Lights, Camera...Home!
We Live In Paradise
At a fundraising event, everything was coming up roses—and hydrangeas, dahlias, and more
JORDANA BREWSTER renovated a 100-year-old house as a weekend getaway for her newly blended family, then realized she never wanted to leave
A pioneer in our midst: the legendary RENNY YATER and board members of the Hope Ranch Surf Club
Designer Doni Nahmias returns to his roots, rolling through bowl corners at Carpinteria’s new skate park.
Susan Read Cronin
Bronze sculptures with humorous and allegorical themes
Otto
Bronze Limited Edition of 24
4” H x 4” W x 7” D
What’s Now
For many Ojai residents, the parlor game of assembling a fantasy dinner party would likely include the irrepressible local ceramicist Beatrice Wood, who passed away in 1998 at the age of 105.
These chic shops and markets carry everything you need for a well-curated home and kitchen
Ten-year-old MATE GALLERY, located in Montecito’s Country Mart (the retail compound and de facto community center of Montecito), is home to all things nautical—from clothing and vintage accessories to home furnishings.
Aman Resorts are known for boutique properties that epitomize remote splendor, and perhaps nothing in their portfolio fulfills that promise better than AMANGIRI.
The concept behind the newly expanded DOMECÍL boutique on State Street is to showcase unique and handmade items for the home.
Although it’s only a five-minute drive from Paso Robles’ town square, Steve Werndorf’s mystical micro hotel, INN PARADISO, feels like a world unto itself.
DUO LUTO is both a store and a brand conceived by Ojai ceramic artists Fanny Penny and Nicholas Ali.
In 1970 society photographer Slim Aarons captured Mr. and Mrs. J. Gordon Douglas at the steps of their hillside Montecito estate.
Wallpaper is so 2023. Suddenly every hot workspace, restaurant, and home wants a wall that does more—a wall that’s alive.
In Partnership
A fresh Golden Quadrangle estate features five newly fashioned structures across three sculpted acres—adding up an elegantly harmonious whole.
A charming 1948 Spanish-Mediterranean home with vivid Santa Barbara hilltop views is faithfully renewed for the 21st century.
The longstanding luxury agent and his group are on a perpetual mission—to highlight the beauty of real estate and satisfy the most discerning clients in the business.
In Partnership with Santa Barbara Magazine
An enchanting ultra-private estate located in the heart of Montecito in the highly sought-after Cold Spring School District. Enter the gated 1+/- acre property, and you will find not only one, but two inviting homes providing a modern compound on the manicured park-like grounds designed for entertaining and serenity. Privacy coupled with proximity, the property is close to the Montecito villages, hiking trails, beaches, shopping, fine dining, and all that Montecito has to offer, making it the ideal place to call home. Presented by Emily Kellenberger & Associates | Offered at $6.750 million Learn More
Welcome to 330 Salida Del Sol, where the Mesa lifestyle seamlessly merges with modern luxury. This meticulously reimagined 3-bedroom, 2-bath home with an office offers a perfect balance of timeless elegance and contemporary comfort. Architectural highlights include a raised roof creating a spacious family area, vaulted ceilings, and a stunning sandstone tile fireplace that commands attention in the living room. Step into the thoughtfully designed kitchen with custom cabinetry, high-end appliances, quartz countertops, and a large island perfect for entertaining. The primary suite is a haven of relaxation, featuring a vaulted ceiling, luxurious bathroom, and custom-built closet. Outside, enjoy gatherings around the custom-built fire pit and Pennsylvania blue stone patio, or take advantage of the spa-ready electrical setup in the turfed backyard. This home also boasts newer construction, upgraded electrical wiring, solar panels, and modern conveniences like a wired Ring system and dual zoned heating/air conditioning. Presented by The Easter Team | Offered at $4.250 million Learn More
This stunning duplex located in Montecito offers a great investment opportunity for those looking for coastal living at its finest. It is situated near popular attractions such as the Miramar Hotel and Coral Casino, many restaurants, galleries, and boutiques along Coast Village Road. The private drive creates a serene atmosphere for the dual townhomes with designer-quality amenities and stylishly appointed living spaces. Each unit features 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a 2-car garage, an updated kitchen, private enclosed yards, and vaulted wood ceilings in the living areas. Private balconies with stunning mountain views and proximity to the best beaches in California make this investment property a fantastic opportunity for dual living or the savvy investor seeking significant income-producing value in the Coastal Zone. Presented by Marsha Kotlyar Estate Group | Offered at $6.375 million Learn More
