Santa Barbara

RADIANT ESCAPE

MOSAÏQUE SURFACE

Daniel Gibbings

Sotheby’s - Dusty Baker

HOPE RANCH

ICONIC AND TIMELESS, a 3-acre compound with private beach access and unrivaled views.

PRICE UPON REQUEST

FLOORING

UNMATCHED REPRESENTATION OF EXCEPTIONAL LUXURY REAL ESTATE

40 YEARS OF SUSTAINABLE BUILDING 100% EMPLOYEE OWNED

Coastal Properties -

LE T TER

LIVE CONTRIBU TORS

50 people, places, and must-haves we’re loving right now

BE LIKE THE BUNGALOW

Written by Olivia Joffrey. Photographs by Matt Albiani

RANCH HANDS

Written by Jennifer Blaise Kramer. Photographs by Sara Prince

BOLTS OF LIGHTNING

Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter

ON THE WATERFRONT

Written by Joan Tapper. Photographs by Joe Schmelzer

A SEAT AT THE TABLE

Written by Jennifer Blaise Kramer. Photographs by Sara Prince and Danielle Rubi

BACK PAGE

J. Walter Collinge at SB Historical Museum

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR + CEO

Jennifer Smith

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Gina Tolleson

CREATIVE CONSULTANT

James Timmins

MANAGING EDITOR

Sarah Rutledge

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR

Lesley McKenzie

SENIOR DESIGNER

Charlotte Bryant Medina

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Anna Ferguson-Sparks

Amelia Fleetwood

Montecito Med Spa / Masthead

Jennifer Blaise Kramer

Lorie Dewhirst Porter

Jessica Ritz

Gabe Saglie

Hana-Lee Sedgwick

Katherine Stewart

Joan Tapper

Caitlin White

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Ingrid Bostrom

Blake Bronstad

Sam Frost

Blue Gabor

Tierney Gearon

Michael Haber

Gray Malin

Elizabeth Messina

Dewey Nicks

Victoria Pearson

Sara Prince

Jessica Sample

Mariana Schulze

Trevor Tondro

VITALITY THRIVES IN COMMUNITY.

Allen

©2025 BY SMITH PUBLISHING GROUP, LLC.

Maravilla / Masthead

All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written consent from Santa Barbara Magazine

TO OUR READERS

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ADVERTISERS

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Sotheby’s - Maureen McDermut

The Home and Garden special issue—where we spotlight the unique way a variety of Santa Barbarans really live in their homes and surroundings—is always one of my favorites. Each year, our editorial team seeks out timeless projects and details that can inspire you to manifest for your own abode. Within these pages, noteworthy designers, generational artisans, and craftspeople share their labor of love and continue to go above and beyond to create beauty on the American Riviera. We invite you to drop by a dreamy bohemian bungalow (page 98), a reimagined Rancho layered in detail (page 108), a chic coastal cottage (page 128), and a trio of elevated garden parties (page 136), and to remember a textile icon (page 118).

I can’t wait to finally live in a home where I can truly put down roots for the long haul.

Speaking of long runs, Santa Barbara Magazine turns 50 years old in 2025. We will celebrate all year long with each of our four seasonal issues commissioning four different artists’ interpretations on our covers and throughout the editorial. As a subscriber, we hope you treasure a year’s worth of highly collectible art editions as our gift to you.

Kicking off with our Spring cover, we approached local illustrator and writer Olivia Joffrey to put her whimsical stamp on our design-focused portfolio. Joffrey worked hand in hand (literally everything is handpainted) with our team to create a charming world that encompasses so much of our town’s DNA—from the Spanish tile roofs and doors flowing with pink bougainvillea to spiked agaves and pulsing palms—with one glance, you know it is quintessentially Santa Barbara. Living here is truly unique and singular. It really can’t be beat.

Edit Letter

I can’t think of a more magical place to call home than Santa Barbara, with the mythical backdrop of the mountains meeting the ocean and the faint smell of jasmine perfuming the night air. Its siren call took hold of me almost four decades ago, and the grip hasn’t lessened with time. I feel lucky enough to have found my forever home (or at least I hope) five years ago, slowly renovating it with careful planning and precision, and I will be moving in shortly.

Jennifer Smith

LORIE DEWHIRST PORTER

The regular contributor to Santa Barbara Magazine for more than 16 years penned the feature “Bolts of Lightning” (page 116). She says, “I was honored to write about Raoul Textiles, a world-renowned local business owned and operated by the talented McQuillan family.” S.B. MUST-DOS Lost Horizon books. • Curry at Bibi Ji. • The delicacies at Chocolats du CaliBressan in Carp.

JOE SCHMELZER

The lensman behind “On the Waterfront” (page 126) is an L.A. resident who specializes in interior, hospitality, and environmental and celebrity portraits. A sought-after commercial photographer, his client list includes high-profile brands such as Dorchester Hotel Collection, Sub-Zero/ Wolf Appliances, O’ahu Visitors Bureau, and Pottery Barn. S.B. MUST-DOS A shrimp cocktail and Bloody Mary at Brophy Bros. • Coffee and cookies at The Honor Bar. • Dinner at Convivo.

JENNIFER BLAISE KRAMER

SARA PRINCE

For this issue, the Santa Barbara native, photographer, and longtime Barbara Magazine “Ranch Hands” (page 108) and “A Seat at the Table” (page 136). The steps at Mesa Lane. • Any time spent at Ojai Valley Inn. • Aquarius Cocktail on Coast Village Road.

Contributors

The author of “Ranch Hands” (page 108) and “A Seat at the Table” (page 136) is a Santa Barbara resident who has written about lifestyle, design, travel, food, and parenting all over the globe for many publications. S.B. MUST-DOS Sunset at Hendry’s Beach. • Handlebar Coffee. • Summer movies in the Courthouse Sunken Garden.

MATT ALBIANI

The New York–based photographer, who shot our feature on Olivia Joffrey (“Be Like the Bungalow,” page 98), has worked for fashion companies such as Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers, and L.L. Bean. He is a part-time Santa Barbara resident and owns the Montecito shop Mate Gallery with his partner, Ron Brand. S.B. MUST-DOS A beach walk at Fernald Point. • The Pickle Room. • A relaxing visit to San Ysidro Ranch.

The historic Meridian Studios on De La Guerra Street.

BY CAITLIN WHITE

Live / Design

ne of the most coveted aspects of European cities are their walkable streets, and Santa Barbara has always shared that humanscaled urban quality. There is a lot of history to absorb here—from sacred Chumash sites to buildings that predate the founding of California to the sandstone bollards on Upper East sidewalks formerly used to tie up horses. In walking Santa Barbara’s streets, her stories whisper to you as you pass. And when your espadrilles have had enough, you can tuck into a downtown tasting room for a chilled local wine. Santa Barbara is home, but it is also a vacation.

Built by George Washington Smith in 1923, Meridian Studios is reminiscent of a thriving movie industry that once was centered in Santa Barbara. At the back of the property is the Lugo Adobe, built in 1830, one of Santa Barbara’s oldest buildings from El Pueblo Viejo.

Pollaro Custom Furniture

“There’s usually a line out the door.”

Seaside

Splendor

Open, Sesame

The organic hand-rolled sourdough bagels at MOTHER DOUGH are in such high demand that they tend to sell out daily, so grabbing a couple— or a dozen—might require some early rising. Local husband-and-wife team Jennifer Gonzalez-Neely and Tom Neely opened the shop at the top of the year, and there’s usually a line out the door for their freshly baked sweet and savory treats. The ingredients are simple—just flour, salt, barley-malt syrup, olive oil, and water—but it’s the simplicity that makes these bagels sing. Go on the early side and look out for the specialty flavors furikake and sesame, along with the classics: everything, sesame, poppy seed, and sea salt. Open-face specials combine bagels with inventive spreads like whipped honey butter or tobiko cream cheese

Live / Design

With architectural contributions from Marc Appleton (who also wrote the Foreword) and additional notes by M. Brian Tichenor, Douglas Woods’s Santa Barbara: At Home in Paradise is a visual journey through homes from 1838 to today. This delight for fans of Spanish architecture and Santa Barbara’s seaside splendor can be picked up at the Tecolote Book Shop in Montecito Village.

Lulu and Georgia Aamu outdoor umbrella, $1,298.

Santa Barbara: At Home in Paradise (Rizzoli, $60).

Shady Lady

Bar on the Go

The real secret to enjoying a great bottle of California Chardonnay is making sure the crisp wine is served cold to ensure a bright, perfect pairing for fresh berries or nutty cheeses. But who wants to lug around a slippery bottle of wine and risk dropping it? FIELD BAR’s oh-so-chic take on a cooler means you’ll never be dragging a plastic tub behind you; instead, you can tote a chilled bottle to all your alfresco events with flair. FIELDBAR.COM.

Good on Paper

Outdoor living is always great in theory, but sometimes the logistics of entertaining get complicated. Enter these PAVILION paper plates, which channel the look and feel of elegant tableware and work as disposable china. With stacking capabilities in various sizes, shapes, and designs, these elevated paper goods bring a chic playfulness to spring entertaining—while eliminating cleanup afterward. PAVILIONPAPER.COM.

