Icelandic born, architect and designer Gulla Jonsdottir, celebrates the one year anniversary of the opening of her globally successful design firm G + GULLA JONSDOTTIR DESIGN in Los Angeles. Jonsdottir is the creative visionary force behind some of the world's most innovative and design forward hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and spas. Since opening G + this last year, Jonsdottir has designed Rick Bayless' new Modern-Mexican restaurant Red O in West Hollywood; the sleek and modern club My Studio in Hollywood and the Thingholt Hotel located in the center of Reykjavik Icelandwith lobby walls decorated with fish-leather tiles and black lava textured walls, covered in glass masks. Jonsdottir's designs are based in perennial earthly modernism. "It's about avoiding kitsch, and finding ways for these places to feel timeless, even if they're only expected to be around for a year or two," says Jonsdottir.
G+ GULLA JONSDOTTIR DESIGN has a long list of projects slated for this fall and winter season. G+ is doing the re-design and renovation of the world famous and historic Grauman's Chinese on Hollywood Blvd; the Writers Room in Hollywood, that will have an exclusive very intimate bohemian den with a 1920's vibe; Lolita in Hollywood which is a second club G+ has designed for David Judaken; the Cuban-inspired Fidel's, taking over three levels a of downtown Pershing Square high-rise which includes a rooftop restaurant and lounge with a club in the basement; and a soon be announced night clubon Hollywood and Ivar with infamous Roxbury owner Elie Samaha. Additionally, G+ is working in New York City on the design and reopening of the legendary Double 7 bar located in the Meatpacking District. The company has also done the design for a charming and quant Mexican restaurant on the pier in Hermosa Beach called Pamilla Cucina Y Tequileria.
With so many successful projects in the works, G+ GULLA JONSDOTTIR DESIGN recently launched the G+ website and continues to expand her brand nationally (http://www.gplusdesign.com/).
Having spent eight years as Vice President and Principal Designer of the acclaimed Dodd Mitchell Design (DMD) firm in Hollywood, Jonsdottir was responsible for envisioning and designing numerous projects including the re-design and renovation of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Cabo Azul Resort in Los Cabos, Mexico, Thompson Beverly Hills hotel and Double Seven Lounge in New York, among many others.
Prior to joining DMD, Jonsdottir spent four years at the renowned Richard Meier and Partners as part of the design teams for projects such as the Getty Center in Los Angeles and the Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills. She also gained valuable experience as a Set Designer at Walt Disney Imagineering where she collaborated on Tokyo Disney Seas and Euro Disney in Paris, France.
Jonsdottir received her degree in Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture in Los Angeles (SCI-Arc) and has in her career of architecture and design received several awards includingthe just announced ESQUIRE BEST NEW RESTAURANTS OF 2010 "Best Design of the year" For Red O Restaurant in Los Angeles CA, the "Wave of the Future in Hospitality Design" from Hospitality Design Magazine; Interior Design's 2008 "Gold Key Award" for Best Spa Design: Paz Spa at Cabo Azul Resort, 2008; Boutique Design's "Best Hotel Design": Cabo Azul Resort; Best Lighting Design: Cabo Azul Resort; Most Dramatic Restaurant Design: Javier's Cantina Newport Beach; and Best Accessory Design: Thompson Beverly Hills hotel.
