‘Ãœber-creative’ hotel rooms

Laguna’s historic La Casa del Camino hotel just got a fresh, funky makeover.

The boutique hotel recently teamed with Riviera Magazine to create “La Casa Surf Project,” through which 10 hotel suites were redesigned by 10 hip companies and interior designers of their choice.

Old-world Mediterranean décor was swapped for surf and skate-inspired furnishings, including hand-painted and signed surfboards and skateboards, funky recycled mosaics, underwater photomurals, eco-friendly and nature-inspired furniture, sea glass, exotic plants and oceanic color palettes.

“We’re excited to offer travelers the opportunity to experience something truly unique to Southern California, with suites that also represent the tastemakers in this area,” said Chris Keller, co-managing director of La Casa. “With these one-of-a-kind, über-creative designs, the hotel now offers individualized suites you won’t find anywhere else on the planet.”

Rooms became available Thursday, and range from $269 to $469 per night.

Participating companies were Billabong Men’s and Women’s, Quiksilver, Roxy, Ripcurl, Lost, Etnies, L*Space, Glaceau and Riviera Magazine, which chose a “gallery with a bed” theme designed by local artist Peter Blake and architect Anders Lasater.

In an effort to give back, each designer also selected a charity that will receive 2% of proceeds from the room’s sales for the first year, including Global Green and the Beckstrand Cancer Foundation.

The three-week project cost $500,000 to supply the electrical work and “shell” of each room.

Lost elected to preserve the authenticity of the hotel by lending a Moroccan vibe created by Christine Hallen-Berg, while Billabong Women’s designers Michael Soriano and Lindsay Orne incorporated reclaimed wood from the hotel in their “cozy cabin meets dreamy underworld” theme.

Other standout features include a “skate pool” sink, skate shoe scrap mosaic headboard and wall autographed by skater Ryan Shekler in the Etnies suite, a painting by Kristi McKnight for Quiksilver, Ripcurl’s blue glow-in-the-dark headboard and a sea glass kaleidoscope of color that gleams throughout the Glaceau suite.

Manager Amy Amaradio said the La Casa staff is excited to represent all participating brands in the hotel.

“We hope to attract more visitors to the heart of Laguna, not only through the new appealing designs, but by offering creative packages in collaboration with the designers,” she said.

Pro-surfer and local James Pribram, whose photo appears in his sponsor company Lost’s suite, said he loved the project, which will take the hotel in a new direction.

“It’s a great way to bring the local surfing community together and that of Laguna as well,” he said.

Ten new signature cocktails, including the “Quik Sangria” and “Bong Water” have been added to the Rooftop and K’ya’s drink menus, to represent each room.

For more information, call (888) 367-5232 or visit www.lacasadelcamino.com or www.casasurfproject.com.