| This project, located in the Santa Barbara, California suburb of Montecito, started with the aftermath of the subdivision of a large estate into three single family residences. The original architect, George Washington Smith, is considered the father of the Spanish Colonial Revival and designed many houses in Montecito. The project was initially the rear section of the Chancellor Estate. The center section of the estate house was moved to an adjacent site. This project reworked the interiors of the home formed from the rear portion of the original estate house.
Significant design challenges were presented by this project. The spatial sequence was unclear. Although the Gallery from the original house was a significant space, most others were not, being the result of poor adaptations and enlargements to make the rear portion of the estate house function as a single-family residence. To remedy these issues, a new entry sequence was conceived. The Kitchen and the Dining Room locations were reversed, a Playroom became the Master Suite, an Office became the Garage (eliminating a carport in front of the house), a second Bedroom was enlarged, a third Bedroom created, the Power Room relocated, a Laundry Room added and the Bathrooms reworked. As the “before” images show, most of the rooms were taken down to bare walls or studs. Almost all finishes are new, including carved and stenciled beamed ceilings, fireplace surrounds, doors, windows, floors and the vaulted Dining Room ceiling. Cost are withheld at the Owner’s request.
The project sought to make all the interiors appear as if George Washington Smith had designed them. As such, the furnishings are mainly antiques from Spain, Italy and England, similar to those used by Smith. Details, tile, stenciling and paint colors were carefully selected from those also used by Smith and the light fixtures are either vintage or Smith reproductions. The exterior spaces (a courtyard and entry court) were re-conceived as exterior rooms and carefully integrated with the sequence and design of the interior. Although antiques are used, the interiors are laid out for 21st century functionality and needs. Furnishings were chosen for comfort as well as aesthetic authenticity and compatibility with the architecture.
The result of a careful reiteration of George Washington Smith’s interior design ideas, a structure that once had been stripped of its character is now a coherent, integrated design. The complementary nature of the interior architecture, furnishings and decoration re-unites and makes whole the once dismembered portion of the original estate. |
