This small guest cottage on a large historic ranch was redesigned to add comfort, charm, character — and notes of nostalgia.
The owners of this guest cottage nestled on the property of a Spanish-style ranch in picturesque Santa Ynez, California, wanted it to reflect the enchanting views of its pastoral surroundings and the character of their main home’s historic ranch while providing the ultimate comfort and functionality for their guests. To achieve their desired look and feel, they brought in local designer Jess Landis of Studio JL Design to reimagine every space, inside and out.
“The spaces weren’t in bad shape, but they felt a little flat. They were missing that cozy storybook quality I really wanted to bring to life.”
The two-bedroom, 1,000-square-foot guest cottage was built in 1928 as the caretaker’s quarters on a large ranch in the bucolic Santa Ynez River Valley. Celebrities including James Stewart and Dean Martin were among the property’s owners who enjoyed it as a quiet retreat from the Hollywood lifestyle. The small cottage was envisioned by the homeowners and designer to come out from the shadows of the large main house, taking inspiration from the sprawling views of the valley and offering an inviting respite and home-away-from-home functionality to guests.
“They wanted this forgotten little space to be completely transformed into a welcoming getaway,” Jess recalls. “Their hope was that every guest who stayed there would feel happy, relaxed and at ease. It was about creating a thoughtfully curated environment that felt both charming and comfortable, a place where people could slow down, enjoy the view and feel truly at home. The goal was to transform it into a fully functional and beautifully detailed guest cottage that feels inviting and full of character.”
Inspired Design
Jess’s first impressions of the guest cottage were its breathtaking scenic views along with areas that could benefit from some design elements that would bring it up to the level of its surroundings. “When you first pull up to the cottage, it’s impossible not to be struck by the sweeping views of the Santa Ynez Valley; they really set the tone for what makes this property so special,” she says. “The cottage itself was small and quirky, with original Saltillo tile floors and charming French doors that opened out to the porch and that incredible landscape. The spaces, including the kitchen and bathroom, weren’t in bad shape, but they felt a little flat; they were missing that cozy storybook quality I really wanted to bring to life. One of the most special things about this property is its truly rare vantage point. There are only a handful of homes in this neighborhood, so just a few share the perspective of looking back into the Santa Ynez Valley from the mountainside. It’s a view that feels both expansive and intimate at the same time. You can see a neighboring pond and old, established trees close by, which give the landscape a cozy, almost nostalgic, feeling. The whole scene feels like a warm hug: grounding and peaceful, but also incredibly magical!”
The stunning scenery provided much of the inspiration for Jess’s interior designs. “The overall vision was what I would call ‘nostalgic cottage’, a look that feels like you stepped into a scene from many years ago,” she says. “The goal was to create a true sense of place, something that captures the spirit of the Valley while making the space feel welcoming and approachable. I wanted to make the whole place feel intentional, like every detail was considered. I started by layering in elements that created contrast and character.
Painting the bathroom a deep red gave it an unexpected moodiness against the rest of the cottage’s palette of soft whites, cheerful blues, warm marigolds and pops of red. In the kitchen, a checkered zellige backsplash and sweet café curtains added a nostalgic touch. From there, the details really started to tell the story. I incorporated warm brass hardware in the kitchen, stacked vintage books and postcards next to a record player and mixed in antique wood furniture to bring a sense of history and soul. Layers of patterned textiles, cozy pillows and vintage art added personality, while rustic décor pieces nodded to the laid-back countryside lifestyle of Santa Ynez. Together, those layers transformed the cottage into a space that feels collected, charming and full of character- like it’s been loved and lived in for years.”
Bright Ideas
Jess, an expert at small-space design, was up to the task of working with the small footprint of the cottage. Her goal was to create a space that felt cozy but never cramped. Interestingly, while the cottage’s setting provided design inspiration, it also provided design challenges.
“My overall vision was what I would call ‘nostalgic cottage’, a look that feels like you stepped into a scene from many years ago.”
“One of the main challenges we faced was the cottage’s location. It’s tucked into a hillside surrounded by trees, which means it doesn’t get a ton of natural light,” Jess explains. “To brighten things up, we swapped out outdated fixtures for ones with a softer, more luminous glow, removed the screens from the French doors to let in more sunshine and gave the walls a fresh coat of crisp white paint to help reflect every bit of light we could. I’m also a big believer in the power of lamps, so we layered in plenty of them, both new and vintage, to create a warm, inviting glow at all times of day. The front-porch roof (which inspired the cottage’s name, Portico) also blocks some light, but instead of fighting it, we leaned into it by designing multiple outdoor ‘hang zones’, a cozy lounge area and a dining spot, so the exterior space could be just as functional and inviting as the interior.”
