Iconic Montecito: Casa del Herrero

Montecito's iconic George Washington Smith estate

Hidden Secret

This off-the-beaten-path experience is truly a hidden gem and one of Montecito's best kept secrets. Casa del Herrero is a historic estate designed and constructed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style architecture.

Spanish Colonial Architecture with quintessential GWS fountains

Completed in 1925, the home (designed by architect George Washington Smith) is noted as one of the finest examples of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture in America. It is included on the National Register of Historic Places and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2009.

The fountains at Casa del Herrero are undergoing restoration to it's former glory. 

The home and gardens are open for public viewing by ticketed reservation only.  Most of the original furniture from 1925 is still in the home, so you can actually feel what it would have been like to live their.

Stunning Spanish tiles and foutains with a high level of attention to detail.

The Steedman Estate is one of the best preserved, historically significant, and intact examples of the ‘heyday’ of Montecito estates in the 1920s. The creation of the property reflects a remarkable synthesis of culture, artistic expression, natural environment, and historical antecedents. 

The estate grounds are meticulously maintained showcasing this architecturally signficant home

Public Tours: Mid-January – mid-December, Wednesdays & Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Group tours available other days. Reservations required for ALL tours. Call to arrange a time: 805-565-5653, or email tours@casadelherrero.com. Virtual tours at www.casadelherrero.com.

Content & Images: Brianne Limani & Casa del Herrero

1387 East Valley Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93108

Get Directions

For more information on George Washington Smith homes in Montecito and Santa Barbara contact Susan Pate.

 

How can you instantly make your home environment healthier?

uHoo quietly monitors air quality within a home. | Source: Uhoo air site

Raising the Oxygen Bar

New technology is making it easier than ever to improve the air quality in your house. From reducing allergens to eliminating toxins, find out which new devices are changing the game in our company magazine Compass Quarterly.

In the past few years, we’ve undergone a health awakening that has extended beyond tracking our steps, bedtimes, and sinful bites to each inhale we take under our own roofs. Enter the new uHoo indoor air toxin sensor. The sleek hourglass-shaped gadget, about the size of a soda can, busily monitors an unprecedented number of air contaminants.

“UHoo has eight dedicated sensors — the most on the market,” says Dustin Jefferson Onghanseng, who came up with the idea for the tool with Brian Lin during a 24-hour hackathon. Users can keep tabs on temperature, dust, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and humidity — plus carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ozone, and air pressure to boot.

Why the need for so much information? Well, we spend 90% of our time inside, and that trapped, recirculating air is definitely dicey. In fact, it might even be more polluted than the toxic brew you inhale while walking outside in some of the world’s smoggiest cities. Study after study in recent years has shown that breathing unhealthy air can exacerbate allergies and asthma, cloud concentration, disrupt sleep, and even trigger illness.

Muse Residences, in Sunny Isles, Florida, was developed in partnership with wellness firm Delos. | Source: Delos press release

Delos, a wellness real estate and technology firm, is behind the Well Building Standard. The company paired with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, to create a specialized lab devoted to studying how the makeup of the air inside our homes (along with light, sound, and temperature) boosts or busts our mood, health, and productivity. With those findings in mind, Delos also designed health-minded amenity packages in Massachusetts’ new mid-rise Fuse Cambridge apartment building. Among the offerings are primo air purifiers that wipe out everything from pollen to pet dander to neighbors’ cooking aromas.

Those who buy the multi-million dollar condos in Zaha Hadid’s New York City work-in-progress, 520 West 28th Street, will enjoy indoor air that’s been filtered a whopping four times. And luxury developers known for adding a LEED-certified sheen to old homes, like Troon Pacific Custom Residences in San Francisco, are considering their potential buyers’ health as well as the carbon footprint by installing state-of-the-art ventilation systems and formaldehyde-free cabinetry. Starting this year, builders can even find drywall that absorbs airborne chemicals.