Just Add Oil

LURETIK founder Elise Magistro drew inspiration from her travels to Sicily and Tuscany to turn this sogno nel cassetto (“dream in a drawer”) into a reality. Her organically farmed olive oil combines old- and new-world knowledge. Classic pruning techniques, careful water monitoring, and in-depth soil knowledge help the olives, grown on a 10-acre estate in Santa Ynez, become the best representation of Central Coast–grown fruit. Olives are pressed at the mill just hours after they’re handpicked, and state-of-the-art technology, plus an exacting filtration process, ensure only the highestquality oil makes it into the bottles. LURETIK.COM.

An assortment of Paper Pavilion dessert, salad, and dinner plates, from $6.

Field Bar Parisian Green Drinks Box, $219, available at Field + Fort.

Luretík Meridione olive oil, from $28.

Ojai Valley Inn

ESCAPE IN A MOMENT

Escape in a moment and enrich your wellness journey at Spa Ojai. Surrounded by the inspiring Topatopa Mountains, this 31,000-square-foot Forbes Five-Star spa features two pools, a fully equipped gym, Mind & Body classes, Spa Boutique, and Spa Café offering a menu of fresh, healthy indulgences. Nourish your body and inspire mindful renewal amidst a natural setting of oak trees, fresh lavender, and idyllic vistas—all just a short drive away.

California Quail: “My brother and I raised quails from eggs, and every time I see one on our family’s ranch I like to think they’re descendants from the ones we hatched.”

Beautiful Spanish architecture and design inspired Hillhouse, a sweetly simple floral print.

Back to Nature

Live / Design

The Valley Oak Stripe is an homage to California’s mighty woodlands: “I can’t see a giant live oak and not feel at home.”

Designer, decorator, and hospitality expert Nathan Turner has clients all over the world, but he never forgets his California roots. For his latest fabric collection—nostalgic patterns printed on linen—he leans into natural themes that defined his childhood.

The North Star Stripe “is inspired by the stacks of vintage horse blankets at the ranch.”

For Heaton, he wanted to pay tribute to the bright berries and brambles that most ranchers have encountered. “We have wild blackberry bushes on the ranch, so I knew I needed a traditional floral with blackberries.” NATHANTURNER.COM.

TURNER:

One of Turner’s most beloved local interior design projects is the Turner House at Alisal Ranch, a three-bedroom retreat with vintage decor, reclaimed barnwood paneling, and Pendleton accessories.

A few of his recent fabric designs also lift inspiration from times spent at Alisal.

CLOCKWISE FROM

ABOVE: Beaded chairs, raoultextilesstore.com; Schumacher x Johanna Ortiz broom tassel and Andean Tribute Embroidery Fabric, schumacher.com; Jenni Kayne safari chair, $1,995, jennikayne .com; Schumacher x Johanna Ortiz Tropical Safari Print wallpaper, backdrophome.com; Safari Style, $75, vendomepress .com; Gmundner Keramik Africa plate, from $48, available at Emily Joubert Montecito.

Live / Design

Post Modern

A curated shopping experience

Santa Barbara does everything its own way—including shopping. Although it’s a stretch to call the newly opened collection of 13 curated shops that fill out THE POST a mall, there’s a buzzy sense of purpose that harkens back to early ’90s mall culture as community gathering places. But there’s also a freshness to the simplicity of this mostly outdoor space, which has been reimagined to include a roundabout at the entrance and includes several architecturally significant and historic buildings.

At the Las Aves Complex, located at Los Patos Way and East Cabrillo Boulevard, weathered bricks are the foremost design elements, with courtyard seating and an eclectic, large-scale fountain from local sculptor Marge Dunlap titled It’s Raining. The nearby Andrée Clark Bird Refuge is a recognizable landmark for most locals. And all the brands and businesses that are setting up shop either hail from the Central Coast or Los Angeles.

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Sculptural, textured seating is a hallmark of the outdoor spaces in the complex; remodels and redesign preserved as much historic and original architecture as possible; developers David Fishbein and Joseph Miller of the Runyon Group are behind redevelopment at The Post.

Live / Design

Developers David Fishbein and Joseph Miller of the Runyon Group seem to have an innate sense of how to make digital-first shoppers ease back into the brick-and-mortar world. L.A. residents will recognize the pair as the driving force behind Platform in Culver City and The Row downtown. Their spaces traditionally include expansive outdoor areas, plant life, lots of light, and sophisticated storefronts.

One of their own brands, The Optimist, was created in response to a perceived gap in the menswear game, and its second location at The Post carries a mix of hard-to-find brands and vintage accessories. Another retailer, Teller, is run by Fishbein’s wife, Jamie Fishbein, and has a similar curatorial bent that’s women-focused. Outside of the family-run businesses, one tenant, The Great, a lifestyle brand widely touted for Americana flair and sturdy basics from Emily Current and Meritt Elliott, slots in neatly.

A handful of restaurants, including Buellton’s beloved Little King coffee shop (part of the Bell’s Companion Hospitality Group) and a forthcoming location of Jackson and Melissa Kalb’s contemporary Italian L.A. spot Ospi, are also part of the development. In an era where so many developers build sleek and soulless modern structures, it’s a breath of fresh air for Fishbein and Miller to preserve and enhance the rustic charm of these spaces. At its core, The Post is a love letter to Santa Barbara’s way of life— outdoorsy elegance and nonchalant charm.

1809 E. Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara, THEPOSTMONTECITO.COM.

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT:

Fishbein and Miller also opened a location of their own brand, The Optimist; inside Teller, Jamie Fishbein’s boutique; Teller features pieces from more than 70 brands.

Waves

of Amber

Live / Design

Amber Lewis made her name with the blog All Sorts Of, where she helped champion the white-wall, laidback California cool that now dominates the globe. Lewis is the driving force behind AMBER INTERIORS, the home interiors shop and full-service design firm just opened at The Post. It’s equipped as both a showroom that illustrates her design style across several different rooms—kitchen, bedroom, living room—and a studio space that houses her home goods brand, Shoppe by Amber Interiors. AMBERINTERIORDESIGN.COM.

The new Amber Interiors is a one-stop shop for all your designer needs, including complimentary styling services, such as advice on pillow combinations.

Berkshire Hathaway - Marsha KotlyarPage

Lamp of Luxury

Preserving Santa Barbara’s style, one custom light fixture at a time

SANTA BARBARA LIGHTING COMPANY was founded by Jimmy Rickard, who works with designers, contractors, and architects all over the U.S. and internationally to bring the region’s signature style into design projects, both residential and commercial.

“As a sixth-generation native of Santa Barbara, I founded Santa Barbara Lighting Company out of an appreciation for the authentic craftsmanship of lighting and the rich architectural beauty that surrounds us and inspires each of our lighting designs,” says Rickard, who is a direct descendant of José de la Guerra, considered to be Santa Barbara’s first citizen. “I wanted to create lighting that was not only functional but also tells a story—honoring traditional craftsmanship while embracing timeless designs.”

The fixtures are made to order by the company’s artisans, who use a detailed, handmade process to work heavy-gauge steel into handcrafted designs before finishing each piece with a zinc protective coating. Using painstaking handwelding techniques and artful, hand-applied finishing, each pane of premium glass is hand cut before every light is equipped with hand-blown bulbs.

Live / Design

Rickard has worked with design-world notables such as Ken Fulk, Mark Sikes, and Michael Smith, to name a few. Together with director Ryan Murphy and his designer,

There’s a level of creativity that’s not often seen in the lighting world.

Stephen Shadley, Rickard also collaborated on a collection and custom lighting for Murphy’s L.A. home that was also featured in Architectural Digest.

And because every piece starts off as a sketch by architect Britt Jewett of Studio 7, there’s a level of creativity that’s not often seen elsewhere in the lighting world. “Britt’s artistry and attention to detail bring a depth of authenticity to our collection that makes each piece truly special,” Rickard says. Pieces like the old world-inspired De La Guerra 04, with the scalloped detail on the bottom, or the Presidio, with a tapered cage and subtle ornamentation, represent elements of Mediterranean influence that are now synonymous with the American Riviera. SANTABARBARALIGHTING.COM.

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT:

The RM Shade; Jimmy Rickard; all designs start off as sketches by architect Britt Jewett.

Owner, Lori Runnfeldt

KELLY FAJACK

CLOCKWISE FROM

ABOVE:

East Meets West

In its first brick-and-mortar space, MERLETTE, the Brooklyn atelier founded by designer Marina Cortbawi in 2016, is planting a flag in Montecito in a big way. Cortbawi describes her clothing simply as “thoughtful garments” and is just as focused on hand feel, comfort, and hybridity as she is on timeless appeal. High-quality fabrics, natural materials, and bespoke finishes like embroidery ensure that even when her creations are brand new, they feel less like clothing and more like heirlooms. 1801 E. Cabrillo Blvd., Ste. 14, Santa Barbara, MERLETTENYC.COM.

Cortbawi describes her clothing simply as “thoughtful garments.”

Live / Design

The Bastion dress, $795; the Folsom jacket, $495, paired with matching Truxton jean straight-leg trousers, $365; inside Merlette’s shop at The Post.

Jodi G Designs

Leonard Unander

Built to Last

A legacy business with a revered name, Leonard Unander Associates, Inc. is synonymous with quality.

WRITTEN BY JENN THORNTON

The gold standard of residential builders, LEONARD UNANDER ASSOCIATES, INC. (LUA) is behind some of the most exceptional high-end homes in Montecito and Santa Barbara. With its uncompromising standards and strong relationships, the first-class brand has built something even more valuable than its meticulous creations: an unshakeable bond of trust between the company and the community they have called home for generations.

