the Blog
The latest findings on the real estate market, restaurant guides, local events, design trends, and more.
Featured
Explore the rich history of La Cumbre Country Club in Hope Ranch, from its 1909 origins to its iconic Thomas/Bell-designed course and enduring Santa Barbara legacy.
Explore the history of Rosewood Miramar Beach, from its early seaside roots to its modern revival. Explore its dining, amenities, architecture, and Montecito lifestyle.
Discover the history of El Fureidis, Montecito’s legendary estate designed by Bertram Goodhue. Explore its Persian gardens, Roman Room, architectural significance, and Hollywood legacy.
Explore the history of Bellosguardo, Santa Barbara’s iconic cliffside estate. Learn about its architecture by Reginald Johnson, its preservation by Huguette Clark, and its role in California’s heritage.
Uncover the legacy of architect Reginald Johnson, designer of the Biltmore, Bellosguardo, and other Santa Barbara landmarks. Explore how his Mediterranean Revival style shaped Montecito and the Central Coast.
Unravel the history, architecture, and coastal elegance of the Coral Casino Beach & Cabana Club in Montecito. Learn about its 1937 origins, Peter Marino restoration, and why it remains a symbol of California coastal design.
Discover Lotusland, Montecito’s extraordinary botanical estate created by Ganna Walska. Explore its history, iconic gardens, and lasting influence on Santa Barbara architecture, landscape design, and California living.
Discover the legacy of Lockwood de Forest, the landscape architect behind Montecito’s most iconic Spanish Colonial Revival estates. Learn how his partnership with George Washington Smith shaped Santa Barbara’s timeless indoor–outdoor lifestyle.
Discover Casa del Herrero, Montecito’s finest Spanish Colonial Revival estate. Learn about its architecture, gardens, history, and lasting influence on Santa Barbara design.
Discover the life and legacy of Lutah Maria Riggs, Santa Barbara’s pioneering female architect and a master of Spanish Colonial Revival and modern California design.
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.
The 40th Annual Montecito Beautification Day is coming up, and it’s one of those simple opportunities to give back to the place that gives us so much. Whether you’re sweeping a sidewalk, planting along a trail, or helping tidy a corner that’s been overlooked, it all matters. Community isn’t built through big moments—it’s built in small acts of care, repeated over time.
Discover the life and legacy of George Washington Smith, the architect who shaped Santa Barbara’s Spanish Colonial Revival era. Explore his timeless influence on Montecito’s homes and design culture.
Learn how to create ambience through lighting with Montecito Valley’s guide to color temperature, layering, vintage fixtures, and design studios that get it.
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 why porch sitting still matters and how to bring it back. A reflection on architecture, slow living, and community by Montecito Valley.
Discover the best drought-tolerant fruit trees for coastal California gardens—figs, olives, pomegranates, citrus, and more. A guide for Zones 10b–11a by Montecito Valley Home.
Learn how to rewild your California property with native plants that honor the land, conserve water, and create timeless beauty—guided by Montecito Valley Home.
Learn how to design a Santa Barbara garden that reflects beauty, sustainability, and slow living—guided by Montecito Valley’s expert coastal design principles.
Discover what USDA Zones 10b and 11a mean for your Montecito garden. Learn what to plant, when, and how to thrive in coastal California’s unique climate.
Discover Montecito’s Upper Village—a timeless mix of history, community, fine dining, and boutique charm in the heart of California’s Central Coast.
Explore Santa Barbara’s golden era of architecture—1900 to 1939—when Spanish Colonial Revival design defined Montecito’s timeless elegance.
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.
From Montecito’s citrus valleys and lemon-packing days, from where we anchor our identity, to the courtyards and terraces shaded by orange trees, citrus has always symbolized the good life in California.
Whether you’re styling your dream home or preparing to sell, understanding the furniture that shaped mid-century design can help elevate any space.
Curious about which chickens lay blue, green, and speckled eggs? Here’s our list of the best multi-colored egg layers for California’s climate—perfect for backyard coops and coastal flocks alike.
Discover the must-have gear, style tips, and local insights for sailing the Santa Barbara coast—including where to rent, what to wear, and how to enjoy the water like a local. Featuring Santa Barbara Sailing Center.
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.