Developers like Troon Pacific Custom Residences are seeking greener materials and infrastructure for new projects. | Source: Troon residential site

Air purifiers themselves have undergone a revolution in response to this clean-air craze. And some of the newest models are impressively innovative. Take the Molekule. Instead of relying on a conventional HEPA filter to trap chemicals, this contraption breaks them down at the molecular level into water and carbon dioxide. The creator, a chemical engineering professor, spent 20 years perfecting the seemingly space-age product.

Dyson’s Pure Hot+Cool Link not only heats and cools; it cleanses the air around it. | Source: Dyson site

Even the household giant Dyson has jumped on the breathe-better bandwagon. Its Pure Hot+Cool Link is a fan/space heater combo that claims to remove 99.97% of allergens and pollutants using a 360-degree glass HEPA filter. Put the device on “auto mode,” and it will constantly respond and adjust to your home’s temperature and air quality. Link it to your smartphone to track pollutant levels in real-time as well as study trends over the course of a day or week.

BreezoMeter reports neighborhoods’ air pollution on a block-by-block basis. | Product design by: Ilya Tsuprun

Dyson uses BreezoMeter to relay this information — which happens to be the same tool that real estate agents have started co-opting to provide potential buyers with the air pollution levels of specific neighborhoods or blocks.

So, sure you could get a temperature-regulating, sleep-tracking mattress or a mood-enhancing lamp to feel healthier inside your house. But to take the most holistic approach to wellness at home, you’d be wise to improve on — or invest in — that invisible element we can’t live without.

Contact me for a FREE print copy of Compass Quarterly Magazine

Santa "Barbareño"

Image: Barbareño restaurant - bringing out the traditions, history and flavors of the Central California Coast. 

New Head Chef 

A native Californian, Chef Justin Snyder has returned to his roots by accepting the role of head chef at Barbareño, 205 West Canon Perdido Street.  At the age of 28, Justin has a wide breadth of experience working for some of the world’s most acclaimed chefs, such as Michael Voltaggio, Hideaki Sato, and Bruno Chemel.  Having honed his craft through work in places such as Hong Kong, Paris, and Hawaii, Justin is inspired to combine flavors from various ethnic cuisines with the freshest ingredients that Santa Barbara has to offer, all interpreted though the lens of a Michelin-trained chef. 

Not afraid to push the limits, Justin is able to seamlessly marry modern cooking techniques with age-old methods to create dishes that are at once familiar, but at the same time completely novel and delicious.  At Barbareño, Justin seeks to further the restaurant’s mission of exploring the regional flavors of the Santa Barbara area, delving further into the culinary history, traditions, and ingredients of California’s Central Coast.  By using his extensive training, Justin hopes to bring a new level of creativity and refinement to the restaurant’s menu. - The Restaurant Guy. 

Want to live the Montecito Lifestyle?

The Miracle of Adoption

Image :: Naimish - Adoption is a Gift

There are no unwanted Children, just unfound families.

– National Adoption Centre, USA

Adoption is something very dear to my heart. When our newborns entered our lives through adoption at the ages of 40 and 41, John and I were already well established in our careers. The children brought incredible inspiration and joy that only added a greater purpose to our work lives. I can’t believe they’re already grown up and looking at which colleges to attend. It's been a bit of a blur at times and in a short 16 years, a blink in time. We’re one big happy extended family through the miracle of adoption.

Matthew and Taylor, our beautiful children when they were younger. 

Spotlight :: Non Profit

Because of my incredible experience, I want to highlight this week an organization that I support and believe are making a huge difference in our Santa Barbara community in helping children and families in need, called Casa Pacifica. 

The non profit meet kids and families at the most challenging times of their lives and helps them overcome some of life’s most difficult circumstances – abuse and neglect, complex emotional and behavioral issues, and family crises.  They restore hope, help children find joy in daily living, and improve families’ chances at making a better life for themselves and at finding a place in their community where they can be successful.  Casa Pacifica is committed to children unconditionally over time and through all of life’s ups and downs.