A legacy business with building in its DNA, LUA was established in 1977 by Leonard Unander Sr., a third-generation contractor whose Swedish grandfather built local homes and whose father worked as an architect and developer. His sons, Leonard Jr. and Clint, as well as son-in-law Brandon Friggione, all graduates of Westmont College, also joined the company, infusing it with their diverse talents. Integral to the business from the beginning, Deborah Unander continues to work behind the scenes, and extended family member Taryn Rodriguez manages the office. With nine grandchildren in the family, the Unanders hope the future generation will carry the company and its tradition forward. Of course, “a company is only as good as its people,” and to that end, the majority of LUA employees

have been with the company for at least 10 years and several others for more than two decades. The result is a consistency of character, quality and culture, resulting in a reliability rarely equaled in the homebuilding industry.

If honesty and transparency are core LUA values, relationships are its backbone. As the company puts it, “Working in a small community, our focus has always been relationships. It’s about the team of people. It’s about the client.” From owners to architects, owners’ representatives, subcontractors, suppliers and neighbors, “If your relationships are in the right place, that is the foundation of everything else.” Their approach, based on care, communication and customization, combined with utilizing management technology to monitor construction costs and schedules closely, is in service of delivering “a five-star experience.”

Always at the forefront of a continually changing field, LUA constantly strives to exceed industry standards. Leonard Sr. is a perfectionist, not only hands-on but on-site, and his discerning nature sets the bar for the whole company. His commitment to excellence touches every aspect of the building process, manifesting in a common refrain among building circles in which “that’s a Unander project” is shorthand for immaculate job sites, superior craftsmanship and scrupulous attention to detail. Among LUA’s magnificent and rigorously built residences, many are of immense scale, but each is unique and highly customized in styles ranging from Santa Barbara historic, traditional Montecito and Spanish-Mediterranean to mid-century modern, island contemporary and more. Their latest construction, Lanai Estate, is a sublime take on tropical modernism, with clean lines, vast walls of glass and sweeping indoor/outdoor space that embraces nature. Whether intimate or elaborate, stately or warm, each residence is a reflection of a brand dedicated to the highest degree of quality control. Seeking praise is not LUA’s style. The company prefers to let its work speak for itself. But lately, that work is speaking volumes. Lanai Estate was awarded the New Residential Award at the 2025 Santa Barbara Construction Awards while LUA itself was named Builder of the Year and the recipient of the Members Choice Award. But for a family business rooted in achieving the best possible result, recognition is secondary to reputation. “In Santa Barbara, reputation is everything.” With gratitude for every client, “We strive for 10 out of 10.”

Leonard Unander

Live / Taste

“We didn’t even give it a face-lift; we gave it a new face. ”

Live / Taste

Shell Game

Newcomer oyster bar Clark’s is defined by its bright, airy aesthetic

Born and raised in Santa Barbara, architect Jeff Shelton is the mastermind responsible for the renovation of the building that houses CLARK’S OYSTER BAR, a new addition to Coast Village Road. “We didn’t even give it a face-lift; we gave it a new face,” he says. “I wanted to make it a place that people wanted to go into.” The building is done in Santa Barbara style, a compressive, plaster-covered architecture with slight Spanish influences and a geometric skyline. After being tapped by chef and owner Larry McGuire to help restore the structure and infuse it with a local aesthetic, Shelton’s other feat was to make the building entrance clear. “All doors should have a slight ceremony,” he says. “It’s a nice passageway, and you celebrate the entrance.” He worked with his brother, David Shelton, on the lighting in the building and in tandem with Bottenfield on the contracting and interiors. As delicious as the food and drink are, the experience of being inside the clean, bright space elevates dining at Clark’s to a special occasion. 1212 Coast Village Rd., Montecito, CLARKSOYSTERBAR.COM.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The front room and bar; menu highlights; an alfresco dining space; Jeff Shelton and Larry McGuire; the cozy back room; blue tile frames the entrance; Shelton; the kitchen.

Beachy Keen

In his turn as a fixture on Bravo’s Million Dollar Decorators, JEFFREY ALAN MARKS became a household name in the interior design community, and The Hollywood Reporter dubbed him one of the most-wanted decorators in town. During that breakout era, his 2013 book, The Meaning of Home, showcased his expert ability to capture the eccentric personalities of his luxury clients. In the ensuing decade, Marks got married and became a father, a shift that deeply impacted his own concept of home. It follows that his next book, This Is Home (Rizzoli, $55), is particularly focused on style at two of his own residences, including a 1925 beach cottage in Montecito.

JEFFREYALANMARKS.COM.

Live / Taste

“The Miramar rug was inspired by Miramar beach and my water-polo days in college.”

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Jeffrey Alan Marks; the designer’s new book; Marks’ Miramar rug for The Rug Company, which takes its cues from Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara dresser in White Sand by Jeffrey Alan Marks for Palacek.

Artistan TAIANA GIEFER’s timeless tapestries.

“As a felter, my mission is to create versatile pieces of art by bringing ancient felting techniques to the modern textiles world.” Each piece is unique and 100 percent handmade by the Santa Barbara native. TAIANA.COM.

Seed No. 3790 Ranch Refugio, hand-felted merino wool. Price upon request.

tablescape; working as The Weather Chef, McBride frequently creates guides for outdoor entertaining; vintage pieces with white dishes by Brooklyn designer Michael Wainwright.

Sunny-Side Up

The garden-to-table ethos of JACKIE JOHNSON McBRIDE’s cooking style has led to a personal metamorphosis for the former national weathercaster. After leaving the studio life behind when her daughter was born and welcoming a son a few years later, McBride and her husband staked out a picturesque retreat in the hills of Montecito to raise their family. On a plot that includes enough lavender bushes to technically qualify as a lavender farm, an in-the-works vineyard, and, of course, her beloved garden boxes, she’s embracing the chance to spend time outside in the weather instead of just reporting on it.

“Living in Montecito was a lifelong dream, so being here feels magical,” she says. “And it truly is a dream for a gardener—I can grow food all year. I’m always looking for an excuse to be outside since the weather is so beautiful. I think gardening is the cheapest form of therapy, and there’s also something spiritual to me about growing a seed into a plant, taking care of it, and harvesting something beautiful and nutritious I can use to feed my family.”

Live / Taste

Now creating seasonally (and meteorologically) influenced recipes as The Weather Chef, McBride’s emphasis on fresh, simple ingredients to create highly nutritious, beautifully plated meals has quickly earned her a devoted following. With a cookbook in the works and a focus on creating meals that are accessible for anyone to make at home, her recipes are best understood as love letters to Santa Barbara’s sunlight, soil, and produce. “I’m big on seasonal eating because it’s just so natural,” she says. “I walk to my garden and the meals I prepare that week are based on the fresh vegetables and herbs that are growing. There’s something to be said about knowing where your food is coming from and how it is grown. It just tastes better.” THEWEATHERCHEF.COM.

Jackie ’s Must-Haves

“Personalized FLAMINGO ESTATE OLIVE OIL. My friend got me a bottle for Christmas. Not only do I love the olive oil, there is also something special about it being personalized.”

“The IVY COVE UNION SQUARE MARKET TOTE is cute, wellmade, and so versatile. I can take it to the market, shopping, or even to the beach. It’s a perfect travel bag as well, and takes up zero space when I’m not using it.”

“I live in my JENNI KAYNE COCOON CASHMERE SWEATER all year long. No matter how hot it gets during the day, as soon as the sun goes down I wrap myself in it.”

“A bleached pine cabinet, table, or buffet. Or if you want to splurge, get an antique French piece from THE WELL.”

“An olive tree in an antiqued pot is a must. I get most of my weathered pots from BOTANIK.”

Handle With Care

Inspired by French surrealism and California in the 1970s, the work of ceramicist ALISON ANDERSSON also has an ocean undercurrent. Ridged with the imprint of human hands, most of her pieces feature earthy palettes of creams, browns, and blacks, with the occasional pop of blue or a shock of white. Based in Ojai, Andersson also stretches into sculpture and painting, and her bespoke domestic wares can be found at the local boutique Hummingbird Inn. ALISONANDERSSON.COM.

Live / Taste

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Natural spires in earthen colors from one of Alison Andersson’s recent collections; Ojai resident Andersson; works from Rebekah Miles’s latest collection, All The Pretty Horses—prices range from $115 for a ring dish to $550 for a larger vase.

Ranchin ’

Around

REBEKAH MILES works out of a studio on the avocado ranch where she was raised, just outside Carpinteria. After studying at Scripps College in Claremont and earning an MFA at Portland State, Miles returned to the ranch and began working as a ceramicist who creates contemporary heirlooms with an emphasis on plates and platters, novelty items, and vases and pitchers. All her creations contain playful motifs and her technique is primarily self-taught. New offerings take about a month to complete and are available periodically on her website. REBEKAHMILES.COM.

Furniture Gallery

Personal Pivot

Lawren Howell’s move to Ojai awakened a passion for interiors

Interior designer, stylist, and all-around creative LAWREN HOWELL started her career in New York as a Vogue editor working under Anna Wintour and primarily focused on fashion. But after that gig brought her out to L.A., she started to look around California for other, slower-paced communities to raise her young family in, eventually settling on Ojai. Howell says, “Ojai is really unique in that it’s a small town surrounded by wild land that can’t be developed. But at the same time it’s full of interesting people. It’s a rarity to find that, and I can still get to LAX in two hours or the beach in 20 minutes.”

