Dripping with original character and style, this 1920s Mediterranean residence in the affluent seaside enclave of Montectio has undergone an extensive makeover courtesy of its latest owner and is now ready for its next caretaker. The reimagined property will soon return to the market for a dash under $19 million, with the listing held by, who doled out $4 million for the spread in 2022 and then set out to create a “modern-day heirloom.”This $13 Million U.K.
Especially standing out is an entrance foyer displaying a curving staircase, plus a spacious living area adorned with a fireplace, built-in shelving, and several sets of French doors providing seamless indoor-outdoor environs.
Outdoors, the picturesque grounds are dotted with gardens, sculptures, water features, and meandering pathways and host a large pool with a spa and a Baja shelf, a lily pond, a bocce court, and an expansive alfresco entertaining patio with a built-in grill. The home is also just a short jaunt away from Montecito’s Lower Village and the beach.
Balbes has purchased and renovated numerous architecturally significant properties throughout Southern California over the past 30 years, including Lloyd Wright’s neo-Mayan and a 17th-century mansion that once belonged to Hollywood actress Norma Talmadge, both in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Los Feliz.