A Spanish-Style Santa Ynez Home with Strong Personality

Rip & Tan: What was the overall vision for this home?

Jordan Sholem and Jessica Katz: Our vision for this home was to modernize a dated Spanish-style ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley and stay true to its architectural roots while incorporating elements of color, pattern, and texture.

Rip & Tan: Can you walk us through your design process for this project? Did anything about this home push you to approach things differently than you typically would?

Jordan Sholem and Jessica Katz: We collaborated closely with our client, whose incredible taste and existing collection of furniture and art helped shape the design. She encouraged us to step outside our comfort zone with color and pattern—while we typically lean toward a neutral, monochromatic palette, she gravitates toward playful, vibrant touches in every room. We’d show her a fabric we envisioned for a pillow, and she’d suggest using it on a chair—or even the walls.

Rip & Tan: How did the location and landscape influence your design decisions?

Jordan Sholem and Jessica Katz: The Santa Ynez Valley is one of the most magical places in California. The way the light shifts and changes throughout the day and reflects on the natural landscape helped to inform our color palette. The ochres, burnt siennas, shades of taupe and brown from the oak and pepper trees, foliage, and hillside valleys helped us land on the warm tones we selected.

Rip & Tan: This home plays with patterns beautifully, especially in the wallpaper. How do you approach mixing patterns thoughtfully, and what makes a pattern feel timeless to you?

Jordan Sholem and Jessica Katz: Our process for this project involved selecting a patterned fabric and drawing complementary tones from similar patterns. We had a blast at Claremont on La Cienega, as they have so many great patterns that coordinate nicely. For wallpaper, we wanted to lean into some of the iconography of the ranch and the surrounding areas. We incorporated the horses on the property in an unexpected place, like the kitchen, bath, and Josef Frank’s illustrations for Svenskt Tenn’s wallpaper in the hidden bar. When used thoughtfully and in unexpected ways, any pattern can feel timeless.

Rip & Tan: With how bold some of these spaces are, how do you recommend refreshing a space like this for fall without overwhelming what’s already there?

Jordan Sholem and Jessica Katz: With a space that already has a strong personality, it’s all about subtle, sensory shifts rather than big overhauls. For fall, we like to introduce depth through texture—think heavier linens, wool throws, or a cashmere pillow swap. We also gravitate towards a richer, earthier palette in accessories or florals.

Rip & Tan: What makes a space feel like “home” to you during fall?

Jordan Sholem and Jessica Katz: For us, it’s the feeling of wanting to stay in–lighting a candle, cooking something slow, wrapping yourself in a cashmere throw. A house feels most like home in the fall when it reflects the rhythm of the season, which is cozy, grounded, and a little bit slower.