West Hollywood, California, August 31, 2025
News Summary
A roundup of recent moves in West Hollywood’s design and hospitality scene: a local interior design studio is hiring a senior Project Manager to oversee coast-to-coast projects; a chef-driven restaurant with a vinyl-only listening lounge is opening in the Design District at 631 N. Robertson Boulevard; a stretch of Melrose Avenue is being marketed as a design retail corridor amid mixed public reaction; the city approved changes to the Pacific Design Center plan to broaden tenant and event uses; and a major hotel completed a large redesign that rethinks public and event spaces.
West Hollywood design and hospitality roundup — Adam Hunter Inc. hiring; Sean Brock opens “darling”; Melrose “Design District” debates and Pacific Design Center plan; Rockwell Group’s W Hollywood refresh
In West Hollywood, a design studio known for bold, sophisticated interiors is expanding its team with a Project Manager role that requires extensive organization and attention to detail. Adam Hunter Inc., a West Hollywood–based studio, is seeking someone to oversee all phases of interior design and architectural projects—from concept through installation across the country. The position emphasizes keeping design intent intact while managing timeline and budget.
The role calls for a candidate who can be anticipatory, solving problems before they arise, and who remains calm under pressure. Communication should be clear and diplomatic, with a focus on process and systems over people.
Project Manager responsibilities
- Manage day-to-day operations of multiple design projects nationwide.
- Oversee timelines, budgets, and deliverables with precision.
- Coordinate with design teams, contractors, vendors, and fabricators.
- Prepare and maintain project schedules, budgets, and progress reports.
- Proactively identify challenges weeks in advance and troubleshoot to keep projects on track.
- Communicate with clients in a professional, solutions-oriented manner—ensuring accountability without placing blame.
- Ensure design details and quality standards are executed to the highest level.
- Lead client meetings and presentations with clarity and professionalism.
- Integrate contingency planning into all phases of project execution.
Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience in construction, interior design project management, or architectural project management.
- PMI Certification or equivalent preferred.
- Strong knowledge of design process, construction administration, and FF&E procurement.
- Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage complex timelines and competing priorities.
- Proactive, forward-thinking mindset with a sense of “productive urgency” to keep projects moving.
- Excellent communication and leadership skills, especially in client-facing situations.
- Proficiency in Gantt Charts, Asana, Slack, Adobe Creative Suite, and other project management software.
- Familiarity with AutoCAD or Revit is a plus.
Adam Hunter Inc. notes that the role offers an opportunity to work on high-profile custom projects across the country, with many works published in prominent design publications. The studio highlights its values of innovation, meticulous attention to detail, and a passion for bold visions.
Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume, a cover letter, and a portfolio to the provided email address.
Adam Hunter Inc. is described as West Hollywood–based, known for sophisticated, modern interiors and a tailored approach to luxury living. Its projects span coast to coast and include custom residences, high-profile commercial spaces, and one-of-a-kind commissions. The studio’s work has been featured in major design publications, and its online portfolio is available for review.
darling by Sean Brock opens in West Hollywood
Chef Sean Brock, known for preserving and elevating Southern food traditions, opens a new restaurant and hi‑fi listening lounge named darling in West Hollywood’s Design District. The venue is set to open on Sunday, August 31 and occupies the former Soulmate restaurant location at 631 N. Robertson Boulevard.
The concept blends California’s agricultural abundance with the primal force of live-fire cooking, with the menu led by Brock and Chef de Cuisine Ben Norton, who previously worked at Husk Nashville and McCrady’s in Charleston. The menu will feature 12 dishes that change monthly, including items such as Shigoku oysters with melon juice and borage, venison tartare with lovage and zucchini cornichon, and citrus wood-grilled Wolfe Ranch quail with huckleberries and avocado-nasturtium purée. A limited run of 24 dry-aged steak burgers will be available daily.
The bar program, directed by Jason Lee, adopts a hyper-seasonal approach to cocktails. Opening cocktails include “Bonny Melon” and “Eggplant”, with two non-alcoholic options rotating monthly. Adjacent to the dining room, darling features a hi‑fi listening lounge with a sound system built in collaboration with MAXV, seven custom speakers, vintage Tannoy equipment, and a Swiss-made mixer. The lounge presents a vinyl-only program spanning Blue Note jazz to obscure cumbia, largely drawn from Brock’s personal collection of more than 5,000 records.
The dining room is designed with Los Angeles designer Sean Leffers, using materials such as raw walnut and hand-cut ceramic tile, complemented by artworks by Mose Tolliver and Santiago Quesnel. A focal point is Legal Tender, a 23-foot mural by Narsiso Martinez depicting California farmworkers, which was recently returned from a Stanford University exhibition. Reservations for darling are available through Resy.
Melrose Design District debates and Pacific Design Center plan
The article describes West Hollywood’s Design District and a stretch of Melrose Avenue as a vibrant retail and dining area, noting wide, walkable streets and a high concentration of coffee shops, fashion and home goods showrooms, and celebrity patronage. The text attributes the area’s growth to a local developer and describes branding efforts, storefront signage, and a mix of tenants that includes coffee shops, fashion retailers, design showrooms, and restaurant spaces. It also references reader comments that discuss concerns about maintenance, homelessness, traffic congestion, and the overall streetscape, alongside counterpoints praising the area’s cleanliness, safety, and accessibility.
