I caught up with one of my favorite designers and the owner of Interior Illusions, Mike Valles. He consistently dresses in style and if there were an ideal "bachelor" look, his look might fit the mold. Therefore, I wasn't surprised to see his personal style transform the design of one of the W Hollywood Residence suites. In true bachelor style, he was fortunate to have the presence and design expertise of his female counterpart, Interior Illusions interior designer Eileen Keshishian.
As I was looking around the W suite, I could see how the decor items could fit seamlessly into a bachelor lifestyle. To accomplish this particular aesthetic, we asked Mike to list his personal essentials for the ultimate bachelor pad.
- Privacy: For those sleepless nights, blackout curtains allow for privacy and when you need some rest, the ultimate nights sleep.
- Sheer Curtains/Beaded Curtains: On the other hand, the combination of sheer and beaded curtains allow for transparent visibility. The voyeur in you can enjoy the lack of privacy.
- Entertaining and Technology: The entertaining essentials include a media room equipped with an iPod Docking Station, surround sound, and a large HDTV television.
- Multi-Use Furniture: A dining table that converts into a pool table accommodates a formal dinner for 8 or a round of pool by simply removing the table top.
- Sleek and Sexy Materials: It is important to chose textures that appeal to your senses. Ideal materials for a sexy pad include smooth countertops, stainless steel tiles, and a mood inducing color palette.
- Comfort: Sofas that are upholstered in a premium fabric and filled with down give the piece an amazing texture. When guests visit it is great to have a space they feel comfortable just relaxing and lounging in.
- Location: Being located in close proximity to nightlife, restaurants, clubs, and fitness facilities is a plus for a bachelor pad.
- The "Cool" Factor: Elements such as a fireplace, beaded curtains, and an incredible view, gives the space the "cool" factor.
- Scents: Burning candles not only create a sexy mood, but also add a welcoming aroma to the space.
- Full Service Amenities: If the bachelor pad is a part of a larger building, then having amenties such as room service and housekeeping attribute to the ultimate bachelor pad.
Images: James Butchart and Evan Koester
Small Cool Lessons: Discovering Small Space Design Ideas That Really Work
Marisa and Peter's Playfully Eclectic Home
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Z2 iPod Dock and Wi...
How to Make Easy 3-Ingredient Energy Bars at Home
How to Make Fresh Pasta Dough in the Food Processor
dislike.
I really don't like this so much. But I actually DO like the Hollywood "mural." I think that's interesting. The rest of it seems trashy to me.
It feels humorless, and as if it takes itself too seriously. I could not be comfortable in this space.
Love the star chandelier! And the cow on the deck.
The rest is a real Boy's Paradise, but if I were taken to a bedroom with a red light, I'd expect some cash on the bureau for me afterwards
my brother would be happy as a clam here!
thumbs down
Do not want.
Yeah, I'm not liking this. I wish they wouldn't have gone so black with the decor. Some nice rich wood tones in stead of the dark gray would have gone a long way in making this a bit more inviting.
Two words....Stabbin Cabin!
It certainly looks like it cost a lot of money and if that was the designers goal the were successful. But super sleek furnishings look a little too purposeful. It almost looks like the set of American Psycho.
21st century male services bordello
Those Dutch Dipped-in-Colored-Rubber chairs and settee on the terrace: Hated sitting in them indoors, Can't imagine how awful it would be sitting on them in the LA heat.
I'd imagine that not much cooking happens in that kitchen - All the cooking is gonna happen in the bedroom.
lol i like the first picture..."comes complete with bachelors!"
The only thing I like is that hide-away pool table.
lol stiff and guido-esque; which in moderate ratios is FUN, but that much is just trashy.
I find the overall effect of this quite tacky. Expensive-looking but tacky nevertheless. As Comicgeek already mentioned, it does remind a bit of the American Psycho set.
This "bachelor" pad is designed for dudettes. I mean, come on... what guy would hang an eyebrow art and a shirtless guy photos on his wall? And a red lamp and pink chair?
undateable....
First of all, @hunted, the Pauly D quote was so damn funny I almost choked- just like when I first saw the scene itself! Now, this is a "bachelor pad"? Not a bachelorette pad? Pink rubber chairs, red-light table lamp, the naked pics, the Be-dazzled curtains...are we sure?