Headquartered on a rural 24-acre campus five miles from the Pacific Ocean, Casa Pacifica serves abused and neglected children and adolescents, and those with severe emotional, social, behavioral, and mental health challenges. Our primary service area includes: San Diego, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Kern County (Bakersfield), San Luis Obispo County (SLO), Ventura County, Santa Barbara County and the Southern California/Central Coast region.

A moving story that I also wanted to bring to light is a young couple living in Santa Barbara tragically lost their baby at 36 weeks. Despite the obstacles, they have turned this tragedy around and have decided to adopt. Here is their story below.

This was quote by a single parent after adopting a child and I couldn't agree with it more...

“Nothing comes from nothing, nothing ever could, Perhaps in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good…….”

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS OR LIVING THE MONTECITO LIFESTYLE CALL SUSAN TODAY.

Collections :: Fast Track your home search with Susan Pate

“My clients were looking to help their daughter and son-in-law find the perfect condo before the arrival of their first baby, due in April,” says Santa Barbara agent Susan Pate. “After two weekends of showings and appointments, the family was still not finding the right fit and I decided Collections might be perfect for them. The tool would reassure them that they were, in fact, seeing everything available on the market and its immediate updates would help them feel in charge of the process.”

“After just two days, my buyers had found a condo that fit all of their needs. One showing later, they were discussing future room assignments and picking paint colors. They ended up making their offer with months to spare!”

The more, the merrier! Any time there are multiple stakeholders involved, think like Susan and invite family members and friends to weigh in throughout the process.

New "Collections" feature targets consumers with pin board concept

- Katherine Clark New York Real Estate News

As the New York City real estate industry declares war on listings aggregator StreetEasy, brokerage unicorn Compass is unveiling a new consumer-facing feature that gives apartment hunters an alternative to the popular listings website.

In effect, Compass wants to build the Pinterest of real estate. Its new feature, known as “Collections,” allows consumers to create their own version of the Pinterest pin board for properties they’re interested in, said Leonard Steinberg, president of the firm.

Homebuyers and their agents can organize the properties they’re eyeing in one place and discuss them via a commenting tool. They can also share availability and pricing changes on the board and invite friends and family to weigh in on apartments by posting their opinions on each listing.

In some ways, the Collections feature is the first major public test of Compass’ tech chops. While much of the 1,400-agent company’s reported $1 billion-plus value is said to lie in its technology, most of those offerings have been agent-facing thus far.

Compass agents have already been using the feature for several months behind the scenes with existing clients, but it is now open to the public. Steinberg calls it “the industry’s answer to the modern way people like to shop.”

“Collections helps the homebuyer feel in control of the process and makes searching for or selling a home less cumbersome and more enjoyable,” he said. “Everyone loves a good mood board.”

The brokerage also hopes the feature will become a strong marketing tool, since agents can create public boards to share with potential clients and on social media.

Steinberg said the feature does not directly compete with StreetEasy — which has drawn the ire of the brokerage community with its “premier agent” feature — but it’s certainly an alternative way to shop for real estate. “Shoppers are always going to look to StreetEasy,” he said.

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Listing Spotlight :: Birnam Wood Lakefront

Spectacular Lake & Mountain Views on Birnam Wood Golf Course

511 Las Fuentes Drive :: Montecito California

3 bedrooms | 4.5 bathrooms | 5,084 sqft

Offered at $5,495,000 

Set on what may be the most dramatic and premier location within the prestigious Birnam Wood Golf Club, this highly refined home offers spectacular mountain and lake views from its expansive rooms along with the finest examples of superior construction and design. The 3-bedroom plus den home offers high ceilings, handsome moldings, stone fireplaces, warm parquet oak floors and generous marble baths. One of the largest and most inspiring homes in the club.