One of Howell’s first clients was the Ojai Valley Inn, a centerpiece property that draws countless visitors to the region, particularly for Ojai Food & Wine, an epicurean festival that takes place every spring. Starting in 2023, Howell took on the hotel as a design client and established a program that installed works by local artists throughout the property, bringing some of the town’s low-key charm into those luxury spaces. “This project came from the ownership of the inn,” she says. “For them, it was so important to be able to really engage with the community.”

And as far as the transition between styling clothes for a photo shoot and styling interiors, Howell notes that “when you break down the creative part of the job, it’s very similar. You’re asking yourself the same type of design questions and always having to hold all the elements in your mind at the same time to make sure there’s a balance. In that way, the work isn’t different. It’s just learning the tricks of the trade.” LAWRENHOWELL.COM.

Lawren ’s Black Book

RORY’S PLACE “The restaurant and cafe have completely upgraded Ojai’s food scene.”

ROOTS FARM OJAI “You can get a small bite and glass of wine in their lovely garden.”

OJAI PLAYHOUSE “I’m so excited about their well-curated programming.”

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:

Lawren Howell; a guest room featuring artwork by Kathy Leeds; Rory’s Place; Roots Farm Ojai.

New Kid on the Block

This past winter, RESTORATION HARDWARE opened its doors inside The Old Firehouse in Montecito, taking up residence in one of the best examples of classic Mediterranean revival style in the area. The design brand’s reimagining of the 9,000-sq.-ft. space, designed by acclaimed architect Alexander Bertrand Harmer and built in 1931, includes their interiors, modern and outdoor collections, a wine and barista bar for a cool glass of wine or a pick-me-up coffee, and a full-on restaurant, the RH Firehouse Grill. Featuring a menu of signature salads and hearth classics—with a strong emphasis on a sumptuous, day-to-night wine list—the oasis-like setting of the RH Firehouse Grill is a far cry from most retail dining outlets. Tables are surrounded by soothing olive trees, tropical birds of paradise, limestone fountains, and a commanding fireplace, bringing signature RH design principles into action while embracing Montecito’s easy serenity. 1486 E. Valley Rd., Santa Barbara, RH.COM.

FROM TOP: RH Wine Bar offers wines by the glass and barista services; RH Firehouse Grill s indoor-outdoor setting makes it a neighborhood destination for anyone looking to dine among an oasis of olive trees.

$6,900, Jan Barboglio Etched Vessel, $698, Oaxacan Vases, from $48, Driftwood Console, $2,400, all available at Upstairs at Pierre Lafond; Cadmium 2x2 Square Zellige, $389, ziatile.com; Estelle Colored Wine Stemware, $185, estellecoloredglass. com ; Matthew Williamson Helios Gold Rug, $389, ruggable.com; Sunnylands , $70, vendomepress.com; Travel by Design, $95, available at Chaucer’s Books.

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Rottman’s designs frequently feature curves, as in this archway and window.

Full Circle

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Interior design wasn’t CHRISTINA ROTTMAN’s original career plan, although she can trace the connection to Santa Barbara back to her undergrad years at USCB, where she studied business and communications. “The plan was to move to New York and work on Wall Street,” she says. “But the market wasn’t right for it at the time, so I moved to L.A. instead and got into advertising.” Working in the ad world led Rottman to design, and a new dream was born. “I was instantly enamored because it was such a combination of every beautiful thing,” she says. “But it was also very structured—seeing architectural drawings go all the way through to the decorative details.”

Rottman and her husband moved back to the region in the early 2000s to raise their three boys, and over the course of the past two decades she has become a defining force for Santa Barbara style. One of her first projects in Montecito was designing a home for a client on Lilac Drive, and working with them evolved into a long-standing friendship that exists to this day. Her business “was just a natural integration of being here, in an area that inspires me so much naturally,” she says. “Santa Barbara has always had my heart.”

Rottman is such a fixture in the community that some projects have even come full circle, like a just-installed redesign of a home she decorated 10 years ago for previous residents. “The new owners of the home wanted to re-envision

it from soup to nuts,” she says. “This time around we made structural changes, added many spaces, put in an elevator, and created a beautiful personal gym and meditation room. We were able to take it to a new level.”

Even when a project is more involved, Rottman’s primary approach is to let the design of the house take the lead. “I really let the architecture speak to the direction of the design,” she says. “I try to work from a classic point of view. Once the project is complete it feels seamless from the outside to the inside.” Rottman’s team works well with local builders and contractors, and she is always open to hearing from locals with a vision for their space. “For the right project and the right client, we’re always excited to collaborate,” she says. CHRISTINAROTTMANDESIGNS.COM.

“I try to work from a classic point of view.”

ROTTMAN,

TRIAL LAWYERS FOR JUSTICE

Legal battles are David versus Goliath. Invariably, they are between human beings and an insurance company whose resources can appear limitless. The courts are meant to level this playing field so that everyone can receive full justice before the law. Nick and Courtney Rowley founded TRIAL LAWYERS FOR JUSTICE (TL4J) with an ethos of protecting civil rights and preserving the right to a jury trial. The mission, however, goes far beyond the courtroom. “We don’t want to just win cases, we want to change the world. It’s about standing up for the little guy when no one else will,” says Nick Rowley.

Trial Lawyers for Justice

The Rowleys are well known for their commitment to improving the legal profession by helping lawyers learn the skills they need to represent other families and victims. “We are proud to be lawyers, and we believe that lawyers are an integral part of protecting and improving the American Civil Justice System,” explains Courtney. The Rowleys worked to pass the Fairness for Injured Patients Act, which replaced the 1975 insurance- and defense-backed medical negligence caps in California, called MIRCRA. They are actively involved in pro-patient legislation in other states.

“Until you see what happens to a family that has been destroyed by corporate greed or medical negligence, you won’t understand what we do or why we fight so hard,” says Nick. It’s

this fight that can create industry-wide change setting precedents and inspiring reform. The cases that TL4J takes on have a far-reaching impact. They not only provide relief for clients and their families, but also create a ripple effect of accountability across industries.

In recent years, TL4J has achieved $100 million, $275 million and $857 million verdicts against Monsanto for families and school children who were affected by PCB chemical exposure at a school in Washington. Other achievements over the last year include a verdict of $45 million for a young girl who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident and a verdict of $60 million against Tesla for a motorcyclist who was injured when a Tesla employee caused a crash. TL4J has recovered more than $3 billion in damages for injured families. “We’re not just fighting for compensation for our clients; we’re fighting to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else. We are

fighting for a better world and a better country for everyone. Our work is about families,” says Courtney.

TL4J in California is made up of passionate lawyers focused on getting full justice for their clients in front of juries. “You can settle cases all day long, but when you take a case to trial, you can change the law,” Nick says. “You can change the world.” Nick, a U.S. Army veteran, and Courtney, the daughter of public school teachers, are dedicated to their philanthropy across the country and internationally. In Costa Rica, they founded a marine environmental conservation and research center. In Kenya, they have built and funded schools, education centers for girls, as well as drilling and setting up water wells to provide families access to water. If you’re interested in learning more about Nick, Courtney and the Trial Lawyers for Justice team, you can visit us at tl4j.com.

Courtney and Nick Rowley, Trial Lawyers for Justice.

A Greek Invitation

Mykonos is known internationally as one of the best nightlife hotspots in the world. But cultivating a global reputation as an epic party town doesn’t mean that’s all this Greek island has to offer. Cue one of the isle’s newer resorts, KALESMA (which translates loosely to “inviting”), a property that opened in 2021 on the northwest side of the island and continues to expand to meet a growing demand for a calm, cool, and collected haven in the midst of this wonderfully frenetic destination.

Greek design and architecture are the driving force behind the sleek, whitewashed look of the hotel, with interior styling and design from Vangelis

The central pool at Kalesma Mykonos.

FROM TOP: One of Kalesma’s whitewashed structures; Studio Bonarchi and K-Studio collaborated on the interiors; a panoramic view; accommodations have a Cycladic aesthetic.

Bonios—who worked on Bulgari hotels and the Valentino boutique early in his career—and his Studio Bonarchi agency. It would seem Bonios is still well-connected in the fashion world, because Kalesma is currently the only hotel in the world that features furniture from Rick Owens. Pieces like his Double Bubble sofa, in plywood and black leather, or the Curial chair, produced in elm wood, evoke an ancient simplicity and provide a stark contrast to the natural creams, tans, and browns of the hotel interiors. Each room has its own heated plunge pool, outdoor shower, and ocean-view terrace, making the ordeal of heading out to a noisy, crowded club less appealing.

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The hotel’s positioning on the Aleomandra peninsula offers breathtaking 360-degree views overlooking Ornos Bay from almost every vantage point. The resort layout mimics a traditional island village by establishing shared social spaces at the top of the property and private social spaces set further downhill. Currently, Kalesma has 19 rooms, 12 suites, and 15 villas, but within the next year it will debut 19 more rooms and add significantly to the pool and restaurant offerings. The on-site restaurant, Pere Ubu, serves elevated Greek cuisine and will soon be supplemented by an all-day Greek taverna—think saganaki cheese and tomato-and-feta dakos salad. Close enough to town for a jaunt if guests are so inclined, Kalesma has built a reputation as the stylish enclave on Mykonos for those who prefer a little serenity.