This is totally somewhere I would want to take all my friends back to after a concert, Laker game or night out!
A very luxurious bachelor pad for some but not my taste. Love the pictures of the closed eyelids in the bedroom and the lovely bed sheets and the spartan clean kitchen, however.
My guess is the gentlemen who live in places like this also consider Ed Hardy acceptable for weekend afternoons. Some hair gel and a oversized watch and they are ready to pick up the chicks they are bringing back here.
too much cheese for me
I must admit...I am intrigued by the pool/dining table. Though the design does seem a bit dark overall.
Love it.....Awesome
Ugh. Creepy all around.
The space is very fashion forward. Clearly not a place for your everyday 9-5er. Its a great home to entertain and have fun in, I wouldn't expect anything different from somebody living at the W Hollywood. Really fits the demographic perfectly!
it's nice....for a confirmed (gay) bachelor.
"In true bachelor style, he was fortunate to have the presence and design expertise of his female counterpart"
wth does that even mean?
"it's nice....for a confirmed (gay) bachelor."
Um, we gay folks don't have places like that.
It's much more a Str8 Music/TV/Professional Sports Star bachelor pad...
Ugh. I bet you can smell the Axe body spray for miles.
Fashion forward? This suite is tired. Obvious and tired. I realize that this is a matter of taste, but if this is supposed to be au courant, the designer needs to look a little farther for inspiration. Though the proteas look great against the dark palette!
The W hotel recently had an event where they were showcasing these newly designed units and i have to say these pictures don't do much justice to the place. Eww these pictures make the place look super cheap and cheesy (very guido like as one person mentioned). In reality it was my favorite one out of all the units, the vibe was sexy yet sophisticated. I could totally see a successful bachelor living here. (To bad im not rich or a bachelor lol)....... Anyway the place was beautiful its to bad the writer and photographer werent able to emulate that.
It's expensively tacky with a color pallet that seems to be inspired by... Baby poop? There's objects here I'd love to own, but as a whole, I wouldn't spend my money to stay here.
Well, considering that you are a "bachelor or dudette (as someone said)" who is willing to PAY and STAY at the W, yes, you'll appreciate the whole idea and find it alluring.
But being the average joe, or the average straight bloke with a budget (why would you pay more for a cow (which you don't get, anyway) and pink chairs), you'll rather stay at a Best Western or something, it all be the same.
A bachelor bloke just needs, a couch, a flat screen tv, video games and booze.... the chicks will come along by themselves.... They all carry (well most of them) a "that type of dude" sensor and admit it or not, they love it.
This place is way too impractical for anything more than a two day stay and great to keep illegal inmigrants working.
As a little boy's play pad, I can see how this might provide some momentary pleasure.
As a bachelor pad, it conveys the considered life of a solitary man as well as a bowl of Lucky Charms represents a soul satisfying breakfast.
laughing at KellyC - and I wear Axe. Well, one of the scents at least.
When I saw the first picture and caption, I went into tackiness preparation mode, but I love this place. It needs some more color maybe and the first thing I'd do when I'd walk in is immediately remove the men from the walls.
Come on. A convertible dining/pool table that actually looks really nice?
Over-thought and over-designed. We ARE talking about single, straight guys, right? I agree with Bepsf in that I guess if the guy living here was a movie star or sports celebrity this might seem more realistic...the Jersey Shore guys would trash this place in a minute!
Bachelor Pad? If I had a date with a guy who had a place like this.... I would RUN!
Love this place! The color, furniture, layout and the art!! Fantastic job by designers Mike and Eileen. Hollywood taste, forward thinking, beautiful everything ... When can I stay?
As was previously stated, this is a bold decorative statement that manages to be expensive, tacky and creepy all at the same time.
Pink chairs on the patio - Yeah, most bachelors really dig pink.
We won't even cover the life sized wall art with half naked dudes (the photo of the guy with a female butt in his face is especially sophisticated) or the living room picture that looks like someone had a bowl of chalk and Vodka for breakfast and then threw up on a black canvas.
Maybe it works as a bachelor pad for high end drug dealers, or Sociopaths that work in the entertainment industry or as an upscale brothel for deviants...
I was at the showcasing event and saw all of the designed units for W. This was my favorite! Wouldn't change a thing.....
I agree that these pictures don't do justice to the place....