The Rose Garden Tea Room underwent a renovation where D L English Design provided interior design, and custom furniture design, and procured and installed furnishings for all public areas. The founder/president, Deborah English, stated that they were tasked to create unique spaces that differ from other restaurants on the property while still maintaining the honored tradition of “Tea at The Huntington”. DLE’s work included designing the Tea Room, Herb Room, and Shakespeare Room, connecting concourse/common areas, and restrooms. They incorporated historical architecture and rose gardens into their design story through the use of color, materials, patterns, contextual furnishings, and space. A modern version of traditional trims and moldings was carefully selected to create a design language that tied all areas together. Each room has a signature color that complements the other rooms and gardens they face.
The Tea Room, which spans 1,071 square feet, draws its inspiration from the 100-year-old rose garden to the south. DLE designed the room to combine tradition and comfort while providing accessibility to diverse guests and events. Rich and textured fabrics adorn the space, and the central 17-foot-long Morris & Company upholstered settee features a pattern from The Huntington’s historical collection.
The Herb Room, a 614 square feet space, faces the curated herb garden on the west, which provides herbs for the tea room’s kitchen. The finishes used throughout the space have an ordered look, with paneled walls and larger trims referencing storage and organization. The Herb Room is designed to be flexible and can accommodate separate executive meetings or private events simultaneously.
The concourse, which includes a common area spine and restrooms spanning 1,906 square feet, connects the Tea and Herb Rooms to the Shakespeare Room, an outdoor dining pavilion facing the Shakespeare Garden and museum grounds at the opposite end. The concourse has high ceilings and is intentionally designed to be transitional as guests move from one dining space to the next.
D L English Design collaborated with The Huntington and the Project Architect, ARG, to curate finishes, fixtures, and furnishings throughout the building. The finishes were selected to modernize the facility while preserving The Huntington’s legacy and tradition, allowing for a new generation of guests to experience the tea tradition.