KALESMAMYKONOS.COM.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A wicker birdcage bar defines the sunny room at in-house restaurant Linette’s; at the pool, bamboo chaise lounge chairs await; corner tables decked out in greens and whites set the scene for a snack or leisurely cocktail.

Lowcountry Gem

Auberge stakes its claim in South Carolina’s idyllic Sea Islands

Set in a gardener’s paradise, the subtropical landscape surrounding THE DUNLIN is dominated by vivid greens and blues. It’s only natural, then, that the 72-room hotel, located directly on the banks of the Kiawah River, is similarly steeped in the colors of sky, marsh grass, and water. A maze of winding paths edged by towering oaks helps this new property from Auberge blend in with its environs.

The 2,000-acre waterfront retreat in the idyllic Sea Islands— about 20 minutes from Charleston—opened in summer 2024, one of just 27 Auberge portfolio properties in the United States. This expansion into South Carolina Lowcountry called for an entirely unique resort, and interior designer Amanda Lindroth delivered in spades. Lindroth grew up in Florida in the 1970s and went on to work in publicity for Gucci, so her ability to channel old-world glamour and Deep South mysticism is unparalleled.

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/ Getaway

The whimsical palette of azure, seafoam, and turquoise is a defining feature of The Dunlin, whose name is taken from a local shorebird. Wicker furniture upholstered in batik, gingham, and linen abound in the rooms and outdoor spaces of the cottage-style property. Omnipresent blue-greens add brightness to the coffered ceilings of the Willet Room, a quaint lobby bar and lounge that offers coffee and pastries in the morning before swapping in savory Southern snacks and Caribbean-tinged swizzles and shrubs later on. At the signature restaurant, Linette’s, a magnificent rattan back bar houses rare whiskeys and other fine spirits, while the riverfront pool evokes old-world swim clubs, complete with scalloped green umbrellas and bamboo lounge chairs.

AUBERGERESORTS.COM/THE-DUNLIN.

Pretty in Pink

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FROM LEFT: A handpainted mural by de Gournay channels the property’s inherent charm; a redesign by Kemble Interiors ushers the guesthouse into its next iteration.

Few hotels in the world have achieved the renown that THE COLONY HOTEL in Florida has maintained for almost 80 years. Since its debut in 1947, this lavish pink-stucco icon has stood the test of time as a haven for the state’s most glamorous guests, including President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jackie, and their children; Judy Garland; John Lennon; and Sophia Loren. What makes the place so irresistible, and earned it the nickname “Pink Paradise,” is an understanding of the timeless appeal of Old Palm Beach.

The hotel has recently updated its 93 rooms with a redesign by Kemble Interiors—including custom de Gournay wallpaper—but the vintage tropical prints and retro sensibility are still evident in the contemporary pastels and whimsical illustrations. Velvet, bamboo, wicker, and scalloped edges are just a sampling of the textures and textiles that give the hotel its vibe. Vintage furniture and wallpaper galore fill out an eclectic, playful atmosphere that nonetheless maintains an air of decorum.

Art Deco chandeliers and gold sconces give the impressive lobby a luxurious feel, and although the original guest rooms might seem a bit small by modern standards, 14 residence-style villas, bungalows, and penthouses offer multibedroom options, available for a minimum of one month. No matter the size of your room, Matouk linens and robes, Ladurée turndown treats, and full-size toiletries featuring the custom Pink Paradise 155 scent help make for a pampered guest experience. At the pool a magazine cabana is stocked with options for a little light reading, and just down the block at the beach, butlers are on hand to make sure Colony guests get the luxe catering and setup (towels, chairs, and umbrellas) that round out a stay at this oceanfront grande dame. THECOLONYPALMBEACH.COM. .

LEFT: The swim club at the Dunlin; one of the guest rooms.

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Love blooms at San Ysidro Ranch Found

Residents of Santa Barbara tend to be well-traveled people, but visiting one of the best hotels in the world hardly requires a long journey. There’s no need to endure the hassle of a transcontinental flight when the American Riviera is just as beautiful as Côte d’Azur. SAN YSIDRO RANCH offers 550 incredibly private acres right in our own backyard. Last year, the property was recognized as the world’s best romantic hotel, America’s best romantic hotel, and America’s best honeymoon hotel. To say it’s a suitable option for local lovebirds is an understatement.

A staycation can be as simple as moving into a cottage that’s just a few minutes’ drive from one’s daily life. People come from all over the world to experience the rustic charm and delightful gardens of this legendary 130-year-old property. The 38 bungalow-style rooms on San Ysidro Creek are decked out in handpicked antique furniture, eclectic international artwork, and plush, king-size four-poster beds. The result is a dreamy, one-of-a-kind hideaway that feels more like a fairytale cottage than a hotel room. This is luxury defined by taste, not expense, and the cozy, caredfor style of the place does more to create a cherished environment than fine silk or expensive amenities— although rainfall showerheads and sumptuous Italian linens don’t hurt the overall experience.

No expense has been spared to create the on-site Stonehouse restaurant, where all-inclusive dining is just part of San Ysidro Ranch style. Feast on Central Coast bounty like abalone and decadent seafood towers, or imported delicacies like Snake River Farms wagyu, all garnished with herbs and vegetables from the property’s own organic garden. Don’t forget to check out the extensive wine list, courtesy of an underground wine cellar that holds more than 15,000 rare bottles and renowned vintages. Crack one open at dinner or take it back to your room afterward. There’s no better nightcap than a glass of exquisite wine under the stars.

SANYSIDRORANCH.COM.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Flowers frame a private standalone suite; the Sycamore cottage; although it has been updated to afford luxury amenities at every turn, the property’s quaint aesthetic is part of the charm throughout the sprawling estate.

Live / Getaway Serenity Now

Opened in 2023, The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern is a ranch-inspired retreat in Los Olivos that’s already garnered heaps of praise for its world-class dining. Since then, the recently unveiled spa offerings in the newly renovated LAVENDER BARN ramp up the property’s appeal. Water, heat, and steam work together in the eucalyptus steam room and oak sauna, while six nature-inspired treatment rooms are available for massages, facials, and bodywork. AUBERGERESORTS.COM/MATTEISTAVERN/WELLNESS.

Don ’t Miss

We can’t think of a better way to kick off the new season than to spend a week with wellness expert Brighdie Grounds at her inaugural SIRONA CLEANSE retreat in Ojai in April and September of this year. Don’t miss the chance to focus on self-care and be inspired by the nourishing tips and tricks for rebalancing the gut and brain with healthy fresh food and exercise amid the calming Topatopa Mountains. SIRONACLEANSE.COM.

Heaven Scent

Santa Ynez General Store needs no introduction. Those who have had the pleasure of stepping into Pearson and Spencer Turnbull’s rustic space know it’s the epitome of luxe country living—and everyone who has visited the shop wants to get a piece of the atmosphere, so it’s not surprising that Mexicanborn architect and fragrance designer Carlos Huber has collaborated with them. Huber’s brand, ARQUISTE, released a Santa Ynez General candle that captures the store’s olfactory essence in Sun-baked California Chaparral. Scents of sagebrush, manzanita, buckwheat, and fennel are enhanced by bay laurel, scrub oak, and mountain mahogany. If you can’t make it to the Santa Ynez Valley anytime soon, just fire up this high-concentration candle for 55 to 60 hours of sun-baked chaparral wafting throughout your space. SANTAYNEZGENERAL.COM.

The setting for the Sirona Cleanse retreat.

Santa Ynez General Scented Candle, $85.

Laura Brophy Interiors

Western Pacific Construction

Hugo Landa Garcia Photography

Media Sponsor 2025

SBIFF Celebrates 40

In February, Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) celebrated its 40th anniversary over 12 days of screenings, celebrity tributes, and industry panel discussions at the Arlington Theatre, with the major new bragging rights of having acquired the new Film Center downtown (formerly the Fiesta Five). Tribute festivities kicked off with Angelina Jolie and Ralph Fiennes, while the Virtuosos Award celebration drew film and music luminaries including Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez. In a variation on the journalist-moderator theme, Timothée Chalamet was interviewed by his pal and Dune costar Josh Brolin—and led the Arlington crowd in a chorus of “Happy Birthday” to the 57-year-old. SBIFF.ORG.

SBIFF

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Atmosphere; SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling and Fernanda Torres; Timothée Chalamet; Ralph Fiennes; Zoe Saldaña; Colman Domino and Oprah Winfrey; Durling interviews

Demi Moore; Selena Gomez; Adrien Brody; Kevin Costner; Rob Lowe; Angelina Jolie; Ariana Grande; Mikey Madison.

A California bungalow’s orientation toward nature is the kernel of its specific charm and utility. By design, it brings the outdoors in.

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Books are my religion, and my collection leans heavily toward midcentury writers and artists. On the mantel, I line up books like a little rotating gallery. OPPOSITE: A lithograph by Nathan Oliveira surveys the room, and lantern sculptures by San Francisco artist Charles Linder create atmosphere at night.

y family and I moved from Montecito into our Riviera bungalow during the pandemic. The realtor suggested that the house, built around 1915, was too small for us, but the minute I saw it, I knew it was our ideal nest. The brilliance of a bungalow is that it’s built with a compact, ship-like economy of space. There is really just one living area (which includes the kitchen), plus bedrooms that radiate off the center.

