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G.W. Smith's Ravenscroft
Montecito, California
$6,250,000

Residence

Price: $6,250,000
Architect: George Washington Smith
Style: Mediterranean
Built: 1922
APN: 13-220-11/12
Lot Size: 1.5+ acres

The name George Washington Smith is synonymous with classic Santa Barbara architecture. In 1922 he designed Ravenscroft, a magical and timeless work of art that has been held in high esteem and preserved by its only two owners. The main residence is handsomely outfitted with an extensive use of hand-tooled wrought iron windows, doors, fixtures and gates; tiled flooring; marble thresholds; and hand-carved panel doors. The 52’ by 20’ living room offers Italian tile floors, high-beamed ceiling and an arched double staircase extending the length of the room over a walk-in fireplace. This most unique and romantic residence includes an attached 3-stall stable, charming hand-tooled stone courtyard, a large grotto room with an opening glass and wrought iron wall to the expansive garden terrace, pool and tennis court.

Main Floor
Living Room: 50' x 25'
The prominent feature of this expansive, two-story space is the centrally located, tavern fireplace, flanked by opposing Spanish stairs that lead to the second floor master suite. Traditional Smith’ basket weave tiled flooring begins here and continues throughout the home, as do the hand-wrought iron fixtures on the doors, windows and wall sconces. The ceiling is beamed, with two circular windows near the peak admitting light in through both ends of the room. Windows on either side of the large, round-top paneled entry door look out onto the front garden. Glass doors with wrought-iron filigree lead from either side of the living room to the bedroom or kitchen/dining wings of the home.

Dining Room: 16' X 14'
The dining room is off of a hallway connecting the kitchen, laundry, grotto, and central courtyard. Several linen and silver closets line this walkway. The coved ceiling dining area is appointed with a French, enamel, standing fireplace, wrought-iron sconces and hand-painted antique ceramic medallion floor tiles. The view looks out onto the central courtyard.

Kitchen Area: 26’ x 18’
The kitchen area is comprised of five rooms: a butler’s pantry, pastry prep kitchen, breakfast nook, mudroom, and central kitchen. All the preparation areas are covered, floors, walls and ceilings, with white French bistro tiling. Only the breakfast nook differs, having terra cotta flooring; open, glass-shelved display cabinets and a tavern display shelf beneath the windows opening to the front garden. Throughout the rest of the kitchen, beveled-edge black granite countertops have metal cabinets below and antique glass-front metal display cabinets above, providing ample pantry, dish and cookware storage. The pastry prep area has a white marble countertop, built-in metal flour bins and a round window to the front courtyard. The butler’s pantry looks out onto this same courtyard. It has a double zinc sink and is accented by French bistro ceiling fixtures. The mudroom has a white marble-top cabinet, a utility sink, track lighting, windows to the front garden and central courtyard and a door to the central courtyard. The main kitchen is equipped with under-counter Sub Zero refrigerator and freezer with icemaker and two Magic Chef 4-burner gas ranges with oven/broiler units. A large, tiled hood with a stainless pot rack extends over both ranges. The area is lit by track lighting and over-sink windows, with black granite sills, that overlook the central courtyard.

Laundry
The theme of white French bistro tiling used in the kitchen is continued in this room. There are three enamel utility sinks and metal storage cupboards. A window and door open to the rear drying garden. Grotto: 50' x 16'
This large sunroom has an entire wall of glass French doors, decorated with hand-wrought iron filigree, that connects the main garden terrace to this indoor/outdoor space. The ceiling is beamed, the floor marble and there is a tiled basin for floral preparation.

Guest Bedrooms: 16’ x 14’ and 14’ x 13’
Two nearly identical bedrooms suites are off a hallway running beside the living room that also connects to sewing and linen storage rooms. Each bedroom has a cove ceiling; Spanish-style corner fireplace; windows to the front and/or side gardens; a walk-in closet; and a full bath featuring period fixtures and finished floors, walls, and ceilings, with white French bistro tiling.

