA
achievements
Gold Key Award for Excellence in Hospitality Design for "Best Lobby" (Spindrift Inn - 1986)
Gold Key Award for Excellence in Hospitality Design for "Best Guestroom" (Spindrift Inn - 1986)
Design Circle Award for "Best Guestroom Design" (Spindrift Inn - 1986)
Grand Winner Metropolitan Home Annual Design Competition (1986)
First Place Design Circle Award for "Best Guestroom Design" (Hotel Pacific - 1987)
Gold Key Award for "Best Luxury Suite" (Sorrento Hotel, 1989)
Design Circle Award for "Best Luxury Suite" (Sorrento Hotel, 1989)
Golden Key Award for "Best Luxury Suite" (Huntington Hotel, 1991)
ASID Design Excellence Award "Hospitality Design" (2004)
ASID Design Excellence Award "Restaurant/Club" (2004)
Hospy Award "Best Hotel" (Tradewinds, 2004)
Hospy Award "Best Landscape Design" (Tradewinds, 2004)
Hospy Award "Best Spa" (Claremont Hotel & Spa, 2004)
Publications
Architectural Digest
- Huntington Hotel, May 1992
- Sorrento Hotel, September 2003
- Tradewinds Inn, November 2004
Interior Design Magazine
- Four Seasons Las Vegas, October 1999
Hospitality Design Magazine
- Luxor, March/April 1998
- April 2004
Lodging Hospitality Magazine
- Spindrift Inn, 1986
- Four Seasons Las Vegas, September 1999
Las Vegas Magazine
- Icehouse Lounge, August 2003
California Design, PBC International, Inc., 1989
Sacramento Magazine
- Maloof Residence, November 2003
Robb Report
- Sorrento Hotel, Fall 2006
Los Angeles Magazine
- Huntington Hotel, May 1991
Metropolitan Home
- March 1986
Designers West Magazine
- Hotel Pacific
- Spindrift Inn, September 1986
Monterey Life Magazine
- Private Residence, February 1986
Architecture Las Vegas
- Icehouse Lounge, 2003
Hotel Bel-Air
- Chanock Suite, Vol. 5, No. 2, 1997
Carmel Magazine
- September 2021
Carmel Pine Cone
- October 2021