After a winding dramatic approach, enter a modern architectural masterpiece by renowned Barbara Bestor, uniquely positioned atop its private aerie with unparalleled serenity while basking in spectacular views and immersed in nature. Through the courtyard terrace with fireplace discovery continues at the front door opening to a spectacular view of the Santa Barbara coastline. Retractable walls of glass transform the interior into a dramatic garden pavilion anchored by an open kitchen and sitting area flanked by glass walls merging with natural wilderness ambiance. The primary bedroom with private mountain-view terrace, yoga/exercise room and two additional bedrooms, media room share the single level home with three terraces. The detached guest house sleeps up to four comfortably. The infinity edge pool truly appears to merge with the Pacific Ocean. Presented by Randy Solakian Estates Group | Offered at $9.950 million Learn More
This home offers the epitome of oceanfront luxury, featuring sprawling grounds, impeccable design, and breathtaking ocean views. Resting on 4.3 flat park-like acres, with 350 feet of bluff front, this estate redefines coastal living, providing an unparalleled retreat of sophistication and serenity on one of the most sought-after locations. Beyond the gates, a long, enchanting driveway opens, leading you into a coastal oasis with lush gardens and breathtaking ocean vistas. At its heart, the main residence welcomes guests with an elegant and inviting ambiance. Dotted with specimen trees, the estate features a professionally designed putting green for recreation, along with meandering pathways leading to a tranquil koi pond, fragrant rose garden, and a mesmerizing ocean-view terrace, creating idyllic outdoor spaces for nature enthusiasts and those seeking scenic relaxation. The Santa Ynez mountains to the north and the vast Pacific horizon to the southwest transform 3055 Padaro Lane into an exceptional coastal haven where nature's beauty enriches every facet of daily life. Presented by Riskin Partners Estate Group | Offered at $63 million Learn More
From its secluded and peaceful ocean-view perch in Hope Ranch, this stunning estate offers an opulent oasis difficult to rival. Boasting more than 10,300 square feet of living space, beautifully and extensively renovated in 2015, the 2.5-acre property checks nearly every box: a 8,100+ sq. ft. main residence, a spacious guesthouse, a pool and pool house, a tennis court, an exercise center, gated security, and privacy — a true luxury compound tucked away on one of the most desirable streets in Hope Ranch. Presented by the Dusty Baker Group | Offered at $19.950 million Learn More
Block Party
Enjoy a rambling tour of downtown’s home stores; you’ll be sure to discover something special to brighten your day (and your abode)
Ideas for reveling in the Southern California lifestyle abound in the boutiques here, plus the beach is just across the way
Everyone seems to know everyone else in this low-key, close-knit beach town with a penchant for vintage wares
Under the gaze of the Topa Topa Mountains you’ll find a big design destination with a small-town charm
Wine, windmills, and wide-open spaces set the stage for design-detailed lodging, home, and garden havens
Awarded gold medals in 2022 and 2023 by the Sommeliers Choice Awards, Champagne Alexandra Sainz is a unique and exclusive Grand Cru Champagne.
Folded Hills Winery is a small family-owned winery located at the gateway to Santa Ynez Valley just off the 101 between Las Cruces and Buellton just 4.5 miles from the Pacific Ocean.
La Lieff is a small, vibrant, women-owned wine company producing Rhône Varietals along the California Central Coast.
Tomi Cellars is the winery project from film industry veterans Boyd Shermis and Denise Davis.
Book Club
Tomes to keep you dreaming
After surviving the 2018 Montecito mudslide, Mary Firestone interviewed trauma survivors and now shares her own harrowing story in Trusting the Dawn (Sounds True, $26). The book lends a fresh take on healing modalities, focusing on connection, hope, and choosing joy. Firestone says, “Experiencing extreme growth, positive change, and a new, wondrous perspective on what it means to be alive can contribute to a more connected, dynamic life on the other side [of trauma].”