FACTS

• Bed: 3
• Baths: 4 full, 1 half
• Interior: 5084 sq ft 
• Land: 0.91 acres (approx.)
• Single Family
• Built in 1991

INTERIOR FEATURES

Bedroom Information
# of Bedrooms: 3
First Floor Master

Bathroom Information
# of Full Bathrooms: 4
# of Half Bathrooms: 1

Kitchen Information
Chef's Kitchen

Design Features
Fireplace(s): 2
Granite Countertops
Hardwood Flooring
Tile Flooring
Floor to Ceiling Windows

Additional Rooms
Library
Guest Suite
Home Office

Laundry Features
Washer/Dryer in Unit

Heating & Cooling
Central A/C

Other Features
Security System

EXTERIOR FEATURES

Type of Property
Single Family Home

Garage/Parking
Garage Bays: 2

Other Features
Deck / Patio
Gardens
Level Grounds

Architectural Style
French Style
Single Level (No Stairs)

Views
Golf Course View
Lake View
Lakefront
Mountain Views
Private Lake
Water View
 

PROPERTY/LOT DETAILS

Building Amenities
Clubhouse
Privacy
Security System
Tennis Courts

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS OR OTHER FEATURED LISTINGS CALL SUSAN TODAY.

Montecito Neighborhood Guide

Image :: @poseawkwardly - Aerial Views of Butterfly Beach & Coral Casino

WELCOME TO MONTECITO

Just east of Santa Barbara, Montecito’s eight square miles are flush with lavish estates, luxe compounds, and secluded manors. Affluent families and individuals—including a smattering of mega-celebrities like long-time resident Oprah Winfrey—call this seaside sanctum home. Built into the oak- and eucalyptus-laden foothills of the Santa Ynez mountains (Montecito means “little mountain” in Spanish), the peaceful town boasts several world-class resorts, top-of-the-line schools, country clubs, and a selection of high-end shops and restaurants.

THE NEIGHBORS

An older, well-heeled crowd of CEOs, entrepreneurs, and Hollywood stars, drawn to the neighborhood’s privacy and beauty.

WHAT TO EXPECT

An elite locale of understated elegance sans attitude, filled with quiet streets and gated estates.

THE LIFESTYLE

The town folk mix along beaches and two main streets, and it’s an unspoken rule that no one makes a fuss if a famous face is spotted.

UNEXPECTED APPEAL

There’s plenty of places to see and be seen, from the Biltmore’s Bella Vista restaurant to celeb-studded Butterfly beach.

THE MARKET

Considered the crème de la crème of Santa Barbara County real estate, even teardowns go for millions.

YOU'LL FALL IN LOVE WITH

Sunny days, ocean breezes, beautiful scenery, and the pleasant daily pursuit of the high life.

---

NEIGHBORHOOD OVERVIEW

Commute Times

• Summerland 7m by car
• Downtown Santa Barbara 10m by car
• The Mesa 12m by car

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AROUND THE BLOCK

MONTECITO:

A pocket of luxury caught between the magnificent Santa Ynez mountains and some of California’s most beautiful coastline.

Its name has become synonymous with wealth, but this serene seaside town isn’t at all about glitz and glamour like its Tinseltown neighbor 90 miles south (and in fact, some citizens decamp from Los Angeles to Montecito for precisely that reason). A town that neatly walks the line between sylvan and stylish, the neighborhood takes pains to remain semi-rural thanks to the active Montecito Association, which has been tasked since 1948 with maintaining its aesthetic beauty. People have been drawn to the area’s temperate weather and natural charisma since the early 1900s, when neighbor Santa Barbara was in its heyday as a nationally famous health resort.

THE NEIGHBORS:

A well-heeled crowd of CEOs, entrepreneurs, and Hollywood stars, drawn to the neighborhood’s privacy and beauty.

Montecito’s rolodex includes luminaries like Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres, alongside an impressive history of visitors and former residents with names like Kennedy, Rockefeller, or Carnegie. Here, millionaires and celebrities are treated like regular folks. The neighborhood is also an attractive spot for affluent retirees, with over 20% of the 10,000-odd residents over age 65. Plenty of addresses function as second homes for their jet-setting owners, too.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

An elite locale of understated elegance sans attitude, filled with quiet streets and gated estates.

