Months after the Thomas Fire and resulting mudslides, San Ysidro Ranch has reopened in the foothills of Montecito, Calif., following a complete renovation.
Ty Warner, owner of San Ysidro Ranch, helmed the interior design, which was all overseen in-house.
The 500-acre property’s 41 individually decorated cottages now have antique furnishings, original artwork, Persian rugs, stone fireplace and a handmade four-poster canopy bed with Rivolta Italian linen, all recalling European country-home feel. Bathrooms have heated floors, stand-alone Parisian bathtubs and separate glass enclosed showers with Frette bath linens and Bamford bath amenities from England. Cottages include a private outdoor patio with rain shower and sunken hot tub, and several include private plunge pools.
The “Churchill Cottage,” a 1,450-square-foot cottage, was outfitted with heirlooms--from the antique 1900 Western Electric oak cabinet wall phone, to the original framed Life Magazine cover that featured Winston Churchill himself. The cottage’s décor includes a fully-restored original 1930’s Art Deco chandelier with nods to the British bulldog throughout. The original page from the San Ysidro Ranch guestbook that Winston Churchill signed when he stayed at the property with his family can be seen in the cottage.
The property is also home to the “Kennedy Cottage”, where John and Jackie Kennedy stayed during their honeymoon in 1953. The 2,000 square foot hand-carved stone cottage has two-bedrooms and a gated entrance that opens onto a landscaped courtyard with sculptures. The living room has antiques and French doors that open onto the largest private deck overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands.
The spa now has walls covered in hand-painted songbirds, fireplaces, and the Spa Suite that has a tub for two.
For dining, the property has The Stonehouse and Plow & Angel, located in a 19th century citrus packing house. It has a lounge with full bar service and a separate dining room with fireplace and creek side views, as well as an outdoor dining venue. Meanwhile, Plow & Angel has original artwork, including antique stained-glass windows depicting the four seasons, and a painting paying homage to its namesake, Saint Isadore, hanging above the fireplace.
The underground wine cellar was rebuilt and restocked to house 12,000 wines and champagnes from around the world. The Wine Cellar private dining room has space for intimate events with a masonry barrel-vaulted ceiling with French tiles, exposed oak beams, stucco walls, original artwork and antiques. It can accommodate 30 guests. The outdoor is accessible through a glass doorway leading to a private patio with a Mediterranean feel.
For events, the property has the 10,000-square-foot Upper Estate Lawn that can accommodate 200 guests, the Lower Gardens that has views of the Santa Ynez Mountain range and can accommodate 120 guests, and the Hydrangea Cottage that has 1,380 square feet of indoor meeting space to entertain 60 guests.
Photo credit: San Ysidro Ranch