Riviera

Once blazed by Spanish Missionaries a century and one-half ago, the ancient trail which winds above the hilltops overlooking Santa Barbara is now adorned with prestigious homes and luxurious estates. Real estate aficionados the world over know it as “The American Riviera”. Warmed during the day by healthful California sun, cooled at night by Pacific breezes, this area affords discriminating property owners the absolute best in climate and spellbinding panoramic views.

Located atop the Riviera’s crest is Cuatro Vientos – The Four Winds – a sophisticated estate whose vistas could only be expected aloft in a hot air balloon. To the south, the Channel Islands appear to float on the ocean horizon; inland along the coastline rests the distinctive terra cotta skyline of Santa Barbara, pearl of Pacific California. Northward lie the Tuscan-like ridges of the Santa Ynez Mountains. A famous poet remarked: “God and all his angels could not have created a more perfect landscape”.

Cuatro Vientos combines old world grace and charm with the very best in contemporary American living. No amenity has been spared. No aesthetic has been compromised. This Spanish Colonial Revival masterpiece is revered by architectural historians because it was created in 1929 by Reginald Johnson, architect of Santa Barbara’s famed Biltmore Hotel. The exterior boasts graceful overhangs and balconies, with enlightened fenestration. The front entrance announces the elegance within through huge double doors imported from a castle in Spain! The floor plan is expansive, yet still intimate due to the strict attention paid to interior details – ceilings are magical in their coffering, stenciling, vaulting and beaming.

Fully restored and updated as the centerpiece of a design showcase tour, this estate offers over three acres of splendid landscaping, terraced walkways, a formal rose garden, enormous live-oaks, expansive lawns, guest house and pool-cabana complex.