Discover the rich history of the Music Academy of the West, one of Montecito's most iconic cultural institutions. Learn about its founding, impact, and continued legacy.

Explore the history of the Santa Barbara Courthouse, a Spanish Colonial Revival masterpiece known for its painted ceilings, mural room, sunken garden, and 360-degree views. A must-see architectural icon in coastal California.

Discover how Richard Neutra’s modernist architecture continues to shape Santa Barbara’s most sought-after homes and the California indoor-outdoor lifestyle.

Discover why courtyards are the heart of California architecture—from Santa Barbara to Montecito. Learn their design history, benefits, and how to find homes that feature them.

Discover Montecito’s Upper Village—a timeless mix of history, community, fine dining, and boutique charm in the heart of California’s Central Coast.

Discover the origins of Montecito Valley—from citrus groves to coastal estates—and the California lifestyle rooted in heritage, land, and design.

Discover Wallace Neff’s architectural legacy in Santa Barbara and Montecito—timeless Mediterranean estates that define California coastal elegance.

Whether you’re styling your dream home or preparing to sell, understanding the furniture that shaped mid-century design can help elevate any space.

We’re in the Santa Barbara Independent this week, and it feels like a full circle moment. When we launched Montecito Valley, it was with a clear vision: to create a real estate group rooted in story, guided by design, and grounded in a deep love for this community.

A century-old classic returns. After years of quiet, Ojai’s longest-standing hotel is open once again and looking better than ever. Originally built in 1919, Hotel El Roblar has been lovingly restored to honor its Spanish Revival bones while bringing a fresh sense of place.

Montecito architecture is more than just aesthetics. It’s identity. From tiled courtyards in Montecito to steel-and-glass homes in the hills, the way homes are built here reflects how people want to live: connected to the land, open to light, and grounded in a sense of place.

This past weekend, we went Behind The Hedges with our longtime friend, designer, and storyteller Malcolm James Kutner, at his home in Ojai—a place that feels less like a destination and more like a sanctuary of the soul.