Summerland

     A Taste of Tuscany 

It’s as if a 5-acre piece of Tuscany has been transported to this beautiful hill just south of prestigious Montecito, California.  Near the top of a winding private road lined with bougainvilleas and native vegetation, and just beyond the property’s gates, a stunning Tuscan-style villa awaits. 

Enter the welcoming motor court -- bordered by mature olive trees, graced with the soothing sounds of a large fountain and embellished with trumpet vines – and know that you’ve left the everyday world behind.  Just minutes away, however, the quaint village of Summerland, the discriminating shopping and restaurants of Montecito, the culture of Santa Barbara and the splendor of the Pacific Ocean and its pristine beaches await you.

Simply opening the door to the 3,500 +- square-foot main residence provides a breathtaking experience.  Your gaze at once carries you through the entry hall with its dramatic vaulted ceiling, into and beyond the sunken living room accented by a large fireplace and hand-hewn beam ceilings, through the French doors to the courtyard and its 10-foot reflecting pool framed by mature, manicured pepper trees, and finally sweeps you along a dramatic canyon to one of the most spectacular views imaginable of the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands.

That magnificent scene, as well as vistas of the mountains, a neighboring hillside orchard and even the property’s own pristine section of canyon, comprises an unforgettable and ever-changing view visible from nearly every room in the home. 

For example, the impressive master suite, with its intimate fireplace and private terrace, provides the entire panorama.  Lounging in the sumptuous master bath tub and gazing out of its large window, you might find yourself watching hawks gliding lazily above your canyon or the nearby orchard.  Likewise, the expansive gourmet kitchen and adjacent family room offer spectacular views of their own.

The main residence is also endowed with a distinguished formal dining room, two additional bedrooms with adjoining bathroom, a laundry room and substantial closets and storage throughout.
Guests will be pampered in either of the two guest cottages.  A 500-square foot, two-bedroom, one bath bungalow offers French doors opening to massive, mature oak trees and views of the nearby valley and orchard.  The second cottage, attached to the two-car garage and spacious storage room, provides a single bedroom and bath.  Its vaulted ceiling and skylight create an ambience of warmth and welcome.

Strolling the grounds of this “taste of Tuscany,” you can almost feel it beckoning you to pluck a trumpet flower from its vine, crush a small stem from one of the rosemary hedges and relish its heady scent, or simply relax in the courtyard, savor the world-class view and enjoy a glass of Sangiovese.  “Saluto!  Ciao!”