Siteline | Big and Brand New Just Outside the Lower Village

Noteworthy new listings….

Brand-new construction is the main selling point of 1119 Alston Road ($15.9 million), with size a close second—there are five bedrooms in the house proper, plus two in the attached ADU, and they’re all en suite. The style is fairly minimal, as is often the case in spec houses, but with extras like the wet bar in the primary bedroom, a truly delightful primary closet (with two windows and glass doors leading to a Juliet balcony), and a fireplace at the outdoor dining area. While the house opens up nicely to the pretty covered terrace and pool, that also allows in the sound of traffic from nearby Hot Springs Road.

················

With the kidney-shaped pool, xeriscape garden, and mountain view, you almost feel like you’re in the Coachella Valley while looking out the picture windows at 2150 Ten Acre Road ($5.995 million). The central part of the floor plan is solid, but the two guest rooms are set slightly lower, which involves coping with a couple of stairs. (Not a huge deal, but Birnam Wood’s target demo tends to care about that kind of thing.) The good news is that the flooring can stay; other aspects (kitchen cabinetry, doors and windows, bathrooms) are due for a spiffing-up.

················

There’s sweet 1940s charm at 1545 Knoll Circle Drive ($2.995 million), northeast of the Alameda Padre Serra roundabout, and you could bring it out by going command-Z on the white-painted floors. (While I kind of dig the Purina vibe in the kitchen, I’ve never understood exposing the area under a sink.) The house is positioned up high, so you get an ocean view, and the backyard is larger than you might expect. The primary shares a bath with a guest room, which means the latter is likely to work better as an office or den. Behind the garage is a rustic “extra room” not shown on the floor plan.

················

The vintage charm at 511 De La Vista Avenue ($1.695 million) will take much more burnishing—the 1918 Craftsman is a poster child for deferred maintenance. But the mid-block location on a one-block street in the Bungalow Haven neighborhood is a winner, with views out over the houses to the southwest. I wouldn’t be surprised if it comes back as a spec reno with the cute room off the primary converted to an en suite bath.

················

Fairfield Farms, the 20-acre luxury horse farm and boarding facility at 1977 San Marcos Pass Road #5 ($6.9 million), between Santa Ynez and Los Olivos, is everything an equestrian enthusiast could want—and proof that some horses live better than many humans do.