Costera Interiors
Costera Interiors began the way the best things often do, through friendship, a shared love for Santa Barbara, and a deep appreciation for beautiful spaces. Founders Sophie and Cara turned their shared vision into a studio built on intention, collaboration, and the belief that great design should make a space feel as good as it looks.
Their signature style blends the old and the new, layering vintage finds, modern silhouettes, and natural materials that reflect the ease of California living. Each project carries that same balance of warmth and refinement that has come to define the Costera aesthetic.
As a full-service staging and design studio, Costera transforms spaces with purpose and heart. Whether reimagining a home for sale or designing one to stay in for years to come, Sophie and Cara approach every project with a sensitivity to how people live, gather, and feel in a space.
Sophie Rankell
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Sophie grew up in a coastal Southern California town with a landscape much like Santa Barbara’s—a setting that sparked her deep love for Spanish architecture and modern coastal design. Her creative journey began in the world of fashion styling, where she developed a sharp eye for detail and aesthetics before transitioning into interiors.
Now at Costera Interiors, Sophie brings that same creative passion to designing relaxed, refined spaces that reflect the timeless beauty of coastal California. She’s continually inspired by the Santa Barbara lifestyle—the stunning landscape, the architectural history, and the laid-back elegance of it all.
When she’s not running from house to house designing, Sophie is spending time with her husband, their two daughters, Ryan and Marley, and their Great Pyrenees, Juno. You can usually find them at the beach or exploring a local trail with their dog in tow.
Cara O’Bryen
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Cara grew up in Southern California and landed in Santa Barbara in 2019. Formerly a marriage and family therapist, she transitioned into the design world five years ago after renovating her own home—a personal project that sparked a passion for interiors. A serendipitous conversation with Sophie, now her business partner, led to the launch of their interior design journey, and they’ve never looked back.
Cara draws constant inspiration from the timeless charm of Santa Barbara architecture and the effortless, casual elegance that defines local homes. When she's not designing, you'll find her at the Santa Barbara Bowl, chasing her toddler and two doodles around town, or traveling with her husband.
Silvia Guerra
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Silvia is a Santa Barbara local with over 15 years of experience in hospitality and events, and has built her career around creating seamless, memorable experiences. As Staging Manager, she brings that same passion to home design, blending strong project management skills with a creative eye to make every home feel warm and irresistible to buyers. Silvia loves curating the perfect mix of details, textures, and flow to bring out a property’s full potential. She thrives on keeping projects organized, smooth, and stress-free, while adding thoughtful touches that make each space shine.
Outside of work, she loves cooking with fresh, local finds from the Farmers Market, hosting gatherings, and spending as much time outdoors as possible.
Bayliss Enns
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Bayliss grew up in Northern California, where her designer parents sparked her early passion for interiors. She moved to Santa Barbara in 2021 and quickly fell in love with the Santa Barbara lifestyle. As a designer at Costera Interiors, she enjoys blending creativity and problem-solving to craft spaces that feel both beautiful and functional.
When she’s not designing, Bayliss is likely on her yoga mat, camping under the stars, spending time at the beach, or sipping a matcha at her favorite café.
Sonia Sexton
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With a lifelong love for design, Sonia began her career in San Francisco as a buyer in the luxury home retail space, where she gained several years of experience in product and merchandising. Feeling inspired to contribute in a more creative way, she then transitioned into interior design with a boutique Bay Area firm. Now based in Santa Barbara as a designer on the Costera team, Sonia creates spaces that are both beautiful and functional, blending thoughtful details with effortless style. Outside of design, she enjoys pilates, long walks outside, and discovering new restaurants.
Alexis Martenka
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With roots in the Pacific Northwest, Alexis made her way to California after college and found herself drawn to the world of design. What started as a creative instinct quickly became a career, shaped by a love for thoughtful details, natural materials, and spaces that feel as beautiful as they look.
Now part of the Costera team, Alexis creates interiors that feel soulful, layered, and effortlessly lived-in. When she’s not designing, she’s plotting her next home improvement project, swimming in the river in Ojai, hunting down a great cup of coffee, or spending time with her husband, dog, and baby daughter, Louise.
Claire Anderson
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Having grown up in Santa Barbara, Claire has a deep love of natural beauty. To her, design is all about making a space feel and look beautiful through a creative lens. When she isn’t busy scheming her next home renovation, she can be found wrangling her two wild and adorable boys, Rowan and Milo.
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