The Darawadee is located on what is possibly the best stretch of Khong Klong beach, which is to say the stretch with the least amount of exposed rock at low tide.
Structurally, it is the only place on this beach that has a classic "motel" architecture... two stories of rooms with outside entries in back and ocean-facing balconies or decks. I think all the other places along Khong Klong are bungalow (or "banglow" as the locals spell it) style places.
In keeping with this retro style architecture, the Darawadee seems to attract lots of retirees and families with children... i.e. budget minded travelers who prefer to avoid the more bohemian and hedonistic experience of the other Khong Klong bungalows. (Khong Klong is probably the most "hippy" beach on Ko Lanta, attracting lots of upper 20-something backpackers).
The hotel 'hosts' were a very friendly and helpful retired Kiwi couple, and the Thai staff was also very friendly and happy to provide anything we needed.
The rooms were typical motel style, and our only complaints were with the mattress (all the mattresses in Thai hotels tend to be very hard - must be a cultural thing), and the water pressure in the shower, which was a stingiest trickle I've ever experienced. But the air conditioning was effective and reasonably quiet, and they supplied two bottles of water a day in the mini-frig.
The guests tend to stake out their pool lounge chairs early, and a local scuba school gives beginning lessons in the pool a few days a week.
It was an easy walk up or down the beach each evening to an assortment of beach bars and restaurants.
Overall a great location, providing access to a very laid back 'neighborhood' of Ko Lanta, while staying in a relatively conventional space where you won't feel like you're roughing it.