Lido House, the 135-room hotel in Newport Beach, California, has expanded with five new three-story cottages, each designed by a different Southern California interior design firm. The additions bring the property's total to 10 cottages and extend the hotel's seaside, beach-house character into a form suited to family trips, group getaways and longer coastal stays.
A beach-house concept built from a personal model
Owner Robert D. Olson has said the hotel was modeled on the home he built on Balboa Island. He described its detailing as very Nantucket in style, down to the rust maroon color of his front door, which became the standard color for guest room doors. That choice shows how a single residential reference point can shape hundreds of small decisions, from door hardware to the overall feel of a room. For guests, the result is a property that reads more like a well-kept private house than a conventional resort.
What the new cottages offer
The cottages combine residential-style living and entertaining space with hotel services. Each one was designed by a separate firm, so the five buildings have distinct personalities while sharing the same coastal theme. The designers include Barclay Butera Interior Design, Barely Beige Studio, Diane Johnson Design, SKOUT Design and Raili CA Design. Olson said the designers chose a color for their cottage's front door and carried that color into the interior, which links the exterior and inside spaces.
- Ocean Boulevard Cottage, by Barclay Butera Interior Design, with a light-filled great room and rooftop lounge.
- Castaways Cottage, by Barely Beige Studio, designed by Nicole Sayer.
- Yacht Club Cottage, by Diane Johnson Design, with tailored stripes, polished wood and a rooftop for gatherings.
- Beacon Bay Cottage, by SKOUT Design, featuring vintage finds, seascapes and a statement kitchen range.
- Echo Beach Cottage, by Raili CA Design, drawing on 1970s Newport Beach surf culture with warm woods and bold plaid.
Site history and ongoing changes
The new cottages stand on the site of a demolished fire station, known as fire station number 2, which had served the community for more than 60 years. Olson said the demolition included a farewell event for former firefighters, with fire trucks on display and guests invited to spray-paint the walls before a tractor brought the building down. He also pointed to other recent changes, including moving the coffee shop into the courtyard by the pool and converting that space into an intimate omakase restaurant staffed by four Japanese chefs offering a 14-course menu. Olson framed these updates as part of a continuing effort to improve the guest experience.
Readers planning a visit should check the hotel's website at lidohousehotel.com for current room rates, cottage availability and dining details, as these can change. The source material does not provide pricing or booking terms for the cottages.