House & Home: April 29, 2023

Miramar Lane is a sweet private street in the coveted Hedgerow neighborhood of Montecito. This residence is a magical Spanish style, single level home. Three bedrooms, each with their own full bathroom, are arranged thoughtfully in the main house. Across the back patio, a second structure houses a one bedroom, one bathroom guest quarters next to a large workshop space- this permitted and outfitted structure has ample opportunities for the next owner. French doors, skylights and picture windows let in breezes and sunshine. Dine under a majestic oak tree in the charming stone private front patio or sip a glass of wine out back near the citrus trees, garden, and lawn. The indoor, outdoor space is perfect for entertaining. Enjoy the charming original details + opportunity awaits to modernize this classic estate built in 1938 and lovingly owned by one family since 1957. This prime location offers amazing proximity to unparalleled amenities including the coveted Montecito Union School District, premier shopping, dining, and beaches. Montecito living at its finest.

the Santa Barbara News-Press.

©2023

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Views expressed in the articles of House & Home are the views of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Santa Barabara News-Press.

“What’s Your Story?”

Santa Barbara County

is is a partial list of all recorded residential sales in Santa Barbara County from April 17 thru April 21, 2023. While these recordings are public record, the News-Press receives this information from an outside source. is list does not represent all sales that occurred over this time period. Consult your REALTOR® for further information regarding home sales in your area of interest.

Santa Barbara County Sales

Design Recipes: 10 tips to find storage solutions

By Cathy Hobbs

Built-in shelves allow for both organization and display.

Photo courtesy Handout/TNS

Built-in organization including a built-in dresser helps keep a primary bedroom closet organized.

Photo courtesy Scott Gabriel Morris/TNS

Adjustable shelves help maximize storage along a bedroom hallway.

Photo courtesy Scott Gabriel Morris/TNS

Bins and boxes add to the organization in a primary bedroom closet.

Photo courtesy Handout/TNS

Whether it’s a small closet, large pantry or linen closet you want to keep tidy, organization is key to maximizing space and productivity. One philosophy that works: Everything should have a place, and be in place.

Here are some top tips to help bring a sense of brightness and light into dark spaces. But what is the best way to achieve this sense of functionality and order? Here are some of our top organizational tips.

1. Keep items in clear containers or jars. Being able to see what you have is half the struggle to help prevent purchasing items you already own.

2. Practice the one in, one out rule.

3. Purge seasonally. Instead of the once-ayear cleanup, consider evaluating what to keep and what to toss more often.

4. Buy bins, baskets or containers to store small items.

5. Scan it! Gone are the days where boxes of documents or file cabinets full of paper are a necessity.

6. Just say no. Say no to items or inherited heirlooms you simply don’t have space or a need for that will sit in a closet or attic and collect dust.

7. Take new items out of boxes. Boxes are bulky and take up a lot of space.

8. Go slim. Huggable hangers and collapsible items can help maximize space.

9. Create cubbies or shelves to house items of various sizes.

10. Consider built-ins (be thoughtful and purposeful).

Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design home staging expert and shortterm rental/vacation home designer with offices in New York City and The Hudson Valley. Contact her at info@cathyhobbs.com.

©2023 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By Todd Shea President of the Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS®

New Association Executive

Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS® welcomes new Association Executive as Bob Hart retires from the position

On April 13, 2023, Bob Hart retired from his position as Association Executive at the Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS® (SBAOR) after 10 impactful years.

Throughout his career, Bob has made many significant contributions to the real estate profession and Santa Barbara community. As Association Executive, he led several efforts to improve SBAOR’s sustainability practices, provide valuable information to its members, and adapt to the changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

To improve sustainability practices, window screens were installed throughout the SBAOR buildingand all lights were changed to LED, which has reduced electricity costs and maintenance requirements. The front landscape was changed from grass to native plantings to reduce water usage, and downspouts were reconfigured to direct water flow to retention basins, improving ground water retention and reducing storm water runoff. SBAOR also invested in a Solar Photovoltaic system for the building, which was installed concurrently with a new roof as a cost savings measure, and has saved a substantial amount of energy-costs.

To better provide valuable information to members, SBAOR launched a new website: www.sbaor.org. The new site is mobile-friendly, easy to navigate, and full of useful information. This information is also available through regular newsletters provided by the association. Through an innovative partnership with Build-It-Green and the Utility Companies, SBAOR has been able to provide the Green Designation Course, aimed at helping members expand their knowledge and skills while being environmentally conscious.

Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the operations and activities of SBAOR, as it did for many organizations and businesses around the world. Under Bob’s leadership, the SBAOR staff responded to the pandemic’s challenges with resilience and adaptability, finding new and innovative ways to stay connected with members and support their business needs. SBAOR made a concerted effort to be responsive to member inquiries and provide daily updates to help them stay informed. Thanks to SBAOR’s commitment to learning new and innovative practices, its staff was able to quickly become proficient with Zoom and other virtual platforms, allowing them to continue offering educational opportunities, committee meetings, and other valuable events.