Montecito may be home to the wealthy, but it’s not at all flashy, haughty, or gaudy. Residential streets are lushly tree-lined, estate entrances discreet, and the main streets’ bars, restaurants, and shops maintain a casual, relaxed vibe.

THE LIFESTYLE:

The townfolk mix along beaches and the two main streets, and it’s an unspoken rule that no one makes a fuss if a famous face is spotted.

Montecito residents greet the day over french toast at Jeannine’s, a local institution known for its informally elegant breakfast fare, then wander the main thoroughfares of Coast Village Road and the Upper Village to browse boutiques like Jenni Kayne and Maison K, linger at Butterfly or Miramar Beach come midday, then wrap up their evenings with a cocktail on the terrace of the Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel.

UNEXPECTED APPEAL:

There’s plenty of places to see and be seen, from the Biltmore’s Bella Vista restaurant to celeb-studded Butterfly Beach.

Locals take advantage of the distinguished Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel’s Bella Vista restaurant—which hosts a legendary Sunday brunch—and may enjoy membership to the Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club across the street. Outdoor terrace seats at either are key for people-watching while sipping on something cool and fruity.

THE MARKET:

Considered the crème de la crème of Santa Barbara County real estate, even teardowns go for millions.

Though gates and greenery keep most Montecito residences hidden, these bucolic hills hold wonders. Some of the earliest residents and many celebrated names in architecture (including Frank Lloyd Wright and George Washington Smith) have built everything from English manors, Normandy castles, Italian palazzos, Mediterranean villas, Cape Cod Colonials, and marble palaces. In addition to these sprawling estates, there’s also a handful of gated communities, high-end condominiums, and even charming cottages—some of which were once staff housing for the area mansions. Lot sizes are capped at eight acres, with none less than one.

YOU'LL FALL IN LOVE WITH:

Sunny days, ocean breezes, beautiful scenery, and the pleasant pursuit of the high life.

With proximity to some of Santa Barbara’s most glorious beaches in the south, access to ribbon-like trails into the Santa Ynez mountains in the north, plus an array of sporting clubs, eclectic shops, and small eateries, Montecito has all the benefits of a holiday getaway with all the charm of home sweet home.

6 New Reasons to Savor Santa Barbara

Image:: Angel Oak at Bacara Resort & Spa, Santa Barbara California

Sure, it's tempting to stay with the same local restaurants that we know and love, but these 6 new restaurants make a compelling case to venture beyond the norm. Put these eateries on your road trip culinary radar and be sure to let me know what you think. 

Angel Oak at Bacara Resort & Spa

Whether or not you’re staying at the Bacara Resort & Spa, the newly opened Angel Oak is worth the short trip to Goleta — for many reasons. But a prime one is the 18 oz. bone-in rib-eye. Chef Vincent Lesage has set out to reimagine the traditional steakhouse. The menu has ample options of broiled dishes: 10 oz. center cut, 12 oz. New York prime, 18 oz. T-bone steak, 12 oz. bison rib-eye, certified Kobe beef, rack of lamb with apricot puree and 10 oz. dry-aged New York steak with shaved black truffles and brown butter. For the unsauced meats, there are choices: béarnaise, red wine sauce, assorted peppercorn sauce, horseradish crème fraîche and Angel Oak steak sauce. Or, just order the house butter: coriander-lime-espelette, or truffle and herb. It’s a mighty meal worthy of an even mightier appetite. But a leisurely stroll around the Bacara property can make a guest hungry. And the scenic ocean views tend to make diners linger a little longer. 

