montecito

Diandra Douglas Slices $5 Million Off Montecito Home

Filed under: Estates, Celebrity Shopping

Finally a dose of real estate wisdom from Diandra Douglas. We've been following the saga of Michael Douglas' ex-wife as she fights for a share of Michael Douglas' earnings from Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps." Her case, which hinges on a clause in their divorce that said that she was entitled to profits from spin-offs from his existing projects, was rejected in New York but is currently under consideration in California. All the while, Douglas has kept her Montecito, California home firmly priced at $29 million for nearly a year. But when I looked recently the price had been dropped down to $24 million.

The former Mrs. Douglas owns an enviable spread in Montecito, the ultra-pricey enclave that is home to Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres and others. The Tuscan villa is on over seven acres which is actually divided into two lots. It is rumored that she got a $45 million settlement in the divorce as well as this home. The Real Estalker reported that the home was purchased way back in 1979 for just $275,000. The 1920s Mediterranean has large iron gates and a motor court leading up to the grand home. The home has been recently updated and has a 75' pool, guesthouse, tennis court, Japanese water garden and green lawns from which to take in the ocean views. Tile floors, dark wood beams, vaulted ceilings and arched French doors all add to the feeling of classic Californian Mediterranean style. The pool/guest house offers another living room and kitchen.

Gallery: Diandra Douglas in Montecito

Tags: california real estate, celebrity real estate, diandra douglas, montecito

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The Ultimate Car Collector's Crash Pad, Yours for a Cool $35 Million

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Luxury Cars & Autos, Architecture & Design

For a cool $35 million you can get the ultimate car collector's crash pad in Montecito, California, a modernist masterpiece designed to house a world-class collection of 35 cars – that's $1 million per car – in a stunning automotive art gallery. Walls and pillars lined in walnut give way to massive plate glass windows fronting on a sweeping terrace so that the car collection is integrated into life of the house. Of course you also get 15,000-square-feet of living space into the bargain. Designed by architect Steve Hermann and dubbed the Glass Pavilion in homage to the late Philip Johnson, it's set within a 3.5 acre estate of oak groves near to where Al Gore recently spent nearly $9 million on a Mediterranean-style mansion. Other famous neighbors include Oprah WInfrey, Steve Martin, Jeff Bridges and John Cleese. Massive structural steel beams allow for acres of glass that appear to be floating above the rolling lawns. The kitchens and baths are fitted out by famous names such as Varena, Poliform and Antonio Lupi. In each category the "best and most exciting products from around the world" were sourced to make the entire house, which took six years to compete, utterly flawless.

Gallery: Car Collector's Glass Pavilion

[via JamesList]

Tags: Al Gore, architect, architecture, California, car collection, cars, classic cars, estates, Montecito, real estate, Steve Hermann

Webb Project in Santa Barbara, Estate of the Day

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Located in the coveted Montecito Golden Quadrangle, this colonial style home with modern amenities boasts ten bedrooms, ten bathrooms, two three-car garages, a two-bedroom guest house, separate pool house with kitchen and outdoor fireplace, extensive gardens, library, movie theater and wine cellar. The extensive veranda surrounding the rear of the home provides the perfect spot to eat, drink and celebrate with friends and family while soaking in the views. If you like the sound of water the property features a small meandering brook, koi pond, and fountains.

Situated on almost five acres of lush land, this incredible new construction envisioned by designers Robert and Joey Webb is currently on the market for $42.5 million. Overlooking both the mountains and the ocean this estate gives one the best of both worlds. Within walking distance of State Street's Paseo Nuevo outdoor shopping center and only blocks from the Santa Barbara beach and pier one can take advantage of beach activities and fantastic restaurants easily. It is likely you'll run into a celebrity or two along the way as well.

