The quaint California town of Los Olivos first became a center of comings and goings in the 1860s, as stagecoaches traversed the scenic Santa Ynez Valley en route between San Francisco and Los Angeles. By 1887, the Pacific Coast Railway had established it as a key commercial crossroads, inspiring the ambitious pioneer Felix Mattei to open a local lodge—what would become a beloved Prohibition-era watering hole and enduring community fixture. Fast-forward to today: The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern is now reemerging as a fine-dining destination and luxury retreat, courtesy of Auberge Resorts Collection. An expert update by the design firm AvroKO has transformed original structures into frontier-style accommodations, with vintage furnishings, wainscoting, exposed beams, and (of course) rocking chairs on the porches. Those thoughtfully appointed cabins are joined by historically sensitive new buildings, among them two-bedroom cottages and the forthcoming Lavender Barn spa, where couples can soak in side-by-side trough tubs. But the heart of the 6.5-acre property remains the tavern itself, a landmark that has been adapted into a sun-filled breakfast room, café, restaurant, and bar. Expect to find a stylish set of contemporary pioneers kicking back from morning to night. aubergeresorts.com
LEGACY: Gene Pool
“My father loved color and he loved entertaining,” Ashley Hicks recalls of his legendary designer dad. Now Hicks, a designer-artist himself, has teamed up with Cabana to uphold family tradition, conceiving a new collection of tableware inspired by or based on archival David Hicks patterns (cabanamagazine.com). Its debut coincides with the release of Cabana’s first self-published book, David Hicks in Colour ($95), a kaleidoscopic look at iconic interiors and never-before-shared photos.
FLOOR SHOW: Time Warp
“Though fluid and opulent, they are strangely calming,” says Genevieve Bennett, head of design at Liberty, reflecting on the Art Nouveau swirls of the brand’s iconic patterns. Several favorites (among them the nature-infused design Hana Lacquer, above) have now found new life as carpets thanks to a collaboration with The Rug Company. therugcompany.com