Reimagined Rooms
Jess introduced her favorite vintage-design elements to get the collected-over-time ambience she envisioned for the rooms. “To achieve the nostalgic cottage look, we leaned into vintage details, warm textures and pieces with soul,” she says. “We styled the rooms with curated touches like vintage plates and dinnerware, nostalgic wallpaper, vintage rugs and charming Smeg appliances that are a nod to the past while still being functional for modern life. Throughout the space, you’ll find old oil paintings, an antique Windsor chair and timeworn décor with authentic patina and history — elements that give the cottage a collected, storied feel. Layered with antique furniture, rustic lamps, pattern on pattern textiles and cozy throws, the result is a space that’s as perfect for a family weekend as it is for a group of girlfriends looking for an authentic Santa Ynez getaway.”
When selecting the color palette for the cottage, Jess once again drew inspiration from the Great Outdoors. “The palette was fully drawn from the landscape itself: soft sky blues, the greens of the rolling valley hills, the golden tones of sunlit grasses, rich saddle browns inspired by the horses grazing nearby and a hint of red from the weathered barn in the distance,” she says.
The cottage’s small common areas needed to strike the right note between historic style and function for the guests sharing those spaces. Jess loves to source vintage items and honor the history of a home. “The living, dining and kitchen areas all share one (tiny!) open space, which made every design choice feel intentional,” she says. “One of my favorite pieces here is an old Spanish Revival table I sourced; it became the anchor for the entire room’s design. The upholstered chairs and sofa mix stripes, florals and solids, all tied together by the cottage’s cohesive color palette. We also added a charming little coffee bar, complete with an eclectic mix of vintage mugs — an absolute must-have for any guest stay.”
The guest room is the perfect example of Jess’s whimsical nostalgic cottage style. “The guest room immediately felt like it wanted to be a kids’ space, so I leaned into that idea by sourcing a pair of beautiful antique twin spindle beds that perfectly complement the block-print wallpaper by Chasing Paper,” she says. “A vintage-inspired brass ceiling light, an old secretary desk and layers of ruffled white bedding all contribute to the room’s charming, Old World character. Some of my favorite details are the playful accessories — a pair of vintage tennis rackets, a basket of well-loved children’s books and a layered Turkish rug, which give the room personality and warmth. Overall, it’s playful and inviting enough for kids, yet refined enough to feel just right for adults too.”
The primary bedroom gained a fresh yet respectful design upgrade. “We swapped out the flat gray walls for crisp white shiplap paneling and installed a beautiful linen ceiling light: small changes that instantly elevated the charm of the space,” she explains. “From there, we layered in a spindle bed, an antique mirror and bedding made up of block-printed sheets and a perfect nostalgic quilt.”
Jess says designing the outdoor living spaces was just as important as the interior room designs. “We created an alfresco dining area with a chunky wood table, European café–style chairs and a pot of lavender in the center — the perfect setup for long, lazy meals that make you feel instantly transported,” she says. “Just beyond the porch, we turned a shaded corner into a cozy hangout, with a firepit and classic white Adirondack chairs piled with pillows and throws. It’s such a magical little spot tucked beneath the trees.”
The homeowners expressed their excitement to Jess that seeing the tiny cottage transformed into a fully realized little “joy bubble” where friends and family can enjoy their time together has made them so happy.
And Jess, who recently opened her own brick-and-mortar design store, Studio JL Home Shop, in nearby Buellton, California, couldn’t be happier with the outcome of the project in which she made her vision of a storybook cottage design come true.
Designing in Nostalgic Cottage Style
Jess shares her tips for recreating the character of yesteryear reflected in this historic cottage’s décor.
- Old is gold! My number one advice is to source vintage and antique pieces that get you excited. You cannot fake patina with new items that are supposed to look old. Go out and get the real deal!
- I love to style spaces with dried arrangements. It is the icing on the cake for me and it’s a great way to add pops of color in a way that is everlasting.
- Lots of lamps, oil paintings, rustic wood elements, pattern play and vintage books are my non-negotiables in every project.
To learn more about Jess Landis, visit Studio JL Design.