8301 Hollister Ave., Goleta. (844) 436-2089, angeloaksb.com.

Bone-in rib-eye from Angel Oak at Bacara Resort & Spa - Marshall Williams

Convivo

"Convivo" means to come together. And the restaurant has the big plates — created by a local potter — to justify the name. Shareable portions of spit-roasted chicken and strip steak arrive at the table still smoldering from the wood-burning ovens, dressed in North African chili pepper paste (harissa) and marinade (chermoula). “We burn food properly,” says chef Peter McNee, who, after 16 years of San Francisco living, decided to join forces with Larry Mindel (Il Fornaio group) to reinvent this restaurant at the Santa Barbara Inn. It’s a decision he doesn’t regret as he looks out Convivo’s windows at the sweeping view of the Pacific Ocean. The menu focuses on fresh; the menu is printed daily five minutes before the restaurant opens. Bread is not served before the meal, but the house-made focaccia – with basil oil, onion and caciocavallo – can, and should, be ordered for $2. For brunch, sample specks of heaven: maple bourbon bombolini (doughnut holes) with espresso, pistachios and pancetta.

901 E. Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara. (805) 845-6789, convivorestaurant.com.

Image:: Convivo Restaurant - Kris Zacharias

Loquita

From the same food-loving entrepreneurs as the Lark (located in a former fish market on Anacapa Street), Acme Hospitality has its hands full with Loquita, at the mouth of the Funk Zone, an historically industrial area that’s experiencing a renaissance with artists, restaurants and bars (think Abbot Kinney). True to the meaning of its name — a wild, fun-loving young girl — the festive vibe starts with starburst light fixtures on the ceiling, spills out onto the outdoor patio and sneaks all the way into the back room, which is a tapas bar called Poquita. The chefs in the kitchen dance to their own simmering beats — switching stations, waving utensils, grilling lemons and plating three different types of paella. Loquita isn’t lacking for animals en español. It serves gambas, pulpo, pescado, vaca, cerdo and pollo. The pulpo (octopus) is the right type of tender, seasoned with black garlic aioli and pickled red onion. Kick off your fiesta de comer with a pintxo, like the Manchego with membrillo (quince paste) and pistachio. 

202 State St., Santa Barbara. (805) 880-3380, loquitasb.com.

Images:: Loquita - Spanish Cuisine  

Helena Avenue Bakery

In the heart of the Funk Zone, and housed in the same warehouse as Santa Barbara Wine Collective, Helena Avenue Bakery serves up hearty breakfast sandwiches and freshly baked pastries until 11 a.m., and sandwiches, salads and goodies from the picnic counter till 6 p.m. The green eggs & ham gets its name from green harissa, and the egg & cheddar, with bacon added, gets a flavorful lift from tomato jam. Both are served on a fluffy buttermilk biscuit. The apricot thyme croissant is great for a lighter breakfast. One big bonus at Helena Avenue Bakery, besides the Mexican chocolate doughnuts, is watching the bakers at work behind oversized glass panels, handcrafting baguettes, breads and pastries daily. Some of the grab-and-go items — created by baker Bryan Foehl and sous chef Bridget Bottoms — include a cold fried chicken sandwich on ciabatta with blue cheese and dill pickles, and a summer squash and sun-dried tomato sandwich with mozzarella and arugula. To satisfy a sweet tooth, grab a stout brownie or peanut butter brittle cookie for the road.

131 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara. (805) 880-3383, helenaavenuebakery.com.

Helena Avenue Bakery in the Funk Zone - Rob Stark

The Nook

A third new restaurant to open recently in the Funk Zone, the Nook is the eat to Lama Dog Tap Room’s drink. Bright and airy, long communal tables fill the refurbished shipping container, and there’s a patio, too, that’s perfect for pets. It’s just one of the community gathering spots inside 120 Santa Barbara Street’s Waterline, an industrial warehouse that’s been freshly re-envisioned as a place for food, beer, wine and an artisan collective. The Nook is a family enterprise, started by 35-year food veterans Norbert Schulz and his wife, Brigitte Guehr (creators of a long list of successful restaurants, including Norbert’s and Brigitte’s), and their two adult children. They call what they serve global comfort food: blackened rockfish soft tacos, beer-braised brown sugar pork belly bao bun, lobster mac and cheese and spicy barbecue Jidori chicken wings. Some of the Nook’s dishes have been created with the idea of pairing them with particular beers and wines available inside the Waterline. It would seem a brew is the perfect match for a tempura soft-shell crab sandwich or purple potato waffle and fried chicken.

