Noteworthy new listings….
I wouldn’t go so far as to call the front door at brand-new 204 Olive Mill Road ($11.75 million) a red flag, but it is an indicator that some bold choices—particularly kitchen and exterior surfaces—have been made. That’s no surprise when you consider that the architect is Jeff Shelton, but this is a far cry from his signature style; I have yet to see it in person (it’s a “coming soon” listing), so I can’t say how well it all coheres. While the architecture is not immediately lovable, it does involve enough ecological engineering to satisfy Greta Thunberg. Most of the structure is built well above grade, of course, due to the location in a part of Montecito devastated by the 2018 debris flow. As a result, the windows are at tree-level, and the huge roof deck is at treetop level.
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According to the listing, the 1981 compound at 2118 Birnam Wood Drive ($11.5 million) was created by a Hollywood designer with a love of the English countryside, and at times it does indeed feel like an adorable little village. The main house and three other structures are all linked by brick paths. The property comes off better in person than in the photos—less updating is required than I had feared. It’s buffered and private in ways that many Birnam Wood homes are not; I love how it’s well off the street, tucked away from view, and the one-bedroom guest cottage is far enough from the main house to comfortably accommodate a caregiver.
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The second-floor, two-bedroom, two-bath condo at 45 Seaview Drive ($5.995 million) in Montecito Shores has been given a very crisp makeover—even the closets (including the guest closet) got done. A large window was added in the dining room, the better to see the ocean; there’s a cozy den; and the guest suite is more discrete than usual for the community.
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I wonder what 818 Sea Ranch Drive ($5.35 million) would look like with a warmer, woodsier version of that minimalism. The 1971 house has a low-key coolness, with a striking brick fireplaces, a terrific view, and amazing trees—it’s a reminder of the Campanil neighborhood’s more modest origins. Changing out surfaces may not be enough, at least in the primary bathroom, where you have to pass through the water closet to reach the shower. P.S. Nearly all of the 2.1-acre lot is buffer.
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305 Mesa Lane ($4.595 million) is rather a lot of house for West Mesa—3,148 square feet, four bedrooms, bonus offices and closets, and even a yoga shed. It’s a spec reno, the sellers having paid $2.55 million last January, and the finishes are excellent. Given the size and the doneness, the price is not crazy for the neighborhood, even when you factor in the location on a relatively busy street, the lesser caliber of nearby houses, and the parrot that lives next door.
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The listing says that 906 Weldon Road ($3.95 million) is on the Mesa, but I think of that area—across Cliff Drive from SBCC and west of McKinley Elementary School—as the southern end of TV Hill. We can agree, however that the property is unique. The 1928 three-bedroom sits in the middle of a juicy .54 acre, with usable yard in every direction, and the bones have palpable charm. There’s only one bathroom, but the laundry room is ripe for conversion.
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Even before you’ve entered 1106 Crestline Drive ($3.75 million), at the end of a Bel Air Knolls cul-de-sac, you can tell that the view is going to be spectacular—it encompasses not just the mountains and city of Santa Barbara, but all the way down to Ventura. The four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath house has just been renovated, and the primary is on the ground floor, with an ADA-accessible bathroom. The landscaping in back could use more attention, and I’d personally make the front door opaque, but I guess it all depends on how much of a show you want to give the neighbors.
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I haven’t seen 961 Camino del Retiro ($2.695 million) in person, so I’m a fool to say this, but it feels priced to move—if for no other reason than the property has no neighbors on three sides. The Southwestern-style house, built in 2005, looks livable enough, and you could make one guest room en suite and turn the other into an office.
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And a few others worth checking out:
••• 1913-1915 Mountain Avenue ($3.995 million): Three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath “nearing completion, with estimated delivery in October.” The year is not specified.
••• 1118 N. Patterson Avenue ($3.75 million): Floops of a 2020 four-bedroom with contemporary interiors (concrete floors, e.g.); the seller paid $3.015 million in December 2024 (below).
••• 2386 Whitney Avenue ($3.595 million): .31-acre Summerland lot with two fixers, one of which is mint green.
••• 729 Juanita Avenue ($2.699 million): Spec reno of a 1957 Alta Mesa three-bedroom, two-bath with ocean view.
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