Modern Makeover for a Montecito Mediterranean

Noteworthy new listings….

When 956 Mariposa Lane ($35 million) was last on the market in 2019-2020, the interior design bowed to the Mediterranean architecture—soothing neutrals, upscale-rustic finishes, and all in good, if a tad stale, taste. The current seller, who paid just $8.78 million, has given the 2002 house a very contemporary facelift, including a Poliform kitchen, stage-set lighting and other black industrial accents, a closet that could pass for a boutique, and an outdoor gym with walls that retract at the flip of a switch. The views are as enviable as ever, and the compound is undeniably fun to explore, from the tennis court at the lower end of the 2.49-acre lot to the “viewing room” accessed via spiral metal staircase. P.S. Relocating the pool to the sunny south side of the house was a smart move.

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613 Maria Ignacia Lane ($10.5 million) is a 16-acre compound west of Highway 154 with three residences, two of which are Italian-ish. When I suggest painting a house pink, I don’t mean with a sponge. No interior shots, alas.

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The 1922 Craftsman at 517 De La Vista Avenue ($2.495 million) in the Bungalow Haven District got redone by Ferguson-Ettinger Architects when the principals lived there, and it shows: the cottage is small but quality, and there’s an itty-bitty ADU in back. Upstairs is a finished attic most likely to be used for storage, and the alternate-tread stairs—a.k.a. witches’ stairs—are a space-saving technique. They’re surprisingly manageable, but going down ladder-style is easier if you do it ladder-style.

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The 2017 four-bedroom at 176 Ocean View Avenue ($3.795 million), near the lower end of Toro Canyon Road, sold for $3.361 million in June 2023 amid a lot of interest. The floor plan is appealing and there are nice finishes throughout. Personally, I’d do more with the backyard—a pool would be nice, or simply additional hardscaping so the seating isn’t all up against the house—and there’s a vacant lot next door (no plans to build, but you never know).

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21 W. Los Olivos Street ($3.398 million), built in 1930, has one of those old-house situations: the upstairs primary shares a bathroom with a guest room. If you can cope with that, there’s a lot to like—tons of period charm, a great location, and a sweet little backyard. The kitchen could stand updating, and the fridge (in the nook marked “hall” on the floor plan) is in a fraught spot. Get used to yelling “Corner!”

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905 Camino Viejo Road ($3.795 million) is a textbook spec reno—whiter, brighter, calmer—of a 1964 house near Hale Park. While the brick terrace (with hot tub) out back is a beaut, the landscaping in front got short shrift: the asphalt driveway isn’t in great shape, the front path is gravel, and, oy, so much mulch.

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And a few others worth checking out:
••• 1414 La Vereda Lane ($5.495 million): Renovated 1922 Spanish Colonial.
••• 2435 Golden Gate Avenue ($2.725 million): A.k.a. the Summerland house you park on top of, and a certified hot potato, having sold in 2021 and 2023 (below).
••• 218 E Yanonali Street Unit B ($2.195 million): Two-bedroom townhouse in the Funk Zone’s Villa Del Mar compound.
••• 1370 Crestline Drive ($2.49 million): Bel Air Knolls fixer; no interior photos.
••• 817 Knapp Drive ($4 million): 1968 Arcady fixer with ocean view.

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