HISTORY IS OFTEN FOUND IN THE DETAILS

The sweeping rooftop views. The elegant rooms. The unmistakable Art Deco atmosphere. Admiring The Oviatt as a whole comes naturally.

But what has always truly captivated our team are the details, the ones we've slowly come to appreciate and understand more deeply the longer we've spent within these walls.

Craftsmanship That Defined an Era

Nearly a century ago, James Oviatt set out to create more than a penthouse. Inspired by the 1925 Paris Exposition, he envisioned a building unlike anything Los Angeles had seen, one that celebrated the artistry, craftsmanship, and optimism that defined the Art Deco movement. He commissioned many of Europe's finest artisans, filling the space with custom furnishings, imported materials, etched glass, and decorative elements that remain extraordinary to this day.

It's this extraordinary level of craftsmanship that gives The Oviatt its unmistakable character.

Look closely, and you'll begin to notice it everywhere. The geometric patterns in the wood floors. The intricate moldings framing each ceiling. Hand-finished metalwork and woodwork. The warm brownish-gray Napoleon French marble. Rooms thoughtfully proportioned to feel both intimate and grand. Every surface was considered, and every material was chosen with intention.

• 

• 

• 

Photo: James & Michele - Lulan Studio

A Masterpiece in Glass

Among the Penthouse's most remarkable surviving features is its Lalique glass. René Lalique, one of France's most celebrated glass artists, created what would become his largest commercial commission for the Oviatt Building. More than thirty tons of custom-designed art glass were shipped from Paris in 1928, creating one of the most significant Art Deco glass installations of its time. Nearly a century later, the original glass continues to catch and diffuse light throughout the Penthouse, quietly reminding visitors of the extraordinary vision behind the space.

• 

• 

• 

Photo: Jeff & Kaelyn - Alexandra Lambert

It’s Own Indoor Starlit Sky

Recognized by the Los Angeles Times as home to one of Los Angeles' most spectacular ceilings, it's the kind of space that naturally draws your eyes upward. It serves as a reminder that some of The Oviatt's greatest treasures aren't found in sweeping views or grand entrances, but in the details above, below, and all around you.

• 

• 

• 

Photo: MJ & Ben - Lulan Studio

History Has Always Lived in The Details

It's what makes this building feel unlike almost anywhere else.

These aren't architectural details preserved behind museum glass. They're part of a beautifully preserved landmark that continues to welcome new stories every day.

Conversations unfold beneath hand-crafted ceilings. Celebrations take place surrounded by nearly a century of artistry. Every gathering becomes another chapter in a building that has never stopped inspiring the people who walk through its doors.

History isn't only found in landmark moments.

More often, it's found in the texture of carved plaster. The glow of etched glass. The quiet geometry of an Art Deco ceiling. The craftsmanship that continues to shape how a place is experienced, generation after generation.

At The Oviatt, history has always lived in the details.