This $34.5 Million Montecito Estate Blends Modern Architecture With Laid-Back California Living
- Jack Warner was a renowned architect, war veteran, philanthropist, art collector, and gardener who founded the Montecito-based Warner Group Architects in 1966, with notable projects including the Bel-Air Country Club and a contemporary residence in Montecito’s Pepper Hill neighborhood.
Jack Warner wasn't just a renowned architect, but also an American war veteran, philanthropist, art collector, and gardener. The late hyphenate founded the Montecito-based Warner Group Architects in 1966, which has been acknowledged four times on Architectural Digest 's prestigious AD100 list over the last four-plus decades. The firm's most notable projects include the Bel-Air Country Club, Birnam Wood Country Club, a wing of Santa Barbara's Museum of Art, and stunning residences throughout the Golden State, as well as his personal family home in Northern California's Sea Ranch .
Warner's final project was a contemporary residence in Montecito's Pepper Hill neighborhood that has recently come available at $34.5 million with Robert Kemp of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties. A collector-quality masterpiece built in 2000, the home is squirreled away on a private promontory at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac. But despite its tucked-away location, it's just a short drive from bustling Coast Village Road in Montecito, where you just might run into one of the many famous local residents who include Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
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High ceilings and a fireplace trimmed in black marble speaks to the home's restrained elegance.
RELATED: Inside a $12 Million Minimalist Home in Montecito
A gated driveway and a motor court flanked by mature hedges and trees offer a grand sense of arrival. Warner's architectural design ethos included clean lines, an emphasis on indoor-outdoor living, and a solid structure that comprises a carefully arranged series of cubic volumes. The home is oriented east towards the Pacific Ocean with sideline views of the Santa Ynez Mountains, meaning that nearly every room benefits from sunrise views and plenty of natural light throughout the day. And, as an art collector, Warner was careful to create spaces that would accommodate the original owner's collection, which included various types and sizes of work, including large-format paintings. Presiding over a secluded 2.5-acre parcel, the 7,228-square-foot contemporary home has five bedrooms and five bathrooms, plus a powder room.
The heart of the home is the great room, where there are soaring ceilings, a minimalist fireplace trimmed in black marble, and retractable glass doors that open to a covered loggia that's complete with built-in overhead heat lamps for taking the edge off of crisp mornings and chilly evenings. The elegantly proportioned space also overlooks a tranquil reflecting pond, featuring two bronze sculptures from the Greek sculptor Aristides Demetrios.
Huge picture windows fill the sleek, eat-in gourmet kitchen with natural light.
The roomy eat-in kitchen features quartz countertops that continue as the backsplash, a center island with a cantilevered wooden snack bar, sleek white laminate cabinetry, and a full range of high-end appliances. There's a corner nook for casual meals as well as a butler's pantry and kitchenette that connects the dining room to the kitchen.
Every bedroom has gorgeous views with en suite bathrooms and ample closet space, while the owner's suite includes dual walk-in closets and a soaking tub positioned to take in the mountain views. Other perks include a wood-paneled office with a fireplace, a wine cellar, and an attached three-car garage.
Outside, the ocean-facing pool and spa are surrounded by a stone patio, a fire pit, a bocce ball court, a chicken coop, and a lemon arbor. Pathways for meditation strolls are woven through the immaculate landscaping, which includes towering oaks, lush ferns, and fragrant jasmine, as well as an orchard with 50 fruit-producing trees.
Click here for more photos of the Montecito residence.
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