A piece of Santa Barbara architectural history has come to market. The near century-old Spanish Colonial built by Joseph Plunkett has been listed for $8.995 million.
Plunkett, whose prolific work includes the Arlington Theatre and the original terminal at the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, designed the home in 1928 in collaboration with his partners at the time, William Edwards and Henry Howell. The five bedroom/four bathroom home bears the widely admired trademarks of its designers: graceful arches, romantic balconies and stairways, hand-hewn woodwork and ornamental details of tile and iron.
Offering more than 3,600 square feet, the residence is intimate in scale yet comfortably spacious. Lovingly maintained and restored by the same owner for nearly 50 years, the soul of this historic home has been beautifully preserved presenting a truly exceptional opportunity in an already rarely available neighborhood.
Guests are welcomed to a serene courtyard enveloped by lush landscaping, a front facade with enormous arched windows, and an impressive curved staircase leading to an upper balcony. Turn around to be swept away by verdant views of the lake, La Cumbre golf course, and the majestic silhouette of the Santa Ynez Mountains.
Step through the foyer into a high-ceilinged living room featuring dramatic open beams, a corner fireplace, and breathtaking views to the outside. Arguably the focal point of the residence, the living room provides access to both wings of the home, the upper level primary suite, and the enticing rear patio. On the other side of the foyer is a hallway leading to three main-level bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Beyond the living room is the formal dining room and breakfast area, both offering idyllic views to the exterior. An adjacent chef’s kitchen leads to the other wing of the home, where various renovations provide modern amenities while paying homage to the home’s original features, including arched doorways and hand-hewn beams with wrought-iron details. What was once a breezeway to the garage has been enclosed with large windows, creating a cozy family room area, as well as view-lined passage to an additional bedroom and bathroom, a laundry room, a custom wine room, and a two-car garage with additional storage.
Upstairs, just beyond the living room balcony, the primary suite offers a secluded getaway featuring an exterior balcony with lake views, a sitting area, a walk-in closet, and a bathroom with dual sinks and additional closet space. At numerous locations throughout the home, residents and guests are lured outward to enjoy inviting alfresco spaces. Various sitting areas include an outdoor fireplace, a built-in barbecue, large shady oak trees, and an expansive grassy lawn at the west end of the home.
The Dusty Baker Group and Greg Moss of Sotheby’s International Realty hold the listing.