Downtown

Designed in 1926 by Joseph Plunkett (of the renowned firm Edwards and Plunkett, designers of Santa Barbara's Arlington Theater and other local landmarks) in the style of an English country home, complete with vibrant, extensive gardens, and a stunning integration of original old-world charm with stylish interiors and modern conveniences, this gorgeous three bedroom, three bathroom home is located in one of Santa Barbara's most prestigious and desirable neighborhoods. While central to the amenities of the downtown area and the community events at the Mission/Rose Garden complex, behind the electronic privacy gates is a world apart; a retreat filled with the loveliest flowers, fountains, and the sounds of birds.

Meticulously remodeled in 2000, with care given to maintaining the original character of the Plunkett’s design, the bathrooms and kitchen in particular were redesigned and updated to suit modern needs. Some of the main points involved in the remodel follow:

• Custom cabinetry designed and installed throughout the home.
• All new lighting and electrical wiring installed with new electrical panel.
• All plumbing and fixtures updated throughout.
• All original wood flooring has been restored, with new wood flooring matched to the extension in the master bedroom, and the sunroom.
• All of the original window and door hardware was restored and re-plated. All of the doors in the house are original, except the two custom Dutch doors in the kitchen and sun room.

Living Room

This elegant and dramatically spacious two-story room invites the garden inside through its South-facing window wall of divided lights. The spectacular setting frames the traditional perspective of the English garden, with stately mature trees in the distance at the edge of the property. Other highlights of the room are the fabulous carved fireplace, opera balcony, and distinctive exposed beamed ceilings so characteristic of Joseph Plunkett designs.

Dining Room

A lovely room for entertaining guests, or serving a family meal, the dining room is located adjacent to the kitchen and its handy food staging area just inside the swing door. French doors original to the home separate the dining room from the adjacent sun/family room.

Sun or Family Room

The perfect room for gathering, with garden-view filled windows from which to observe the colors of the sunset while the fountain bubbles away and a fresh afternoon breeze wafts in the open Dutch door.

Kitchen

Completely remodeled in keeping with the style and era of the house while integrating the conveniences necessary to the modern chef, the kitchen is fitted with abundant custom cabinetry and a gourmet Viking range/oven, Sub-Zero refrigerator, Viking wine storage cabinet, Miele dishwasher, and a stacking washer/dryer tucked away in a pantry area. Counter tops are elegant, substantial surfaces of black granite, enhanced by the traditional white tile back splash in the English manner. A separate bar prep area features a French metal sink with hand-crafted faucet and glass cabinets above. The beautiful English china farm sink rests on custom turned farm-style table legs, under the original kitchen window, which was restored during the remodel, and affords views of birds bathing in the front garden fountain. Convenient for food staging and transporting plates to the dining room is a substantial, built-in mahogany topped butler’s cabinet.

Study/Ground Floor Bedroom

Opening off the kitchen, this inviting room offers views of the luxuriant front garden azaleas, camellias, and hydrangeas. It also has its own entrance to the powder bath.

Powder Bath

Completely remodeled with marble tile oversized shower and marble slab counter top, this elegant room is accessible from the foyer and the study/bedroom. All of the fixtures were custom plated to match the restored hardware original to the home.

Stairway

This wonderful old-world stairway offers three landings, the topmost being the opera balcony from which a dramatic perspective of the living room can be viewed.

Second-Floor Hallway

Separating the two larger bedrooms, the hallway ceiling has a pull-down serviceable stairway for access to the attic.

Master Bedroom

Delicately expanded in order maintain the Plunkett design proportions, custom closets and storage were added to this lovely room, including a remote controlled cabinet concealing the television. Views of the rear gardens are enjoyed from this room, as well as sunsets and Mesa views in the distance.

Master Bathroom

Lovingly remodeled with his and her sinks flanking the original window, traditional white and gray marble slab counter surfaces with custom edges, and a spacious shower enclosed by thick glass, affording a feeling of space and light.

Guest Room

Every guest will feel pampered in this light, bright and charming room with plenty of convenient storage and views of the mountains and the ocean. Adjacent, the guest bath offers custom cabinetry, and mosaic tile details decorate the floor and tub surround.

The Gardens

Front Garden

This garden is designed around flowering cycles, so that it is filled with some type of blooming plant virtually year-round.  During Santa Barbara’s mild winter season, the garden is full of blooming azaleas in varying shades of pinks and whites, and as these begin to fade, the camellias begin to bloom in pink and white as the hydrangeas are still filling in. Several varieties of glorious hydrangeas bloom in succession throughout the summer season. As the blooming continues, the ferns begin to leaf out, and fill in areas around the boulders. Over the years, the garden fountain has been a must-stop for many species of migrating and local birds to bathe and drink, providing an endless source of interest and amusement.

Upper Rear Garden

The hedged areas around the outer perimeter are filled all summer long with constantly blooming white iceberg roses, while the inner hedged areas surrounding the fountain are filled with red traviata roses. Near the living room window and bird bath grow lusciously fragrant roses which once languished from neglect, but have been lovingly restored along with the other elements of the house. Spectacular heirloom and snowball hydrangeas, as well as bearded iris also grace this portion of the garden.

Lower Rear Yard

Extensively landscaped with hedges, roses, fruit trees, and brick walkways, as well as raised beds for growing vegetables. Fruit trees include persimmon, fig, lemon, orange, grapefruit, lime, a young avocado tree and a grape arbor. At the far end of the yard resides a picturesque English style garden shed.

Garage

Two-car garage with abundant storage and additional storage in the garage attic.

Gates

The gates were custom designed to blend in with the character of the house, and to provide security and a sense of privacy and retreat from the city outside. The electronic gate across the driveway operates with a key pad, and the decorative lattice gate has a keyed lock. A clever and decorative waste receptacle enclosure near the gate keeps the cans out of sight, but accessible to collection without entering the front yard.