The former owners were Francophile chefs, and it shows. The main living room has de Gournay wallpaper, and in the kitchen there’s a La Cornue stove. Both initially made the place feel a bit grand for my routine of sleepovers and messy art projects, but now that we’ve woven our life into the space, they have become treasured

aspects of our home. I approach the decoration of my bungalow as autobiography—filled with my children’s artwork, framed drawings my father made for me, contemporary sculptures created by artist friends, a chair upholstered in my family’s Scottish tartan. Most of the visual noise in my rooms comes from my book collection and the art; the rest is rendered in white linen and rattan. Too much pattern can feel overstimulating for my eye. And in a house where the windows, greenery, and light are the main event, there’s no need to call attention to much else.

I am a Northern Californian by birth, and the inside of the house reminds me of both a San Francisco apartment (raised off the street, crown moldings) and a certain kind of breezy beach house that’s part of the vernacular of my hometown, Santa Cruz. I like a house that’s informal, sensual, and efficient, yet luxurious in its relationship with the climate—one where doors are open, feet are bare, and the scent of orange blossom floats in from outdoors. The house itself feels a little like a treehouse, full of light, as it sits nested into the Riviera.

The former owners did a brilliant job in making windows the central feature of the living space. The remaining wall space is papered in a de Gournay garden scene.

I like to hang a child’s artwork in fancy custom frames. Children are innate artists.

The lack of a dining room has brought a whole new level of intimacy to our family life. My kids do their homework right there while I cook. Conversations erupt naturally, as they do when you are near your loved ones, and music wafts easily from room to room. A dine-in kitchen is also a very compact, efficient way to entertain. I’ve squeezed 16 people around my kitchen table for dinner and never missed the conversation. That is the raucous spirit of imperfection I want to embody when I’m having friends over.

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This kitchen is my first with a glamorous chef’s stove, and it has dramatically upgraded my cooking life. It sits just feet away from the dining table and looms large in our routine, as if it were another family member. We are always cooking something on or in it—trying to copy a Revolver pizza, grilling Helena Avenue Bakery bread in a cast-iron pan, or poaching salmon to take to the park for a picnic.

When I moved to the Riviera, I was reading the autobiography of legendary Vogue creative director André Leon Talley. The book influenced how I wanted my house to feel. Talley includes a passage about his humble upbringing in North Carolina and the effect his dignified grandmother, who worked as a maid, had on his career in fashion. He recounts her ritual of washing the white bed linens every weekend and pressing them to a point of crispness. Her pride in taking care of her abode—of making the most of something modest and savoring the experience of sliding into a tidy bed—left an imprint on him. I saw it as a metaphor for how to live luxuriously and simply.

My house has taught me to embrace Grandma Talley’s lens of care and restraint. It has changed how my family lives: There is no storage to speak of, so I’ve slowly edited our possessions to just our favorite books, art, clothes. On occasion we do feel a bit on top of one another, but we have learned to hunt down a corner when we need quiet, to wander out to the hammock or take a call on the back deck. It’s easier to take care of a compact house. For me, with a busy family on top of my creative agency, that means more time for drawing, writing, cooking, and savoring this California dream town. •

The linen tablecloth is from Cherval Studio, my friend Elizabeth Vallino’s textile line. The mixedmedia piece is by Canadian artist Graham Gillmore, whose wordplay is extraordinary. OPPOSITE: The kitchen is the heart of most homes, but in ours it s literally half the shared space. The stove is like another family member.

A piece by Alexander Calder hangs next to my favorite T-shirt from Mate Gallery. The suzani textile and gilded mirror belonged to my mother.

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OPPOSITE: English designer Adam Bray created a writing room lined in cork so I can pin up inspirational scraps. The director’s chair is rendered in his Suze fabric by Soane Britain.

Ranch

“This archway [originally a simple six-foot rectangular doorway opening separating the kitchen and dining room] was the most impactful architectural element that helped transform the home from California ranch to hacienda,” Donahoe says.

Hands

Clever minds turned a custom build into an inspired hacienda

WRITTEN BY JENNIFER BLAISE KRAMER

PHOTOGRAPHS BY SARA PRINCE

In the living room, the team transformed a stone fireplace into a rustic one with custom plaster; a Carolina K ottoman and a found flamenco dancer painting provide pops of color. OPPOSITE, FROM TOP: Vintage Mexican

saloon doors from Summerland Antique Collective are paired with a basket light from The Well in Summerland; collected artwork reflects Mexican heritage and hacienda soul.

Sometimes a renovation is a true transformation. That was the case for Rancho de Familia, a hacienda-style home in Toro Canyon. The residence looks like it dates to the turn of the 20th century, but it’s actually a custom build from 2002 whose modern lines were painstakingly reimagined—with a whole lot of love—by two women named Rita.

Designer Rita Donahoe, the owner of Rita Chan Interiors, had previously worked with Rita Villa Danchuk on her home in Faria Beach. The two share a coastal aesthetic: Donahoe is known for her breezy, clean, sustainable interiors, and Danchuk for her Bonita Beach and Hacienda boutiques in Summerland. In collaborating again, they sought similar success with a different look: colorful, collected, and deeply personal, nodding to Danchuk’s Mexican heritage.

“We had such great chemistry and rolled right into the next project just as we were finishing the beach house,” Donahoe says. “They are the second owners of this home, which was custom built and very nice. But, as they joke, their plan was to ‘dirty it up,’ which inevitably resulted in a total overhaul of almost every surface in the house and the best ‘dirtying up’ I ever could have imagined.”

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Rita and Rick Danchuk, retired with four kids and six grandchildren, had hoped to create Rancho de Familia as a primary residence that

The first move was to change all the room transitions from linear openings to arches.

reflected their Santa Barbara lifestyle. “We wanted to make the home inviting, comfortable, expressive, and filled with stories,” Donahoe says. Designed for hosting and entertaining, “it’s meant to be filled with family and friends.”

The first move was to change all the room transitions from linear openings to arches, a hacienda hallmark. Glazed bricks enhance the look, adding texture and character, and plaster provides depth on the walls and fireplace.

“The transformation of the transition from the dining room to the kitchen was perhaps the most impactful design decision we made, as it set our path for the home from a modern ranch-style

FROM TOP: Handmade details make the kitchen sing, including custom pendants made in collaboration with Anacapa Ceramics and hand-painted and glazed Talavera tiles from Tierra y Fuego, made in Mexico; designer Rita Donahoe of Rita Chan Interiors.

FROM TOP LEFT:

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CLOCKWISE

Stained woodwork has an oldworld feel; a tequila bar is at the ready; clay mugs rest in a vintage cupboard; handmade tiles from Alebrije Homewares and a custom railing by Santa Barbara Forge transformed a dated staircase.

Otomi textiles from Mexico gave a new life to the primary bed (upholstered by Gutshall-Vega), which is positioned in the middle of the room so the couple can see the ocean while lying down.

OPPOSITE: In the playroom, two-tone plaster was inspired by the dining room at El Presidio. A vintage bookshelf from Casa Mexicana houses stories for the grandkids with play clothes in the daybed base, made from old scaffolding boards.

house to a historic-feeling Spanish hacienda,” Donahoe says. “We redid all the other arches in the home from segmental to traditional round, which is more reflective of Spanish style, and added some arched niches, turning a basic squared-off closet in the playroom into an arched nook for the grandkids.”

In the kitchen, white-oak cabinetry by Two Trees Cabinetry was stained in a darker, richer finish for a traditional old-world feel. The cabinets wrap around both sides of the kitchen and dining room, accommodating a coffee bar, a cookbook niche, and a tequila bar. In the dining room, a reeded ceiling created by artisans in Mexico is accented by reclaimed barn beams.

Donahoe, who also runs the Good Ancestor interior design firm with her husband, Brogan, is always thinking about sustainability. The team, including builder David Chase, incorporated reclaimed barn wood throughout the house, from the kitchen-island cabinetry to the laundry-room countertop and custom Murphy bed. Logs from the original kitchen were sanded down and reused in the dining room. Salvaged scaffolding boards that were used while plastering the ceilings and walls had so much character that the team repurposed them for the playroom daybed, which stores all the grandkids’ dress-up costumes.

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Reclaimed bricks add warmth and pay homage to the homeowner’s father, a well-known landscaper and gardener in Santa Barbara. He loved to collect bricks from all his projects, and the Ritas used them in the family-room fireplace and on flooring. “We also used many pieces from our client’s history, such as her mother-in-law’s antique console table, her grandmother’s mirror, and her dad’s sombreros,” Donahoe says. Since the homeowner was a flamenco dancer, there are many bright pops of Fiesta memorabilia, in addition to artifacts from around the world.

“I suppose the only challenge was occasionally trying to find a middle ground between my more minimal, clean, and simple aesthetic and my client’s penchant for bolder colors and patterns and very expressive designs,” Donahoe says. “But ultimately this was the best part of the project, finding that middle ground together. We pushed each other out of our comfort zones and into a place that ended up truly magical.”

