Unique Design Retreats
Design-Forward Home Tours Highlight Creative Stays Across the United States
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The Little Saint cottages are an overnight expansion of the couple’s broader Little Saint concept: Laurie and Jeff Ubben’s plant-forward restaurant, market and cultural space—expanded into lodging “with director Jenny Hess,” and positioned as “a short walk from the town square in Healdsburg.”
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For the Pass Christian Gulf Coast home, Michael Harold and Dr. Quinn Peeper described the origin story as “a one-day house hunt,” after which they bought a 1940s house—the “final stop of the day”—and said they “knew almost instantly that they had found the one.”
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The Smoky Mountains railcar stay traces to decades of work: Harold—“a retired UPS driver and avid train enthusiast”—moved to the area in 1994 and bought “18 acres,” his family added “47 acres” in 2004, they opened rustic cabins to guests in “July 2007,” and the first caboose opened in “April 2016.”
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In Wyoming, Country Living quoted designer Emily Janak on her approach to the update: “No one feels comfortable in a room that feels overly formal or overly rustic, so striking a balance is the ideal for me,” adding that she “enjoys camping as much as a tasting menu,” but dislikes either extreme being “too over-the-top.”
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In Springbank, the Springbank ranch renovation required removal down to the studs, including demolishing the original “concrete fireplace that separated the living room from the kitchen,” and then rebuilt it as a “sculptural focal point within the sunken space,” while Brooke Butler says she and the team created a “custom built-in bench that perfectly hugged the curve of the staircase.”
Healdsburg's Little Saint retreat opens this spring with four designer cottages hidden among gardens and courtyards. Created by renowned designer Ken Fulk and built by Laurie and Jeff Ubben—who also run a plant-forward restaurant and market nearby—the cottages blend artisanal details like patterned floors, vintage hardware, and trompe l'oeil doorways into intimate overnight stays Wallpaper. Across the U.S., travelers increasingly seek memorable, design-forward retreats that balance regional character with modern comfort, from Gulf Coast homes filled with pattern and color to vintage railcar stays in the Smoky Mountains.
Hidden Doorways and Artisanal Details at Little Saint
The four cottages anchor a broader Little Saint concept that started with the restaurant and market, positioned a short walk from Healdsburg's town square. Ken Fulk designed each unit to feel intimate and unexpected, using hidden doorways and trompe l'oeil work—a painting technique that tricks the eye—to create surprise moments Wallpaper. Patterned floors, vintage hardware, and carefully sourced furnishings give each cottage its own personality while maintaining a cohesive, curated feel.
Gulf Coast Coastal Interiors Born From a One-Day House Hunt
Michael Harold and Dr. Quinn Peeper relocated from New Orleans and found their Pass Christian home during a final house-hunt stop. They bought the 1940s cottage and immediately knew it was the right fit Wallpaper. The pair filled the interior with color, patterns, and antiques, creating a relaxed Gulf Coast aesthetic anchored by a lap pool and cabana-style outdoor space that hosts guests easily.
Decades of Work Bring Vintage Caboose Stays to Life
In the Smoky Mountains, Harold—a retired UPS driver and train enthusiast—began his vision in 1994 by buying 18 acres. His family added 47 more acres in 2004. Rustic cabins opened to guests in July 2007, and the first vintage 1950s-themed caboose opened in April 2016 Wallpaper. The railcar stays tie the retreat to the region's rural character and transportation heritage, offering guests a unique connection to mountain history.
Western Balance and Sculptural Renovations Across Regions
Designer Emily Janak updated a Wyoming log cabin by striking a balance between formal and rustic. She explained: "No one feels comfortable in a room that feels overly formal or overly rustic, so striking a balance is the ideal for me" Country Living. In Springbank, designer Brooke Butler rebuilt a concrete fireplace into a sculptural focal point and created a custom built-in bench hugging the staircase curve, respecting the home's original 1970s bones while expanding openings for light.
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