Gallery: Montecito Estate

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Tags: california estate, california real estate, estate of the day, joey webb, montecito, montecito golden quadrangle, paseo nuevo, robert webb, santa barbara, santa barbara estate

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Al Gore Buys A Montecito Mansion

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Celebrity Shopping

Former Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper, have joined the rich and famous who call Montecito home. The LA Times reports that "Incovenient Truth" author spent $8.875 million for an oceanview home on 1.5 acres. The property includes a swimming pool, spa and fountains. Like many other homes in the area this one is a Mediterranean-style home. It has six fireplaces and five bedrooms.

A variety of celebrities live in the area which is located in California's Santa Barbara county. Many celebrities including Oprah Winfrey and Rob Lowe own Montecito homes. It boasts some of California's most expensive real estate. The Gores also own a large mansion in the Belle Meade area of Nashville, Tennessee.

Tags: al gore, celebrity real estate, montecito, tipper gore

French Countryside Style In Montecito, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

If you love the charming look of the French countryside but aren't ready to move abroad, this estate in Montecito, California offers a chance to experience a more European style while safely ensconced in the land of blue skies and celebrity neighbors. The garden is surrounded by a 45-acre nature preserve and 45 acre estate for added privacy and the house belongs to the association of Ennisbrook which means that the owners have access to amenities that include clubhouses, pools and tennis courts.

The house is only ten years old but was designed with an eye toward creating a slice of the French countryside. The two acre property includes a large single-level main house, a separate guest house and garage that create a courtyard. The main house and guest house have high ceilings, lime washed walls and handmade tile floors updated with one comfort you usually won't find in Provence, radiant heat. The gourmet kitchen has an attached loggia for indoor-outdoor living. Listing pictures reveal a magical landscape with bridges, ponds, cottages and what appears to be a rather fancy aviary. Another thing that sets this one apart is vines. Vines crawl the outside of the structures which isn't that unusual but in this case it looks like the vines have come inside sprawling across the ceiling in . The effect is charming but you still might want to bring your pruning shears or have a gardener on staff. This home is listed at $7.5 million with Sotheby's.

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Tags: california, california real estate, CaliforniaRealEstate, ennisbrook, estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay, luxury real estate, LuxuryRealEstate, montecito, southern california real estate, SouthernCaliforniaRealEstate

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Diandra Douglas in Montecito, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Today's estate belongs to Diandra Douglas, the former wife of Michael Douglas. The former Mrs. Douglas owns an enviable spread in Montecito, the ultra-pricey enclave that is home to Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres and others. The Tuscan villa is on over seven acres which is actually divided into two lots. It is rumored that she got a $45 million settlement in the divorce as well as the home that is our estate of the day.

The Real Estalker says that the home was purchased way back in 1979 by the Douglases for just $275,000. This is way before Montecito became the fashionable area it is today. The 1920s Mediterranean has large iron gates and a motor court leading up to the grand home. The home has been recently updated and has a 75' pool, guesthouse, tennis court, Japanese water garden and green lawns from which to take in the ocean views. Tile floors, dark wood beams, vaulted ceilings and arched French doors all add to the feeling of classic Californian Mediterranean style. The pool/guest house offers another living room and kitchen. The home is listed at $29 million, hugely expensive but par for the course in Montecito.

Gallery: Diandra Douglas in Montecito

Tags: california, california real estate, CaliforniaRealEstate, celebrity real estate, CelebrityRealEstate, diandra douglas, DiandraDouglas, estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay, luxury real estate, LuxuryRealEstate, michael douglas, MichaelDouglas, montecito

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Villa Pelican, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Today's estate in pricey Montecito, California could actually, even at the high price of $18.8 million practically be considered a deal. After all this beachside home was once listed at $34 million (I also spotted an old listing for $24.75 million). The home has views of the Santa Barbara coastline, mountains and Channel islands all from the privacy of a gated enclave. The property has a historic renovated Monterey Colonial main house with eight bedrooms and a three-car garage as well as a beach cabana, guest house and a fenced in beach area. A second parcel is also available for an additional cost and is home to a pool, patios, fountains and has permits for building a new four bedroom home. The main home is an odd mix, for the most part it has the casual look of a beach house but some rooms have a more formal and luxurious look. You can't beat the location, Fernald Cove is one of the most desired areas in this celebrity-filled town.