“The intention was to make the home feel like it had always been this way, and I think what makes it truly special is how many beautiful stories are behind practically every piece and design decision,” Donahoe says, adding that the heirloom-rich interiors are soulfully authentic yet durable for generations to come. •

Nearly everything in this home is vintage and sourced locally; almost nothing is mass produced. In the dining room, a vintage Mexican chandelier from Casa Mexicana in Santa Barbara hangs over an heirloom table, a vintage bench is from Indian Pink, and vintage wooden and woven chairs are from Miss Daisy’s Consignment and Auction House.

The late Sally McQuillan, the founder of Raoul Textiles. OPPOSITE: A handmade scrapbook opened to indigo and delft Raoul patterns.

WRITTEN BY LORIE DEWHIRST PORTER

Bolts of Lightning

The aesthetic legacy of Sally McQuillan

For a small town, Santa Barbara has no shortage of residents with boldface names. More interesting, arguably, are the low-key denizens whose outsize talents enrich the cultural fabric. The late Sally McQuillan was—and continues to be—one of those people.

Raoul Textiles, the business Sally created with her husband, Tim, in 1981, is known throughout the world for its hand-printed fabrics and wallpapers. It has a retail store on State Street, a factory on Parker Way, and 14 showrooms spanning the United States, Europe, and Australia. But early operations, housed in a Quonset hut, were undeniably humble, as were its products: T-shirts. From the beginning, Raoul Textiles was a family affair. And it remains so, ably helmed by the McQuillans’ grown children, Madeleine and Gene, since Sally’s death in 2024. (Tim died in 2000.)

Sally’s sun-soaked youth in Florida clearly influenced her future creative efforts. “She always

Raoul

Textiles

is known throughout the world for its hand-painted fabrics and wallpapers.

talked about going to parties where everyone was wearing a Lilly Pulitzer dress,” says Madeleine. And it’s easy to find echoes of Pulitzer’s wildly popular colorful shift dresses in Raoul’s tropical fabric designs. Sally studied painting in college but relocated to Santa Barbara before graduation.

In designer Kit Kemp’s London drawing room, the sofa is clad in Eve fabric, a bold pomegranate print from Raoul Textiles. OPPOSITE: A dining room created by Kit Kemp Design Studio features Raoul Textile fabrics. At the head of the table, a balloon-backed chair in Eve fabric is flanked by chairs covered in Sari.

The Raoul Textiles shop on State Street features art, furniture, and decorative objects, including baskets by Christine Love Adcock.

Sally ’s fabrics paved the way for a generation of designers who craved her artisanal approach.

A residence in the Bahamas designed by David Netto features Raoul Textiles Exoticus Fabric in Elephant Leaf. OPPOSITE: For a Santa Monica home, Netto used the same fabric, adding a tropical touch to a classical wooden cabinet.

“The story she always told,” Madeleine says, “was that she was much more interested in painting the wallpaper behind the subject than painting the subject itself.” Adds Gene, “She realized she really liked repeat patterns.”

Tim and Sally met in 1975 at Tim’s Santa Barbara restaurant, Rhythm Café, and married six years later. The Quonset hut became ground zero for the couple’s experiments with screen printing, as they created colorful T-shirts to sell on the beach. Sportswear brands Billabong, Nike, and Quiksilver heard about the McQuillans, and soon Raoul Textiles—named for a wooden figurine from Oaxaca that Tim gave Sally—was printing fabric for the surfwear industry. Meanwhile, Madeleine and Gene were literally growing up in the factory. “It was our playground,” says Madeleine. “It was our home. It was everything.”

By the turn of the millennium, Raoul Textiles had come into its own. A proper factory building replaced the Quonset hut, and Sally pivoted to designing fabrics for interiors. She chose linen— which she loved for its rustic elegance—to back her designs, which were, and still are, printed entirely by hand. In 1999, World of Interiors, a British style magazine, profiled the company with a spread featuring images of the McQuillan

home. The article noted that Sally drew her designs by hand, without a computer, something she continued her entire life. The WOI piece was a huge coup. “She thought that really launched Raoul,” says Madeleine.

Publicity aside, Sally’s fabrics paved the way for a generation of designers who craved her artisanal approach, as opposed to a slick and digital one. Los Angeles designer and writer David Netto says, “Sally’s designs have lifted my work and made me come into whatever talents I may possess as a designer much more fully than if I had to make rooms without them.”

London-based Kit Kemp, the founder and creative director of the exclusive Firmdale Hotels, features Raoul Textiles throughout the hotels and in her own home, despite having her own fabric and wallpaper lines. According to Kemp, “There has been no one before or since who understands textile design and the love of color like Sally.”

Indeed, the success of Raoul Textiles stems in no small part from Sally’s singular talent for distinctive color combinations. “Her sense of color was genius,” says Gene. “It was innate,” adds Madeleine. “She just knew what would look good together in ways that wouldn’t occur to Continued on page 144

Feature / McQuillian

Sally McQuillan in the Raoul Textiles factory. OPPOSITE: Kashmir-India on a canopy bed designed by Suzanne Rheinstein.

A framed collection of pressed seaweed from Field + Fort surrounds the front door, which looks out across the lagoon to the mountains. OPPOSITE: Brass lighthouse lamps underscore the owner’s interest in all things nautical.

On the WATERFRONT

A beachside location sets the tone for an elegantly casual residence

WRITTEN BY JOAN

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOE

TAPPER

SCHMELZER

In the informal dining area, there’s a vintage vibe to the light fixture, which illuminates an 18th-century Italian drop-leaf table that cozies up to a corner banquette. OPPOSITE: Light streams into the family room through lightweight curtains that add to the home’s breezy atmosphere. The two armchairs covered in

the

unites the

and

The

bouclé fabric from Holland & Sherry evoke

work of architect

designer Arne Jacobsen.

Moroccan rug

room with graphic boldness.

“ The goal was to make it interesting with a mix of unique pieces. ”

the

are a

of styles and materials, from

The owners like contemporary art, notes John De Bastiani. He used an abstract painting by Florida artist Caleb Mahoney to focus attention in the living room, where

furnishings

deft blend

an antique octagon corner table to a small Moroccan side table. Rose Tarlow fabric in beige with a horizontal green stripe covers the capacious sofa, while a sheepskin ottoman invites you to put your feet up.

The project was something of a surprise,” designer John De Bastiani says about the residence on Sand Point Road in Carpinteria. “It was a referral from a real estate agent. The owners had another house and were looking for a place while they renovated that home. But they found this house, which had recently had a refresh. It wasn’t a construction project, but we did some light renovations—countertops in the kitchen, hardwood floors in the bedroom. And we carved out a powder room in the hallway. The house was a bit of a hodgepodge.”

Many of the original homes were simple beach cottages that residents added onto over the years. This one had postmodern vibes with a bit of post and beam. “But the additions had been done tastefully,” he says. “And it was so beautifully sited—with the ocean on one side and a view over the marsh to the mountains on the other. There was nothing to block the views. There was the peacefulness of looking out to the water. You feel like you’re in the Hamptons.”

The place was spacious—5,000 square feet and five bedrooms, just one story but with high ceilings and several levels that adjusted to the beachfront terrain. Every room was different, and as a whole, it was a blank slate. The home was a second residence and also needed to be furnished top to bottom.

with a mix of unique pieces,” says De Bastiani, who combined an antique octagon corner table with a small Moroccan side table and placed metal sconces on the wall. Presiding over the couch is a bold abstract painting by Caleb Mahoney, a contemporary artist from Florida.

Light flows throughout the house, but overhangs keep direct sun at bay. In the dining room, with its somewhat casual table and chairs, elegant French doors open to the patio at the front of the house, making entertaining an indoor-outdoor affair.

Off the kitchen, on the other side of the home, is an informal dining corner where focus is drawn to the rugged beachscape of rocks and water outside. “The banquette was there,” says De Bastiani, “but we added the cushions.”

The blue of that seating is echoed in the family room up a few stairs. Here the designer placed a large U-shaped sectional sofa, lowered slightly for a more modern feel and covered in linen. “Both owners are tall people,” he says, and the sofa is deep. “Kids could sleep on it.” Behind the sofa is a three-dimensional map of a harbor. “The owner loves maps. He grew up in Boston and Rhode Island.” No accident, then, that the rope ceiling fixture reflects a nautical influence.

Feature / De Bastiani

“The owners had a main house in Los Angeles that had been done by an AD 100 designer, so this was a little intimidating at first,” says De Bastiani. “The owners proved to be lovely people, a vibrant couple with two children in college, and this was meant to be a family home. They didn’t give us a lot of direction; they appreciated the fact that we’re designers.”

De Bastiani doesn’t adhere to a specific signature style. “Projects can go in a lot of directions,” he says. “I prefer to decorate for what the clients like,” adding warmth, accessories, and interesting layers to the project. In this case, the overall feeling for the residence was traditional, “but not like your parents’ or grandparents’ traditional. There’s a youthful feel—casual and easy.”

He chose a cool palette, blues and greens that seemed both appropriate for the setting and in tune with the husband’s penchant for nautical touches. There are also ethnic accents and contemporary art. “It feels very today.”

The living room is spacious but comes across as intimate. “The goal was to make it interesting

Other small seaside touches continue in the guest room, with navy-and-white upholstery by Zak+Fox on the bed, a sisal rug, and a sly nod to surf culture in the form of a print of Clockwork Malibu by Anthony Friedkin, who has photographed many surfers.

