A Dream Come True for Rom-Com Fans
For nearly two decades, admirers of the beloved film The Holiday have yearned to experience the quintessential English charm of Iris Simpkins' cottage. They dreamed of slumbering beneath its characteristic low beams and cosying up by the distinctive stone fireplace. The painful reality, however, was that Kate Winslet's fictional 'Rosehill Cottage' was merely a film set façade, constructed in a Surrey field and torn down after production ended.
From Hollywood Fantasy to Functional Home
Interior designer Lucy Small took on the ambitious mission of transforming this cinematic fantasy into a tangible reality. Rather than building in England, she broke ground in Blue Ridge, Georgia, a picturesque town she describes as the perfect setting for a romantic fantasy. Unlike the original movie set, Lucy's version had to be a fully functional home. 'This was a new build, not a reno. Unfortunately! A reno would have been much less expensive,' she confessed to The Daily Mail, highlighting the challenge of making a sensical home from an illogical film set.
She meticulously sourced authentic materials, including real stone and hand-hewn wood beams, to cultivate the cottage's lived-in charm. A surprising revelation was the exorbitant cost of the film's 'frumpy' décor. Living-room chairs from the movie cost about $10,000 each, with an umbrella stand priced at $15,000. While Lucy used replicas, the expenses accumulated rapidly to achieve the desired aesthetic.
Overcoming Skepticism to Create a Phenomenon
Despite warnings from experts who claimed nobody would care about a twenty-year-old movie, the cottage has become a booking sensation. Rates begin at $399 per night off-season and peak at $499 during the holidays. The property is solidly booked into the new year, with weekend availability only reopening in March. Lucy finds the emotional payoff from guests, who share stories of family traditions connected to the film, makes the stressful build process entirely worthwhile.
In the film, Cameron Diaz's character, Amanda Woods, swaps her Los Angeles home with British journalist Iris Simpkins, played by Kate Winslet, leading to an unexpected romance with Iris's brother, Graham, portrayed by Jude Law. Now, fans can step directly into that beloved holiday narrative. Lucy Small succeeded in her goal to 'build something people love,' creating a tangible piece of movie magic for rom-com enthusiasts worldwide.