In a bright, heartfelt, humorous memoir, 3 Sisters, 3 Weeks, 3 Countries (Still Talking)(BookBaby, $15), Elizabeth Moore Kraus proves that sometimes it takes being a half world away (specifically Ireland, England, Scotland) to rediscover things about yourself and the people—in this case three sisters in their 60s, Liz, Les, and Rie—you love. “Eat, Pray, Love this is not,” the author says. “Think more along the lines of Eat. Laugh. Lost. That’s something the Moore sisters do, oh, so very well.”
A Map to Your Soul (Rodale Books, $26), by Dr. Jennifer Freed, sheds light on the elements (fire, earth, air, water) that manifest in each of us. The guide helps readers discover their personal map, with self-care rituals to design their best life. “I wanted to share a pathway to full self-expression, turning gifts and strengths into community contribution,” says Freed, Goop’s resident psychological astrologer. “Getting elemental is the best way I know to teach the fundamental and worldwide basics of astrology.”
All Signs Point to Paris (Mariner Books, $29) is a rom-com-like memoir of one woman’s search for a second chance at love. Author Natasha Sizlo—“divorced, broke, freshly heartbroken, and reeling from her father’s death”—is gifted a session with L.A.’s most sought-after astrologist, who tells her that an ex is “the one,” because his birthdate and birthplace (November 2, 1968; Paris, France) line up with her astrological point of destiny. The nonbeliever says, “Oui” and books a ticket to Paris with her sister and two besties for the trip of a lifetime.
California Elegance: Portraits From the Final Frontier (Mondadori, available at Chaucer’s Books) profiles people who have shaped the destiny of the Golden State, including scientists, politicians, designers, firefighters, and, appropriately, treasured local denizen Mahri Kerley, who has elegantly helmed the venerable Chaucer’s Books since 1974.
For a taste of eye candy, pick up Michael Haber: The Elements (Art/Society Publishing, available at Field + Fort), a large-format tome featuring a curated collection of images snapped by the talented local lensman during the course of his awardwinning career producing stunning commercial campaigns for the likes of The Gap, Old Navy, and Tommy Bahama. Don’t miss the author’s book signing on December 11, 3-6 p.m., at Summerland’s Field + Fort.
Artist Symeon Shimin (1902-1984)—whose work includes an important mural at Washington’s Department of Justice building and the movie poster for Gone With the Wind—is being rediscovered thanks to The Art of Symeon Shimin (Mercury Press International, available at Tecolote Book Shop). The book is edited by his daughter, UC Santa Barbara dance professor emerita Tonia Shimin, with essays by local arts writers Charles Donelan and Josef Woodard.
(Flatiron Books, available at Chaucer’s Books) is an insightful (and often witty) firsthand account by UC Santa Barbara student Via Bleidner detailing her experiences attending high school in the land where McMansions and Kardashians are the norm.
Architecture buffs will be thrilled to know that Santa Barbara Architecturefrom Spanish Colonial to Modern (Tailwater Press, available at tailwaterpress.com) is back in print. The latest update of this comprehensive compendium—which was first published in 1975—includes a foreword by local architect Marc Appleton and images by local photographer Wayne McCall.
Alexandra and Michael Misczynski, the wife-and-husband team behind the L.A. design firm Atelier AM, showcase eight of their new projects in Houses: Atelier AM (Rizzoli New York, $70), with photographs by François Halard. rizzoliusa.com.
In Partnership with Santa Barbara Magazine
Great Schools
From Pre-Kindergarten through 12th Grade, throughout Santa Barbara
South Coast Montessori offers an authentic Montessori program for children 3 months through 12 years old.
Ojai Valley School is an independent boarding & day school for 290 students — Pre-K through 12th grade — on two campuses in Ojai.
Located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, Anacapa School is an independent, co-educational school for grades 7-12 that offers a high-quality education in an enriching environment.
Crane Country Day School is a co-educational Kindergarten–8th Grade independent school located on 11 beautiful acres in Montecito.
Laguna Blanca—your potential is our passion. At Laguna Blanca, it is impossible to fly beneath the radar.
Since 1965, Montessori Center School has developed children ages 18 months to sixth grade into independent, self-motivated, confident learners.
Equip your student to pursue a life of purpose with Providence: Santa Barbara's only Christian school serving preschool through 12th grade.
Founded in 1976, Santa Barbara Middle School is an independent co-educational day school specializing in grades 6-9.