In contrast, the Tree of Life in the primary bedroom is a commissioned plaster-on-burlap artwork by John Matthew Moore of Camden, Maine. “There are a lot of textures in the room,” says De Bastiani: a crackle glaze on the lamp, a big woven light fixture, a grasscloth rug. “When you look at things, they draw you in.”

The only real construction done for the home was the addition of a powder room off the foyer. “I love the room,” he says. He placed a marble sink from Turkey on a custom oak base whose wooden pegs underscore its handcrafted provenance. Above the beadboard walls he added Indian block-print wallpaper by Michael Smith, again in shades of green and blue.

From presenting boards with images and fabric swatches to the move-in date, things came together in about four months, De Bastiani says. “There was a mesh of place and the owners’ personalities. We wanted it to feel like someone cared and collected the stuff. It’s not a showroom. It feels like someone lives there.” •

The designer commissioned Maine artist John Matthew Moore to create the plaster-on-burlap Tree of Life for the primary bedroom and custom made the bobbin bed with linen coverlets. The embroidered curtains from Chelsea add to the array of textures in the graceful room.

OPPOSITE: Perfect for an indooroutdoor lifestyle, the deck of the Sand Point residence has plenty of cushioned seating and a couple of occasional stone tables from The Well.

A Seat at the Table

Surrounded by oak trees, Maja Lithander Smith sets an enchanting garden party.

staged the ultimate Santa Barbara garden parties

WRITTEN BY JENNIFER BLAISE KRAMER

PHOTOGRAPHS BY SARA PRINCE AND DANIELLE RUBI

Maja Lithander Smith

There was a triple threat in the world of garden parties as soon as Maja Lithander Smith landed in Santa Barbara. A recent part-time resident, she’s the owner of Found by Maja, a vintage home store in San Francisco. To launch her mini pop-up in Summerland last year, Smith threw three very different events in her signature style—each with a Santa Barbara spin—with Alice Ryan, her friend and publicist.

Feature / Calgary Bianchi

“As a longtime Montecito resident, I love coming back to Santa Barbara and was excited to help play architect for this concept,” Ryan says. “I drew the guest lists full of creatives who didn’t know Maja but would support her pop-up. We wanted the best of Santa Barbara, and with Maja’s beautiful pieces, there was no need for any rentals. Every table setting in each home created unparalleled beauty and was entirely unique.”

First was a party at designer Penelope Bianchi’s cottage, which is a postcard for Santa Barbara style. “We set a table of celadon, blue, and aqua, with hand-painted plates, vintage champagne coupes, and delicate glassware,” says Smith. “The effect felt both ethereal and timeless, as if her own vintage garden chairs had been painted to match the table setting.”

“I knew Maja’s store in San Francisco, where I’d bought the most beautiful table with flowers in it,” Bianchi says, adding that when Ryan asked about cohosting a lunch, “I was excited to say yes. It was a beautiful day as we gathered our friends and sat under the oak trees celebrating Maja—just magical.”

Guests mingled and sipped drinks served from a vintage bar cart alfresco, one of the reasons Smith adores entertaining here, where the weather is much more reliable than in the Bay Area. “I do shift slightly for entertaining in

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: “It was like walking into a dreamscape of garden luncheon in the most incredible setting—magical, magical, magical,” says Smith; blue, aqua, and celadon tones on the table complemented the homeowner’s garden chairs; a storybook cottage setting emphasized the magic; host and homeowner Penelope Bianchi.

Feature / Calgary Bianchi

Santa Barbara,” she says. “More is done outdoors, which is more engaging as people let their guard down.”

Both beauty and color were in evidence at a second party, held at the Klentner Ranch, home of designer Amanda Masters. On the veranda, tables were covered in rich greens to mirror the colors of the polo fields below. “We used a malachite theme for the linens and laid the table with real malachite obelisks, vintage French plates, and layers of greens and blue glass,” Smith says, adding that the view was picture perfect: “Amanda’s sense of design and her ease of entertaining are so enviable.”

“When I knew I was hosting her, I rushed to arrange things the way I thought Maja would most enjoy,” Masters says. “I left everything that way for a long time. Maja has very high standards in her choice of bold color and high design: it’s straight-up American chic.”

Finally, Smith set up “the dinner party of her dreams” at the home of editor and author Calgary

A malachite palette mirrored the greens seen in every direction from the veranda. OPPOSITE, FROM TOP: Whimsical place cards were hand-painted by artist Olivia Joffrey; host and homeowner Amanda Masters (left) with guest Nina Takesh.

“ Design is so much more to Maja than simply arranging spaces—it ’s about telling stories and sharing emotions. ”

—Calgary Avansino

“Calgary’s

room allowed for a more dramatic entertaining set up,” says Smith, who brought the outdoor hues in. OPPOSITE,

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP

A garden-inspired

elegant dining

LEFT:

cake by Chandler Davis; artist Olivia Joffrey made elegant place cards to pair with the Italian linens, Murano glass, and French ceramics; hosts Smith (left), Alice Ryan (center), and Calgary Avansino glow, thanks to makeup by Anahit.

Avansino. The evening combined outdoor elegance and indoor drama as guests moved among multiple spaces. “Calgary’s home is elegant, and her dining room allowed for a more formal and dramatic entertaining setup,” says Smith, who adorned the table with Italian linens, Provençal aptware, Murano glass stemware, French ceramics, and Swedish brass candlesticks. “The table was perfection and the company was sparkling,” she says.

“Design is so much more to Maja than simply arranging spaces—it’s about telling stories and sharing emotion through the beauty of our surroundings,” Avansino says. “It’s been inspirational to watch Maja transform her love of travel and design into a thriving business. She has this incredible ability to see potential where others see just an object—whether it’s a handwoven textile from a village in France or a vintage lamp from a forgotten market in Italy.”

Feature / Calgary Bianchi

In such good company, Smith shared her collections and created magic three times over. With the pressure of hosting off the table, so to speak, she could simply connect with likeminded design buffs who appreciate beauty through her kind of storytelling. “Maja has created a bridge between artisans and design lovers who crave authenticity,” Avansino says. “Each piece tells a story, and she has become the narrator.” •

BOLTS OF LIGHTNING

Continued from page 127

pretty much anyone else.” It comes as no surprise that all Raoul fabrics are printed with custom colors. “You can’t buy our paint in a bucket,” Madeleine says. “We make it ourselves.”

Opening a local retail store in 2010 was a natural progression. “Sally always wanted to expand what she was doing,” says Madeleine, “and it allowed her to flesh out a whole Raoul space and show that to the public.” Because she couldn’t find furniture suitable to showcase her fabrics, Sally created Engle & Deutch, a collection of handmade seating, tables, and accessories, to do so. Her wallpaper line debuted in 2020.

She also filled the store with objects that caught her interest, especially items from Africa. With longtime friend Herbert “Skip” Cole, a professor emeritus in African art and architecture at UCSB, Sally sponsored evening lectures at the store for the Friends of Africa group. “We had dozens of talks on African art and architecture, and the stylish atmosphere of the Raoul store was a terrific setting,” says Cole, adding “African influence is also seen in several textiles Sally designed.”

It seems natural that Madeleine and Gene would end up working at Raoul. Gene studied textiles at Central Saint Martins in London, an arts and design college, followed by a stint at George Smith, the venerable London furniture design firm. He joined Raoul in 2013 and handles the financial and public side of the business. Madeleine’s route was less direct. Intent on becoming a librarian, she studied comparative literature at Brown University but moved back to Santa Barbara in 2009 to help Sally open the store. Madeleine discovered she had a knack for

Natural Haven

production; she now manages the factory and oversees the showrooms.

The siblings are primed to carry the Raoul aesthetic into the future. Considering the more than 200 prints in Raoul’s textile library, combined with the sizable archive from Sally’s early design days, they have plenty to work with.

“She knew we would take care of it,” Madeleine says. “She was also glad we would continue to take care of the people who work here. She was like a mother to them too—some started working when they were in their 20s.”

Gene adds, smiling, “The show must go on.” •

McCann Mini Storage Moving Miss Daisy

The McQuillan family in early days of Raoul Textiles.

Image Maker

The popular impression of Santa Barbara owes a lot to photographer J. WALTER COLLINGE , who arrived in 1918 and shot local architecture and Montecito estates, gardens and beaches, and the city’s cultural life. Collinge was a friend of G. W. Smith and his go-to photographer when it came to shooting that architect’s designs, from Florestal in Hope Ranch to the Meridian Studios downtown, among others. An avid boatman, Collinge also photographed the Haida, the yacht

owned by Max Fleischmann, yeast company heir and local philanthropist. His pictures promoted Fiesta, memorialized the palominos raised by Santa Barbara mover and shaker Dwight Murphy, and captured the members of the Denishawn Dance Company. In fact, among Collinge’s best-known work is the Fairy Ring, an evocative nude featuring that troupe’s dancer Doris Humphrey. His work is on exhibit at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum through May 11. SBHISTORICAL.ORG. J.T.

GARDEN.

PHOTO BY J. WALTER COLLINGE (1883–1964).

COURTESY SANTA BARBARA HISTORICAL MUSEUM

An unusual garden of cacti and succulents against a mountain backdrop caught the attention of J. Walter Collinge, whose evocative black-and-white photograph hints at Santa Barbara’s varied landscape.