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Hotel of the Week: These Wine Country Cottages Blend Bohemian Spirit with Storybook Charm

Ken Fulk reimagines four cottages at Little Saint in Healdsburg with Laurel Canyon energy, a wealth of vintage vinyl, and rich details that channel the free-spirited culture of the 1970s

By Ryan Waddoups
Eclectic living room with green walls, patterned ceiling, colorful art, vintage furniture, and rooster sculpture.
The Cottages at Little Saint. Photo: Brendan Mainini

The bohemian spirit of Laurel Canyon endures through the timeless anthems penned by the immortal musicians who once made the hillside enclave their creative refuge, including Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa, Jim Morrison, and Neil Young. That cultural touchstone guided San Francisco designer Ken Fulk as he conceived a characteristically spirited redesign of a boutique hotel about seven hours north, in Sonoma County. The Cottages at Little Saint marks the latest venture from the celebrated vegan restaurant and music venue in downtown Healdsburg, whose culinary offerings have helped enshrine the quaint wine country city as a must-visit destination alongside three-Michelin-Star restaurant SingleThread and acclaimed winery Aperture Cellars. 

Pink-themed bedroom with floral wallpaper, bedside table, vintage lamp, and colorful pillows on a neatly made bed.
The Cottages at Little Saint. Photo: Brendan Mainini
The Cottages at Little Saint sign with green foliage, shrubs, and a pathway outside a building with trees in the background
The Cottages at Little Saint. Photo: Brendan Mainini

Fulk, who also serves as Little Saint’s creative director, reimagined each of the property’s four cottages with Laurel Canyon’s legendary musical lineage and the intimacy of small-town life in mind, with era-appropriate references surfacing throughout the dazzling yet homespun-feeling interiors in rhythmic, energizing bursts. “The color scheme makes you nostalgic for the 1960s and ‘70s, from its carefree fashion to mesmerizing music, characteristically vivid but vintage and faded,” explains Fulk, who paired explosions of saturated hues with a maximalist mélange of bohemian patterns, woven textures, and bold block-printed textiles. “We’ve woven a tale of a compound where you can be inspired and recharge surrounded by all the charm and graciousness of a small-town community.”  

Cozy bedroom with striped curtains, wooden nightstand, green lamp, and plush bed with striped pillows, creating a warm ambiance.
The Cottages at Little Saint. Photo: Brendan Mainini
Eclectic dining room with patterned wallpaper, wooden table, chairs, teal sofa, and colorful checkered floor tiles.
The Cottages at Little Saint. Photo: Brendan Mainini

Fulk describes a bohemian ethos as the most common thread linking the four cottages, each named after songs or albums. Gimme Shelter accommodates two guests and blends pastoral charm with contemporary comforts: beamed ceilings, vintage-inspired wallpaper, and hand-painted hardwood floors. Awash in moody hues, Court offers a more spacious retreat conceived for couples or small groups. A concealed armoire doorway connects the cottage to its counterpart, Spark, which can transform the pair into a three-bedroom suite perfect for extended stays. On its own, it functions as a studio-style escape for two with a soaring pitched ceiling and rain shower. At the rear of the property, Deja Vu provides the most secluded accommodations, presenting an eclectic character that draws on the traditions of rural craftsmanship. 

Vintage bathroom with mustard tiles, double sinks, wooden stool, window with striped curtain, and floral wall art.
The Cottages at Little Saint. Photo: Brendan Mainini
Cozy bedroom with decorative wallpaper, wooden headboard, vintage chair, and patterned curtains by a bright window.
The Cottages at Little Saint. Photo: Brendan Mainini

“Our goal for the design of The Cottages was the same as when we designed Little Saint: create a space that fosters community,” Fulk says, describing the cottages as a “natural extension” of the Little Saint universe that carries both whimsy and nostalgia alongside a sense of freshness. Each cottage includes a private front porch that encourages lingering conversation overlooking manicured walking paths and adds to the wealth of storybook details. Patchwork furniture, aged brass fixtures, vibrant tiled floors, and painted checkerboard wood planks punctuate the interiors, joined by wallpaper scattered with pomegranate motifs. Bay Area artist Rafael Arana even contributed hand-painted trompe l’oeil murals that further heighten the transportive mood.  

“We carefully imbued each guest house with a handmade, timeless atmosphere of cool,” explains Fulk. Each features its own record player paired with a curated vinyl collection that reflects the room’s namesake. Naturally, they include Joni Mitchell’s Court and Spark and the Rolling Stones’s Let It Bleed, whose opening track gave Gimme Shelter its name. The rooms are also stocked with plant-based goods produced with ingredients from Little Saint Farm, including hydrosols and tea blends from Land + Local and handmade soaps and lotions from Herb Nerd. 

Pink-themed kitchenette with vintage furniture, floral wallpaper, and artwork. Cozy setup with a decorative rug and natural light.
The Cottages at Little Saint. Photo: Brendan Mainini
Backyard pool with red chairs, striped umbrellas, and a green shed surrounded by lush greenery on a sunny day.
The Cottages at Little Saint. Photo: Brendan Mainini

“The Cottages feel like a natural extension of the Little Saint family,” says Laurie Ubben, the property’s founder. “Just off the town square and a few steps from the restaurant, our guests can take in the full rhythm of Healdsburg by gathering for dinner and drinks, catching live music upstairs, and exploring our neighboring friends, while always having a charming retreat to return to at the end of the day.”