Gallery: Villa Pelican

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Tags: estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay, luxury real estate, LuxuryRealEstate, montecito, villa pelican, VillaPelican

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Fernald Point, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Most homes in Montecito California seem a little grown-up as if you have to be of a certain age to enjoy the storied pleasures of this seaside enclave. Today's home would be the perfect choice for someone in the enviable position of having both youth and a ton of money. Or maybe I'm just swayed by the comic panel art in one of the bedrooms. Either way, this home on Fernald Point is absolutely gorgeous. The contemporary seven-bedroom home sits right on the water and is made with many beautiful exotic woods including ipê, padauk, ebony and South American mahogany. There is an excellent chef's kitchen; and a temperature-controlled wine room and a wet bar complement the dining room. You don't get a pool with this one but you do get several decks including one right on the shore in order to enjoy the ocean. This home is listed at $29.5 million.

Gallery: Fernald Point

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Tags: california real estate, estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay, fernald point, FernaldPoint, luxury real estate, montecito, southern california real estate

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Earleton Cottage, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

I know I don't need to school you on Montecito, California, the pricey enclave near Santa Barbara which is home to so many celeb getaway homes and some of the steepest prices in the state. Today's home is a freshly renovated turn-of-the-century carriage house that was part of the Earleton Lodge estate, built in 1907. The carriage house is cottage cute with a board and batten exterior and pitched roof. Inside it has been beautifully decorated by interior designer, John Roberts. It's absolutely charming with rooms straight out of the Crate and Barrel catalog. No pool but you do get some great outdoor entertaining spaces with sun lounges and an outdoor fireplace and there are ocean views from the upper floor. But for a four-bedroom home on less than an acre, $12 million is a bit steep (Zillow's zestimate has it at $4,876,582). Bigger pics of all that fantastic interior design are in the gallery.

Gallery: Eartleton Cottage

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Tags: california real estate, estate of the day, montecito, santa barbara, SantaBarbara

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Terra Acqua Stone Vessel Sinks

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

I've seen a lot of very pretty sinks in my surfings around the net, and I have to say this amber Rivenrock Terra Acqua Stone Vessel is one of my absolute favorites! Cut from boulders found in riverbeds in Yunnan each one is unique and beautiful in its own way. The full Montecito Stone collection includes vessels of all shapes, sizes, and colors created of stones from around the world. The Miramar basin of natural queen stone also strikes me, with varied bands of contrasting color streaking throughout. Priced at $1,195 and up.

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Tags: acqua, basin, basins, carve, carved, montecito, queen, rivenrock, river, sink, sinks, stone, stones, terra acqua, TerraAcqua, vessel, vessels

Montecito Hills, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Most listings appeal to the visual sense, this one, I look at and I can easily imagine the smell of sunwarmed rocks, spicy manzanita and other bushes, and very faintly, the scent of the sea drifting in from the distance. This home is in Montecito but is a bit less formal than many of the homes we have seen in the area. This unique weekend getaway is created from site-made adobe bricks. It sits on 8.5 acres of hillside with native trees and plants and small ponds. The home has heavy wood lintels and interior beams, wood floors and doors, tile details and cool white walls. Over 5,000 square feet and how many bedrooms? Just the one, although there is an office that could perhaps be used as a bedroom. Only two baths too. It is listed at $11.275 million. After the jump, a beautifully tiled doorway.

