Fans of Nancy Meyers’ beloved romantic comedy “The Holiday” may be surprised to learn that the enchanting English cottage featured in the film is not a real location. Actor Jude Law, who portrayed Graham in the movie, revealed last year that the picturesque home where Cameron Diaz’s Amanda retreats during Christmas was entirely constructed on a soundstage.
This revelation sparked inspiration for Lucy Small, a home designer from Georgia. “I assumed it was a real place,” Small remarked. After finding out it was fabricated, Small set out on a nine-month quest to create a replica of the movie’s cottage for rental by fans who share her fondness for the film.
The original 2006 film has had a significant impact on Small, leading her to describe it as “very foundational” in her life. The project has proven popular, with high demand from guests eager to escape to the whimsical setting. Opened in October, Small’s Holiday Cottage is nestled in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia and is available for short-term rentals, with rates starting at $399 per night during summer and $499 in the winter and fall.
Collaborating with an architectural designer, Small meticulously captured every detail of the movie’s cottage, often watching it repeatedly to ensure accuracy in design. Through the process, she realized that some elements in the film were not feasible in a real-life structure, prompting her to make some changes. For instance, the movie only represents one bedroom upstairs, but Small decided to add a second to better serve her guests, ensuring a fair experience for everyone with two equally-sized rooms.
Additional quirks in the film’s design, such as the presence of three indoor fireplaces but only two visible chimneys, also presented challenges. Small had to adapt the construction to meet modern-day codes while trying to keep the aesthetic true to the film. “We’ve made something that makes more sense,” she explained, referring to the building’s practicality compared to the cinematic liberties taken on a soundstage.
In her recreation, Small paid particular attention to the essence of Kate Winslet’s character Iris, who embodies a quaint, outdated style. Using resources like Google Image Reverse Search, she collected decorative pieces that matched the film’s quirky aesthetics, noting that many items that were meant to appear drab turned out to be surprisingly expensive antiques.
Small remained tight-lipped about the total cost of the build but stated that adhering to contemporary building codes significantly drove up the project’s expenses. “Meeting modern-day code… was essentially what made the project a lot more expensive than a typical house of that size,” she explained.
Currently, The Holiday Cottage is experiencing a tremendous response and is fully booked through May 2026, with some open slots for next summer. Small expressed her gratitude for reaching a point in her career where she can undertake projects that resonate with fans, stating, “I am just incredibly fortunate… people have had a really good reaction to it.”
Interestingly, had the film featured a real cottage, she would have hesitated to create her version, preferring to present something entirely unique. As it stands, Small’s replica holds the distinction of being the only property of its kind, a nostalgic retreat for fans of the film seeking a charming getaway.