A Santa Ynez Valley Home Where Design Meets Landscape

Rip & Tan: What are the hallmarks of a Corinne Mathern design?

Corinne Mathern: We design environments that embody a livable ease. We introduce warmth and earthy materials, with timeless, sculptural forms in muted tones, where our client’s art and heirlooms come to life.

Rip & Tan: Can you walk us through your approach to starting a new project?

Corinne Mathern: We study the space or the property and take in the light throughout the day. We immerse ourselves in history and context if it’s an existing space and deeply discuss with our client how the space should function and the feeling it should evoke. Our design process, once we truly understand the property and the brief is quite structured and organized—I don’t thrive in chaos.

Rip & Tan: You’ve managed to make this home feel like such a seamless extension of the Santa Ynez Valley. What elements or materials anchored your vision for the space? 

Corinne Mathern: I have a deep connection to the Santa Ynez Valley as I visited often when I was growing up. There is a serenity and beauty here that makes me feel calm—much of that comes from the quiet of the landscape. Koehler Winery is situated on acres of vines and olive trees and is a magical place. Our clients took us in their tractor to view the landscape from all sides of the property and we brought the materiality of the outdoor environment indoors. We weaved in layers of wood, stone, linen, cotton, and leather and brought in handwoven, bespoke pieces and objects with a past life. 

Our design philosophy is always a blend of tradition, modernity, and a deep connection to the land and the natural surroundings. The Koehlers embraced that philosophy with us wholeheartedly. 

Rip & Tan: Do you have any go-to items that you use to style a space, effectively layering and creating depth?

Corinne Mathern: Letting the light into a project through windows, skylights, and architectural fixtures is the most important layer that we use to create beauty in a project. Without beautiful lighting, the layers of art, sculpture, textiles, books, and heirlooms don’t translate. 

Rip & Tan: How do you ensure that your designs are not only beautiful but also functional?

Corinne Mathern: I started my career in the fashion industry where I learned to balance aesthetics with practicality in every piece.  I learned that no matter how beautiful a garment was, if I didn’t feel comfortable in it, it wasn’t something that I appreciated. We hold that sentiment dear in our studio—every client has a different definition of comfort, so we explore that early on. 

Rip & Tan: If you had to choose, what’s your favorite detail in this space and why?

Corinne Mathern: I love the vintage Michael Taylor sofa and chairs that are recovered in three tones of Pierre Frey Mohair. They pair in a lovely way with the heavily patinated coffee table that Peter Koehler designed.  The refinished pine floors are my dream too.

Rip & Tan: Where do you turn for inspiration?

Corinne Mathern: I live in quiet nature outside Los Angeles so I travel to the cities for inspiration—I love Los Angeles, New York, Antwerp and Paris. If I can’t travel, I have all the books that take me places.  I also love to surround myself with interesting people—I find most people can be fascinating and inspiring if I take the time to listen to them.