120 Santa Barbara St., Santa Barbara. (805) 880-3365, waterlinesb.com/the-nook.

Image:: The Nook / The eat to Lama Dog 

The Little Door

What a spectacular re-launch for one of the best restaurant spaces in town located directly across the street from the Historic Santa Barbara courthouse! The Little Door (of West Hollywood fame) is now open in Santa Barbara with a fresh French menu replete with farm to table and sea to table choices. 

The ambiance is high energy in a cozy setting. Cool blue lights above the central chandelier with  a rhythmic European beat playing overhead mixes with the crowd noise to create a fun atmosphere. The patio offers a great view if the courthouse and the bar has seats all around for a great place to socialize with friends.

129 E Anapamu St Santa Barbara, www.thelittledoor.com

Image:: The Little Door, the current home of Piano Riviera Lounge and former home of Elements Restaurant & Bar

Article by: Jessica Koslow - LA Weekly

For the inside scoop on Montecito Estates and Lifestyle call me today.

New Listing :: Carpinteria Country Living

The best of both worlds - country living & beach lifestyle on this peaceful estate in Carpinteria, California. 

6855 Shepard Mesa Road :: Carpinteria California

3 beds | 6 baths | 2,825 sqft

Offered at $3,100,000

Lovely gated Shepard Mesa location on the lower loop of the street with peaceful distant ocean views. Foliage framed patios allow for ultimate feeling of privacy. Nestled on a knoll top, this property suits a comfortable, relaxed country lifestyle. This home has been lovingly restored and remodeled and is move-in ready. Four stall stable includes tack room, feed storage space and dual wash racks. The property features solar panels located on the sunny side roof of the stable. Guest cottage offers privacy for visitors with living room, kitchen space, one full bathroom and one half bathroom, laundry, and bedroom suite. Santa Barbara screens are featured throughout the guest cottage and main house allowing ocean breezes and the sounds of fountains and nature. Welcome home! 

FACTS

• Baths: 4 full, 2 half
• Lot: 4.74 acres
• Single Family
• Built in 1969

FEATURES

• Fireplace
• Flooring: Other
• Hot Tub/Spa
• Parking: Carport, Garage - Detached

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

• PropertyType: Residential
• Source Lot Size Area: Assessor
• View Description: Ocean, Canyon
• Rooms: Stable, Guest House, Master Bedroom, Tack Room

• Style: Ranch
• Eating Areas: Formal Dining Rm, Breakfast Nook
• Lot Description: Landscaped, Horse Property, Horse Property Improved
• Laundry: Laundry Area

For more information on this or other featured listings call Susan today.

Moxi Museum Opens February 25th, 2017

MOXI is nearly complete! Get a sneak peek inside and fly through their finished building. It may be beautiful now, but it's going to be even more exciting once their doors open come Feb 25th, 2017.

Opening Soon

The Science Center: MOXI The Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation

“A major source of local buzz is the arrival of MOXI: The Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation on lower State Street,” says Compass agent Susan Pate. “Located within Santa Barbara’s downtown arts and entertainment district (known by natives as the Funk Zone) and just blocks from the beach, the community’s newest hands-on experience for children (and adults too!) celebrates the spectacular vision of Law & Order creator Dick Wolf and his wife Noelle, who funded the project. A decade in the making, the LEED-certified museum has been designed by local firm AB Design Studio as a 17,000-square-foot space chockful of interactive exhibits conceived by award-winning museum planning firm Gyroscope, Inc., the creative force behind dozens of education hubs from Boston to the Bay Area. Last but not least, a Sky Garden will proffer aerial views of Santa Barbara’s awe-inspiring environs.”

