Chris Gallo
Reprinted by permission

After two years of complete remodeling and re-landscaping, the five-bedroom, six-bath estate at 1570 East Valley Road has been modernized inside without losing any of the English manor design that makes it so distinctive.

Originally built in 1918 as a 'period' home, the 1.55-acre estate with a three-car garage and a two-story pool house also boats one of the best gardens of that era by famed architect Lockwood de Forest.

Entering the driveway, you are led on either side by huge hedges more than 20 feet high to the front of the house, nestled behind a front garden with many paths and mature tress that ensure privacy.

The unique cut-stone stairs and balustrade, and the massive, carved wood antique English door, circa 1720, are an indication of the quality that is found throughout the home.

The completely remodeled interior of the house has white walls with bull-nose corners and many interesting sloping ceilings and wall designs.

A large reception hall greets entrants with a wall of windows at the opposite end that perfectly frame the mountains behind the home and the "infinity garden" where green lawns zigzag back, almost endlessly, past a large oak, creating an interesting visual effect.

A massive living room is just to the right, with 1+-9-foot ceilings, three large hand-hewn beams, an with-foot-wide stone fireplace, another wall of windows with the same intriguing view and three dormer windows.

A 22-by-7-foot alcove is adjacent to the living room that would make the perfect study, complete with leaded glass windows, a closeted wet bar, refrigerator, wine racks an oak floor and pewter wall scones.

Through double doors at the opposite side of the reception hall awaits the enchanting dining room featuring an 18th century English carved pine mantel, antique pickled wall paneling, a marble fireplace and a private patio.

Adjacent to the kitchen is a butler's pantry stocked with more than ample shelf space to fit every storage need, right down to racks designed to store tablecloths so that they don't wrinkle. The uniqueness of this area is accentuated by the preparation sink with a marble countertop, the Victorian style ceramic tile, an oak floor and indirect lighting.

The kitchen meets all culinary needs and more with two ovens, marble countertops an island in the middle with a three-inch solid maple counter and two double sinks, two warming ovens, two Sub-Zero refrigerators and extensive panel wood cabinets.

A family room is also found downstairs.

The upstairs is wholly dedicated to the master suite, which begins just up the suspended staircase on the landing with a large sitting room, complete with an excellent second floor view of the garden.

The bedroom is an elephantine ode to the English manor design with the repetition of the heavy beams seen in the living room, a private balcony that juts out over the garden, a huge dressing room, two separate baths for the lady and gentleman (paneled cherrywood and marble), and two closets.

The pool house is connected to the main home by garage and features a living room that opens to the stone-rimmed pool located in an enclave of the garden, a bedroom with stone floors, a loft bedroom with oak floors, and a bath with a pedestal sink.

The home is listed for 3.65 million.

Homes in the Montecito area are serviced by the Montecito Water and Sanitary departments and are in the Montecito school districts.

Properties mentioned in this report have been listed for sale in the recent weeks and are described here to reflect examples of the market for this particular neighborhood.

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