Mission Canyon Retreat, $2M

Author:Philip Ferrato

To put it simply, Santa Barbara is full of wonderful places to live. Once described as the American Riviera, in the early part of the 20th Century this stretch of California coastline was a magnet for wealthy Midwesterners seeking respite from the cold.

The rich may have built grand Spanish Revival mansions, but there are also charming, small wooden cottages scattered throughout the lush Mission Canyon area. These carpenter-built homes were ideal for the burgeoning community of artists and writers equally drawn to the flawless weather and laid-back lifestyle. And perfect for us now, as well.

This pair of cottages set in a garden are perfect examples of the kind of romantic simplicity that’s still possible in Santa Barbara– the main cottage with the living spaces and  master suite, and across the garden and past the dining pergola, the 1-bed, 1-bath cottage with a media room and artist’s studio.

What We Love: Thoughtful renovations over the years that have honed and polished this intimate pair of cottages and their gardens, and the beadboard paneled kitchen, below, is a perfect example of the thought that went into every update.

The master suite opens to the patio and a luxurious spa bath. These vintage cottages are notoriously short on closet space, so the elegantly practical solution here was to transform a bedroom into a closet/dressing room.

More: Go to the listing link below or the dedicated site for additional images, floor plans, plus a very seductive video that really tells the story best. Represented by Dusty Baker of Sotheby’s International Realty.

839 Mission Canyon Road, Santa Barbara
3-beds, 3-baths
$1,995,000

Photo Credit: Jim Bartsch Photography for Sotheby’s International Realty