By Brooke Holland, Noozhawk Staff Writer | @NoozhawkNews |

Exhibits will be dedicated to spark interests in science, technology, engineering, arts and math education, or STEAM.

Guests can build a race car and send it flying down a custom designed track, make a creation on a high-tech 3-D printer, or feel gusty winds and launch materials up three wind columns.

Throughout the museum, there will be surfaces to feel, items to launch, sounds to be heard and more than 70 displays.

Once inside the building, the public can also create sound effects for a movie clip, or wander upstairs to experience downtown Santa Barbara on a scenic rooftop, use five observation telescopes, and take in exhibits featuring wind- and solar-powered musical instruments and bubble blowers.

Image :: Exhibits by Moxi - The Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation

The 21st-century museum's exhibits draw on sound, gravity, speed, fundamentals of light, color, interactive media arts and technology.

“It’s a limitless experience, and we want this to be extremely thought provoking,” said MOXI president and CEO Steve Hinkley. “This is an opportunity to educate the public in a fun and complete multi-sensory way. We want people to feel there’s something different every time they visit.”

The displays were created by Tucson, Ariz.-based Creative Machines, Roto and the Science Museum of Minnesota, and designed in partnership with Oakland-based Gyroscope.

“The vast majority of exhibits developed are unique,” Hinkley said. “They don’t exist anywhere else.”

Image :: The Sky Garden - by Moxi - The Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation

Visitors to MOXI’s scenic rooftop Sky Garden will be able to experience downtown Santa Barbara, use five observation telescopes, and take in exhibits featuring wind- and solar-powered musical instruments and bubble blowers. 

In late-October 2016, one of biggest exhibits was installed in MOXI’s main entrance window—the Color Mixing Machine.

The pink, blue, yellow, red, orange and mixture of colors can be observed from State Street and hangs above the main entrance.

Onlookers will also notice the museum name is engraved between the two big arched windows. 

Image :: The Color-Mixing Machine - by Moxi - The Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation

Nestled between the train station and Hotel Indigo, the facility is three floors tall and includes the rooftop Sky Garden with panoramic views.

At MOXI, there will be far more than displays.

MOXI will align with classroom curriculum and help student achieve in STEAM learning, Hinkley said.

Santa Barbara County school districts, private schools and youth programs including the United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County have created relationships with MOXI representatives.

“There’s evidence saying the more senses you engage in the learning process, then you will understand the concept more richly and also remember it better,”  Hinkley said. “There are some exhibits that are auditory-based, sound-based and sensory-based. We are trying to grip every human way of learning experiences, and trying to build exhibits that reflect it.”

MOXI includes a space where visiting school groups can work on projects and will host children camps in spring 2017.

The facility also includes a theater created by UC Santa Barbara's AlloSphere Research Group.

"(The community will) playfully interacting with MOXI’s hands-on exhibits sparks curiosity and creativity," said Director of Education Ron Skinner. "(It's) the processes of exploration and self-discovery combined with creative design and making leads to an understanding of how the world works without the need for heavy science content."

Located at 125 State St., the museum will house a space for special programs, and after-hour events where people 21 years and over can sip drinks, listen to music and explore science and creativity activities. 

Image :: Instagram @moxisb

"MOXI will provide an amazing resource to our community and an entirely unique experience to our guests of all ages," Skinner said. "It is easily accessible to the entire community."

MOXI began reaching out to the public to raise the final funds during the summer, and has $1.5 million left to close out the $25 million capital campaign.

The donations support the design and construction of the exhibits and facility.

General admission for adults will be $14; children ages 3 to 12 are $10; and children under 2 are free.

MOXI members will receive a full year of free general admission, discounts and members-only hours.

Prices for individual members start at $90 annually.

The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, except Thanksgiving and Christmas.

MOXI began when the Children’s Museum of Santa Barbara incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1990, and the museum broke ground in 2014.

Memberships are available now and tickets for the grand opening will be available soon.

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