A Salute to India in Santa Barbara

The alarm goes off at 5 am, and it’s off to the races for David Kilpatrick and Leela Cyd. What follows is a few lit candles, three hours of solid work, breakfast and then a bike trip to their studio. As freelancers, their schedules are often vastly unpredictable. That being said, when it was time to move, they needed a relaxing space to come home to after long days of, “shooting, storyboarding, sourcing props, recipe-testing and editing.” The couple fell in love the second they laid eyes on this 1-bedroom in Santa Barbara, CA, but reality quickly set in for these two collectors. “We moved from a 4-bedroom Victorian in Portland, OR to this 600-square-foot cottage, so the amount of furniture, art, appliances, and art supplies had to be seriously culled down for this new pad. (I’m) not sure we’ll ever get it right or done, but we enjoy living here and are up for the challenge of a small space,” Leela says.

Having collected various accessories from vacations in and around India has given the couple a colorful and storied set of decorations to help their bright space come to life. “I love homes that reflect the travels, journey and story of the homeowners, so I’m happiest when our place just feels like us with all of our imperfections, artwork and travel ephemera keeping us company,” Leela says. Pair these incredible accessories with high windows and custom built-ins, and you’re left with a home that’s beautifully personal and with a “pop” that’s sure to brighten your day. Enjoy! —Garrett

Photography by Leela Cyd