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Tags: california, estate of the day, luxury real estate, montecito

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Belle Epoque, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Oh those computer guys, they have a habit of building monster homes. Norman Waitt, Jr. co-founder of Gateway had a hankering for a vacation home (and why not, he lives in Omaha, Nebraska, he could use a little sun). So where else but Montecito, the place where Oprah and others with the wherewithal to jet in for weekend getaways chose to nest. According to Ben Casselman of the Wall Street Journal, Mr. Waitt built a roughly 12,000-square-foot home, known as "Belle Époque." He picked up the property in 2003 for $12.6 million, tore down the existing house and spent the last four years creating his dream home. Now that it is done, he's done, deciding to sell without ever settling in. He put the house on the market last year for $24.8 million and has now dropped it to $22.5 million.

Belle Epoque was designed to maximize the views and make sure that plenty of gorgeous Santa Barbara light flooded the home. It has a large formal living room with gently curved French doors. The dining room is designed for dining in the round and more French doors open to the terrace. The breakfast room faces east to catch the morning sun There is a conservatory with custom gothic style windows and doors, Carrera marble flooring and thresholds and motorized windows. Key details include antique light fixtures, tiles, glass mosaics, refurbished bath fixtures, old stone tops and exquisite reclaimed antique oak flooring. The 2.76-acre property has a pool and spa, formal garden, meditation garden and three-car garage. After the jump, take a look around and let me know in the comments if you would rather have this home in Montecito or Ellen's?

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Tags: belle epoque, BelleEpoque, gateway computers, montecito, norman wiatt

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Ellen's Montecito Mansion, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Celebrity Shopping

Like Oprah, Ellen DeGeneres has a lavish Montecito getaway house but unlike Oprah, Ellen is on the move. She and her partner Portia Di Rossi have put their Montecito home on the market. This beautiful home was built in 1926 by George Washington Smith who designed many lovely homes in the Santa Barbara, Calif. area. The house was renovated a few years back before Ellen bought it less than six months ago. The estate has a four-bedroom main house that includes a 1,300-square-foot master suite, a dining room with a curved stairway, a wine cellar, billiards room, a library and an office. The property also has a guesthouse, a studio, a tennis court and a pool/spa. According to Berg Properties, Ellen also recently sold a 20-acre estate at 2710 Roundup Road in Santa Ynez, Calif., for $3,050,000 and sold a 119.8-acre agricultural property in Santa Ynez for an undisclosed price. Is the house worth $9 million more than it was just six months ago? Probably not but it's lovely just the same. The home is listed at $24 million. After the jump, check out the staging on the home: They set out lemonade in one shot and watermelon in one another.

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Tags: california real estate, ellen degeneres, EllenDegeneres, estate of the day, luxury real estate, montecito, portia dirossi

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El Furieides, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Imagine for a moment you are moving to Montecito, CA and you'd really like to make a splash, maybe make Oprah and Ellen DeGeneres and the other famous residents of this town take notice and maybe even angle for an invitation. If so, let your wallet guide you to "El Fureides" the first grandaddy of Montecito estates. It's another great estate which was designed by renowned architect, Bertram Goodhue, this one for New York businessman James W. Gillespie in 1906. The home measures around 10,000 sq ft and is full of dramatic touches like gilded ceilings, domes and vaults with a definite Moorish influence. The home has five bedrooms and the gardens include a variety of water features. $37.5 million gets you a home famous enough to have its own vintage postcards. After the jump, you'll want to entertain Oprah in the under the gilded dome.

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Tags: california, estate of the day, montecito, real estate

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Pariso Verde, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Yesterday we checked out a Stanford White home now check out a home designed by another famed American architect from the past, Betram Grosvenor Goodhue. Pariso Verde,located in Montecito, California has a very different type of appeal. It relies heavily on Spanish design. The home was recently expanded and remodeled. The 7,600-square-foot home captures the feel of Goodhue's orignal design but with an unpgraded gloss of modern luxury. The real history lies outside the home in the garden landscapes conceived by Lockwood de Forest which includes water features, stone pathways and columns. It is listed at $25 million. After the jump, these grounds were made for walking.

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Tags: architecture, california, estate of the day, montecito, real estate, santa barbara, SantaBarbara

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