Make Myself at Home: Mission Canyon Mediterranean

I’ve lived in a variety of houses in more than a few neighborhoods in my 30-plus years in Santa Barbara. An adobe on the Mesa, a craftsman near Cottage Hospital, and a carpenter gothic downtown have all been called home throughout the years. Each of these places was built in the 1920s or earlier, so each was quirky in its own way. Things didn’t always match, and the bubble on the level didn’t always settle in the center. Growing up in houses with character, my kids were used to these idiosyncrasies and took them as the norm, but at times I think they also longed for the opposite: sleek contemporary lines, or anything brand-new.

Last week, I found a house that would fulfill all of our seemingly conflicting dreams: 2626 Montrose Place is brand-new, all of its doors and drawers function flawlessly, and yet it is still filled with character. The home was constructed to replace a previous residence that burned in the Jesusita Fire of 2009. Montrose Place is a street where some houses were lost and others weren’t affected, highlighting how fickle a fire can be with its hopscotching effects. The street overlooks Mission Canyon, with beautiful views both of the mountains, and all the way to the ocean.

This home is particularly well situated to take advantage of these sweeping views, with large patios that span the length of the house, on both the upper and lower levels. The vistas are so impressive that no matter what else the house has to offer, I would spend much of my time outside enjoying those expansive, peaceful views. Fortunately, though, the house does have much to offer.