Next Stop, Montecito: Once a Train Depot, Now a Minimalist Sanctuary

We enjoy it when the designers we have actually included on our website check in with us to report an upgrade to their home, a brand-new job, a brand-new endeavor, a moving. Like a high school instructor checked out by previous trainees, we aspire to see the modifications that have actually taken place given that we were last in contact.

So we were pleased to open an e-mail from Remodelista alum Kathleen Whitaker, an LA fashion jewelry designer whose works are uncommonly stylish and artistic. In 2014, we shared her very first remodel of her Echo Park home, and a couple of years later on the upgrade to the upgrade The summertime before last, she composed to inform us, she momentarily moved into a leasing in Montecito, a sleepy-chic neighborhood beside Santa Barbara, to get away the tension of living in the city throughout a pandemic.

” The home goes back to the 1920s. It is a single-story one-bedroom– at 675 square feet, precisely what you require (and absolutely nothing more) for a vacation area,” she states. “It is among 4 homes, all initially part of the train depot, so every one is special and extremely lovely. I was informed this particular home was most likely the ticket workplace and travel luggage space. So even in its preliminary carnation, it was a location simply to travel through, momentarily.”

The location came unfurnished– a trouble that, for numerous, would result in a journey to Ikea. However Kathleen saw it as an appealing style difficulty: to produce the tranquil retreat she looked for utilizing primarily furnishings, design, and art that she currently had in her LA home. “It was a little confining however enjoyable to deal with huge restrictions,” she states. However even with the restrictions– no painting, no long-term modifications– she had the ability to slip in a little, nail-free, quickly detachable do it yourself job. (Scroll down to see the smart corner desk she developed.)

Here’s how everything came together.

Photography by Ye Rin Mok and Logan White

the cottage came painted white, which kathleen liked. the many unattractive wal 12 — Above: The home came painted white, which Kathleen liked. The numerous unappealing wall sconces, however, she might not abide. “I changed them out for standard ceramic bases with silver-tipped bulbs,” she states. The painting is by Hadley Vacation Photo by Ye Rin Mok.

much of the furniture is vintageâincluding the sofa (won at a billings a 13 — Above: Much of the furnishings is classic– consisting of the couch (won at a Billings auction and for which she had one long cushion made and covered in felt) and the 1970s Tacchini Sesann chair. The Noguchi flooring light is from OKAY in Santa Monica. The reinforce pillow is by Christina Lundsteen, from Lost & & Found Photo by Logan White.

like in her echo park home, light is ample in this cottage thanks to the many w 14 — Above: Like in her Echo Park home, light is adequate in this home thanks to the numerous windows, consisting of some that are floor-to-ceiling. The painting above the chair is by Jay Stuckey The book bench, made from recovered Douglas fir, is by Kathleen’s old studio mate, Lindon Schultz Photo by Ye Rin Mok.

kathleen bought two vintage donghia pillow slipper chairs from chairish and had 15 — Above: Kathleen purchased 2 classic Donghia pillow slipper chairs from Chairish and had them reupholstered in a poplin cotton. The table is from LA antique shop The Window Photo by Logan White.

kathleen whitaker montecito train depot cottage table — Above: The antique table was bied far from a pal. Kathleen discovered the light at Brimfield The basket is a vintage “garlic gourd’ that she utilizes to hold her pets’ leashes and collars. Photo by Ye Rin Mok.