In relation to the Pacific Design Center (PDC), the piece provides a historical backdrop and outlines a plan to reinvigorate the center. The PDC, described as a 1.6 million-square-foot complex with a blue, green, and red campus, includes a first section known as the “Blue Whale” (opened in 1975) and additional buildings added in 1988 and 2013. Previous MOCA space and recent vacancy are noted, along with City Council amendments approved to expand tenant options, remove some showroom square-footage requirements, and allow two restaurant spaces to be used beyond banquet facilities. The amendments aim to activate the space, with parking improvements and additional nighttime event capacity, while officials describe the plan as essential to keep the center occupied and thriving.
Current occupants of the PDC include various showrooms and design studios, and a new ground-floor coffee shop, Community Goods, has gained popularity. A recent measure approved temporary 15-minute parking for the circle drive to facilitate traffic for Community Goods, along with an on-site Airstream café, Silver Bullet Express, serving quick meals on the campus.
Rockwell Group / W Hollywood redesign
The New York–based Rockwell Group redesigned Marriott’s West Coast flagship, W Hollywood, a 300,000-square-foot property positioned against the Hollywood Hills. The project highlights LA’s cinematic legacy, musical heritage, and palm-lined avenues. The Living Room component features undulating green velvet seating, a mirrored installation, a rounded staircase, and a conversation pit, while the Living Room bar sits under hundreds of translucent acrylic rods and faces a grand monolithic fireplace framed by 35-foot-tall 3D‑printed concrete drapes, all overlooking an intimate courtyard with native plants.
W Hollywood accommodates 319 guestrooms and suites, with a palette of blue, yellow, and cream and Venetian plaster–inspired wallcoverings that incorporate metallic accents. Rooms showcase curved furniture, oversized window seats, custom light fixtures, and intentionally mismatched elements. The property features twelve suites with living rooms, dining areas, built-in wet bars, and his-and-hers closets. The rooftop WET Deck offers two destination bars—Sunrise and Sunset—and the The Loft rooftop venue provides panoramic city views with a bespoke 3D spatial sound system by Tempo. The redesigned FIT gym includes an open halo ceiling, blue and gold tones, natural wood, and mirrored accents.
With over 40,000 square feet of event space, the Great Room spans 5,040 square feet of flexible layout, and there are 11 additional meeting rooms noted for playful art and textures. The project secures a modern, cinematic luxury experience across public and private spaces, with the credits attributed to Rockwell Group and the byline to Stephanie Chen.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What position is Adam Hunter Inc. hiring for?
- The studio is seeking a Project Manager to oversee all phases of projects nationwide, from concept through installation.
- What are the core responsibilities of the Project Manager?
- Responsibilities include managing day-to-day operations, timelines, budgets, coordinating with teams and vendors, maintaining schedules and progress reports, identifying challenges in advance, and leading client communications and meetings.
- What qualifications are favored for the Project Manager role?
- Qualifications include 5+ years of related experience, PMI certification or equivalent preferred, strong knowledge of design and construction processes, exceptional organizational skills, proactive mindset, excellent communication, and proficiency with project management software such as Gantt charts, Asana, Slack, and Adobe Creative Suite. AutoCAD or Revit familiarity is a plus.
- What is darling and where is it located?
- darling is a restaurant and hi‑fi listening lounge opened by James Beard Award–winning chef Sean Brock, located at 631 N. Robertson Boulevard in West Hollywood’s Design District.
- What is the Pacific Design Center plan about?
- The plan involves amendments to reactivate vacant spaces, expand tenant types, and reduce showroom square-footage requirements within a 1.6 million-square-foot campus, including new restaurant spaces and parking provisions to support events and nighttime activity.
- What is notable about the W Hollywood redesign?
- The redesign by Rockwell Group reimagines a 300,000-square-foot property with a triple-height Living Room, a distinctive bar, a grand fireplace, a rooftop venue, a business-grade event space, and extensive residential-style accommodations that emphasize cinematic and palm-lined aesthetics.
| Feature | Highlights | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hiring entity | Adam Hunter Inc. seeks a Project Manager | Nationwide scope; high-profile projects |
| darling | Sean Brock’s restaurant and hi‑fi lounge; opening Aug 31 | Location: 631 N. Robertson Blvd; live-fire, changing menus |
| Melrose Design District | Design-focused retail and dining stretch; “Melrose High Street” branding | Debated streetscape, occupancy, and branding practices |
| Pacific Design Center plan | Amended Specific Plan to activate vacant spaces; parking and events | Expands tenant options and restaurant use; aims to reduce vacancy |
| W Hollywood redesign | Rockwell Group’s 300,000-sq-ft project; Living Room and rooftop venues | Extensive public spaces and event capacity; cinematic LA influence |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- Canyon News: Award-winning chef to open restaurant in West Hollywood Design District
- Wikipedia: West Hollywood, California
- WeHo Times: Chef Sean Brock to open Darling restaurant in West Hollywood
- Google Search: Sean Brock Darling West Hollywood
- WeHoOnline: Design District emerges as WeHo’s trendiest street
- Wikipedia: Melrose Avenue
- Beverly Press: WeHo council approves expanded use of Pacific Design Center
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Pacific Design Center
- Hospitality Design: W Hollywood renovation
- Google News: W Hollywood renovation
