Las Tunas

Santa Barbara, CA

Although it sits near the coast in Southern California, this 1930s home looks distinctly like a classic shingle-style New England house. Its careful renovation preserved the charm of this aesthetic, while satisfying the contemporary requirements of its owners, as well as those of the local historic district and conservation commissions.

The owners wanted a home better suited to twenty-first-century California living. Their desires included a more open floor plan and a seamless flow between the indoor and outdoor areas. These newly enhanced alfresco amenities include porches and balconies, as well as a cliff-top pool that looks like it was formed by nature and enjoys views of the Old Mission Church below and the Santa Barbara Channel in the distance.

Given its location, the house also needed to be able to withstand earthquakes and wildfires. The reimagined property captures the character of the original house, but it has been structurally improved and is now made of more fireproof cement materials—albeit ones that look like the wood elements of classic shingle-style New England homes.

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