To celebrate Bob’s impact and his retirement, SBAOR recently held an event in his honor, where his successor Brian Johnson joked that he knew he had “big shoes” to fill. Brian has served as a commercial real estate agent on the Central Coast since 2002. He brings new and valuable insights to the role of Association Executive, due to his experience as a top performer in multifamily investment properties, as well as network planning and development projects for major US wireless telephone companies.

To learn more about the Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS®, visit their website, Instagram, or Facebook.

Todd Shea Specializing in Luxury Buyer & Seller Representation

YARD SALE TIPS

BEFORE YOUR SALE

• Prepare to start earl . ollectors and anti e dealers like to sho p earl in the morning.

• btain a permit i re ired

• lean p o r space. People like clean and neat places.

• ather lots o shopping bags.

GATHERING ITEMS

• est an electrical items to make s re the ork.

• ollect o r items and sort it b

t pe. clothing to s tools etc.

• ake time to clean or repair o r items.

• Wash all the clothes so the smell resh.

WHAT SELLS BEST?

• ools s lo e it all an kind.

• Bab items o all kinds especiall clothing.

• itchen appliances.

• lothing ids and ad lt.

WHAT SHOULD YOU NOT SELL?

• tems missing sa et parts.

• n sed prescription dr gs or medications.

• Personal h giene items.

• Halogen floor lamps.

• ld bab cribs or pla pens incomplete child sa et seats.

The Consumer Protection Agency offers a complete list of dangerous items to avoid selling at yard sales. Visit www.cpsc.gov

ADVERTISING

• ell o r riends amil or coorkers abo t o r sale. Word tra els.

• Place a classified ad in the Santa Barbara NEWS-PRESS!!

Remember to check the p blication s deadline.

• n o r ad gi e lots o details. ncl ded the address da s time o o r sale. ist ma or items s ch as ots o kids clothes.

SIGNS

• heck o r local ordinances.

• ist o r address and sale date on all signs.

• Post o r signs at main intersections street corners and at the end o o r dri e a .

• se same colors and rtiting on o r signs as people recogni e them at a glance.

• eep a list o here o posted o r signs. t ill be help l hen it s time to take them do n.

It’s easier to match paint colors than you think

By Hunter Boyce

The most straightforward way to match your wall’s paint color with what is available at your local paint shop is to simply scrape some of the top layer of paint from your wall and bring it to the paint store as a sample.

When you painted your home’s walls years ago, they looked amazing. The color was absolutely perfect, but now it’s faded. The problem: You have no idea what color you purchased for the walls all those years ago. It’s problem many homeowners find themselves struggling with at one point or another.

While the idea of matching year’s old paint might seem impossible, a few tricks can make it a lot easier than you think.

Just scrape some paint off

The most straightforward way to match your wall’s paint color with what is available at your local paint shop is to simply scrape some of the top layer of paint from your wall and bring it to the paint store as a sample.

“An easy way to match your existing paint color is to simply take a knife and peel off the top layer of paint,” says Scott Specker, owner of Five Star Painting in Suwanee and Alpharetta, told Realtor.com.

“If you take that piece into any local home improvement store, they should have computerized color-matching technology that can assess your paint and tell you its exact color.”

Use the fabric around your living space

According to Bobvila.com, a great way to get a shade close to your wall’s color is to compare it to those matching throw pillows — or other accessories — you bought at the time. Most paint stores are equipped with spectrophotometers, which allow paint technicians to color match fabric samples with paint colors.

There’s an app for that

Most major paint brands have free applications designed specifically to identify paint colors. Behr ColorSmart and Benjamin Moore Color Capture, for instance, are free apps that allow users to take a picture of their existing wall color and upload the photo for analysis. The application will then identify the color and find the manufacturer’s closest match.

©2023 Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Photo courtesy Dreamstime/TNS

Bringing Buyers & Sellers Together

Classified Section

Yard Sale Tips

BEFORE YOUR SALE

• Prepare to start early. Collectors and antique dealers like to show up early in the morning.

• obtain a permit if required

• Clean up your space. People like clean and neat places.

• Gather lots of shopping bags. Gathering Items

• Test any electrical items to make sure they work.

• Collect your items and sort it by type. (clothing, toys, tools, etc.)

• Take time to clean or repair your items.

• Wash all the clothes so they smell fresh.

WhaT SellS BeST?

• Tools: Guys love it all, any kind.

• Baby items of all kinds, especially clothing.

• Kitchen appliances.

• Clothing: Kids and adult.

WhaT Should You NoT Sell?

• Items missing safety parts.

• unused prescription drugs or medications.

• Personal hygiene items.

• halogen floor lamps.

• old baby cribs or playpens, incomplete child safety seats.

adverTISING

• Tell your friends, family or coworkers about your sale. Word travels.

• Place a classified ad in the Santa Barbara News-Press!! remember to check the publication’s deadline.

• In your ad, give lots of details. Include the address, day(s), time of your sale. list major items such as “lots of kids clothes.”

SIGNS

• Check your local ordinances.

• list your address and sale date on all signs.

• Post your signs at main intersections, street corners and at the end of your driveway.

• use same colors and writing on your signs as people recognize them at a glance.

• Keep a list of where you posted your signs. It will be helpful when it’s time to take the down.

The consumer Protection Agency offers a complete list of dangerous items to avoid selling at yard sales. Visit www.cpec.gov2