Sewing Room/Linen Storage Room:14’ x 12’
This room has a window to the rear terrace. Adjoining this room is a linen storage room that has extensive glass-front display cabinets above and countertops with cabinets below.

Second Floor Master Suite
Bedroom 30' X 12'
The central feature of this room is a beehive fireplace with a cut-stone hearth. Windows look down onto the rear gardens and pool area. There are two walk-in closets with built-in shelving units; one has a paneled door with cut-mirror accents. A mantel bookshelf and display cabinets offer storage or exhibit space.

Sitting Room: 12’ x 10’
Tile bath and shower with double vanities and large walk-in closet.

Her Bath
This bath is, again, fully tiled with period fixtures. There is a large dressing room with a marble vanity and mirrored sliding doors just off the bath. A window views the gardens below.

His Bath
Fully tiled with period fixtures, heat lamps and a window overlooking the rear gardens.

Guest Apartment Above Garage
Living Room: 24' x 9'
This room runs along the front of the property and overlooks the front garden. The floor covering is white, wall-to-wall carpeting. The apartment is heated by a wall-mounted gas space heater. Lighting is provided by recessed ceiling lights.

Kitchen: 12’ x 9’
This area is a combined, preparation and dining space, appointed with a breakfast bankette. White French bistro tiling covers the floors, walls and ceiling. Some countertops are white marble, others, brown travertine. The room is equipped with track lighting, an enamel sink, a Caloric 4-burner gas range with oven/broiler unit, and a tiled exhaust hood. Corner windows provide views of the front and side gardens.

Back Bedroom and Bath 10’ x 9’
Located near the kitchen and back entry is a bedroom that looks out onto the center courtyard below. A large closet provides storage. This bedroom and the back hall of the apartment have brown travertine flooring. As in the main house, this split bath has floor, ceiling and walls of white French bistro tiling. The bath and wash closet rooms both have antique fixtures and circular windows that open onto the central courtyard.

Front Bedroom and Bath 10’ x 9’
This bedroom is located at the top of the stairway that forms the front entry to the apartment. It has recessed lighting as well as a window with a courtyard view. It has a large storage closet. The bath is at the other end of the hall and has a circular window overlooking the front garden. It is also fully tiled, with antique fixtures.

Grounds
Center Terrace: 60' x 36'
The cut-stone central courtyard is entered through two-story wrought-iron gates, topped by an eight-pointed leaded glass star, a feature repeated in other locations in the home. All bays of the four-car garage are lined with terra-cotta tile. Across the courtyard is a stable with three stalls, a tack and a feed room. A large, fenced dog run is behind a smaller storage building at the far end of the courtyard.

Barbeque Terrace: 50' x 30'
At the rear of the home, behind the stable, is another cut-stone terrace with a built-in barbeque area. Goya tile work surrounds this fireplace and covers the countertop and backsplash above the metal storage cabinets. This large cooking area is flanked by two latticework orchid greenhouses with glass roofs and shelving.

Rear Terrace: 86' x 32'
This expansive flagstone courtyard runs the full length of the rear of the home. The numerous French doors of the grotto/sunroom open directly onto this space. A high hedge and wrought-iron gate separate this terrace from the pool/spa area.

Pool: 37’ x 15’
A flagstone deck surrounds the pool and circular spa. A lower hedge separates the pool from the tennis court.

Tennis Court
The tennis court runs North/South and is a full-sized, championship court.

Shade House: 84’ x 30’
This large, Oriental-style lath house features raised planting beds and a center-aisle water garden. Just outside this structure is a glass house with a tiled roof that was imported from China.

Abigail’s House
Secluded in a private garden is a quaint, dollhouse, 70%-scale studio, “Abigail’s House”. Though miniature, it has a living room, bedroom, kitchen with sink, lav, and even a garden, tiled shower.

The grounds have extensive formal gardens, pathways, specimen plantings and garden sculptures. Other features: Spanish tile roofing, gravity heat, Montecito water and sewer.

 

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