Done Moving’ in Montecito
Couple Creates Home Base for Retirement, Family Gatherings
Built in 2011, the 4,200-square-foot single-family residence had plenty of attractive ingredients, such as steel-reinforced framing, vaulted ceilings, and a sensible floor plan. Outside, a wooded ambiance invited quiet privacy, all within walking distance of Montecito shops and restaurants. Purchased in 2012 by a retired couple — who prefer a bit of anonymity — the house would serve as a comfortable home base between travels and a grand gathering spot when their grown children headed home for the holidays. They wanted it to be perfect. And for that, it would need a transformative remodel.
On a recommendation, they called Giffin & Crane. We recommended architectural designer Jason Grant. Also on board was Wendy Weiner, the interior designer of their previous home. The design-build team was set.
Described by the homeowners as a ghastly mishmash of design features, the home’s main living area — a wide and vaulted space linking the kitchen to a dining area to the living room and fireplace — originally showcased heavy stone pillars, archways clashing with archways, and bloated ceiling fans.
