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With its Mediterranean climate, sun-drenched beaches, and tile roofs atop charming hillside homes, Santa Barbara has earned the moniker “American Riviera.” The peaceful community, just over an hour or so north of Los Angeles and home to approximately 90,000 permanent residents, is embraced by the Pacific Ocean on the south and Santa Ynez Mountains on the north.
Our monthly series asks: How do you bring color into a luxury home? With plenty of heritage, bold red gets people talking, writes Jill Krasny Canaan, New York | William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty Ever walk into a home and feel uplifted? Or more relaxed? It may be the colors in the design scheme at play. Whereas orange is energizing and blue feels soothing, bright red, which our series on color in luxury home design turns to next, elicits stronger emotions. “People fall into a love-or-hate camp with red more than any other color, even orange,” says Lisa Shaffer, chief executive and creative director of Lisa & Leroy, an interior design firm based in Washington, D.C. “It really is the most energetic of all the primary colors.” It also has deep cultural associations. Stockholm, Sweden | Sweden Sotheby’s International Realty In Sweden, where “Falun red” cabins trimmed in white dot the countryside, the paint—initially made in the 16th century using byproducts from copper mines—has come to symbolize the nation’s heritage. A former rectory, 20 minutes from downtown Stockholm, has lots of orange undertones in its warm red exterior, says Shaffer, which the terracotta roof helps draw out. The bright white millwork also makes the color striking, she says, while the blue of the nearby water helps set it off. “It almost acts like an accent,” she says of the red shade. Snowmass Village, Colorado | Aspen Snowmass Sotheby’s International Realty Set on 102 picturesque acres between Aspen and Snowmass Village in Colorado, Brush Creek Ranch has a similarly red exterior, albeit in a bluer shade. Here, the navy shutters pick up the undertones of the color, Shaffer says, modernizing the home in a cheerful way. “It’s not a combination you see a lot,” she says, noting the unconventional choice of orange for the door and porch chairs. But the complementary navy of the shutters ties it all together, she adds. Canaan, New York | William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty Pierce Peak, a sleek “barndominium” property in Canaan, New York, that won architects Burr and McCallum the AIA award, turns the farmhouse archetype on its head. “Yes, it’s red,” Shaffer says, “but they asked: ‘How can we elevate this?’ and they chose a rust red, which I think is so pretty.” The clean lines—no porches or ornate gables here—and picture windows keep things modern. The warm color also appears in the covered porch and the barn, which can be seen through the windows. “You wouldn’t typically see a red floor in a large format,” says Shaffer, but paired with industrial lights and beams, here it just works. South Kensington, London | United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty Red walls are commonplace in Victorian homes on both sides of the Atlantic, but the colorful reception room of this period apartment in South Kensington, London, exudes a contemporary charm. The furniture is kept relatively neutral to prevent the red from overwhelming, says Shaffer. And painting the ceiling “a nice fresh white” makes the space seem larger. “There’s a real misnomer out there that when you do a bolder color, the room feels smaller,” she says. “When you take a color that bold all the way up to the ceiling, it really makes the room feel expansive.” Also helpful? The large windows with blue shutters and casing. Explore more of our Color Chart series, from crowd-pleasing dark blue to zingy orange
Atop a 1920s building in prestigious Pacific Heights, this sophisticated penthouse endures as an impressive showcase for art collections and a private perch for appreciating unparalleled views of the city and the bay. In the 1940s, a family of prominent philanthropists and art collectors enlisted designers to customize the penthouse atop of the grand, classically detailed 1920s building at the intersection of Pacific Avenue and Laguna Street. In the 1990s, an esteemed designer spearheaded a modernization for new owners, widening hallways and opening the public spaces, capitalizing on the views and increasing the airy, gallery-like qualities. More recently, Sean Bailey Design and FORMA Construction led a two-year rejuvenation, integrating handsome walnut paneling, hidden infrastructure, 11-foot ceilings, radiant in-floor heating, and thoughtfully positioned programmable lighting. San Francisco, California | Stacey Caen, Sotheby’s International Realty – San Francisco Brokerage Although nearly a century has passed since the building and its penthouse were constructed, this 5,198-square-foot home has been expertly updated and transformed for consummate modern living. A luminous, urbane quality is paramount; vistas continue to impress; and an ambience of timeless elegance endures. Given that very few Pre-War penthouses of such grand scale and style remain in San Francisco, this residence represents a rare opportunity to own a piece of the city’s distinctive history. Today, most rooms in the home still benefit from walls ideal for the display of art and an unrivaled view that sweeps from the Golden Gate Bridge to the East Bay—with the Palace of Fine Arts and the city skyline in between. The captivating public spaces encourage sophisticated festivities: two alluring living areas—one with a gas fireplace—and a formal dining room with herringbone-patterned oak floors and brass bar with wine storage. Nearby, the eat-in kitchen, itself clad in rich woods, boasts a sizable marble-wrapped island, a glass-front refrigerator and cabinets, top-tier appliances, and a casual dining area with a postcard-worthy vista of the Palace of Fine Arts and the Golden Gate Bridge. Nearby is an enviable walk-in pantry with a wide variety of storage options and useful counter space. The private quarters—which include two peaceful guest suites and a fitness room—are secluded in a quiet wing. The inviting, light-filled primary suite features rich wood paneling, a contemporary gas fireplace, built-in bookshelves, and a cushioned window seat perfect for appreciating the scenery. While the open closet and dressing area offers considerable cabinet and drawer space and an island, the luxurious bath delights with a dual-sink vanity, a spacious glass- and marble-walled shower, heated marble floors, and two discreet water closets. The office has a professional air and outlook, gazing toward the skyline—including the Transamerica Pyramid—and the Bay Bridge. Other highlights include a wine room, a service elevator, a stylish powder room, a systems room, and a generous windowed laundry room with seating, shelving, and storage nooks. Enjoying such amenities as doorman service, parking, and secure storage along with a fashionable location near Lafayette Park and the shops and restaurants of Fillmore Street, this residence remains the jewel in the crown of one of San Francisco’s most significant addresses. Discover luxury homes for sale and rent around the world on sothebysrealty.com
The author’s 250th anniversary is the perfect time to celebrate the Regency era’s elegant design cues, writes Florence Hallett Worcestershire, England | United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty “To sit in idleness over a good fire in a well-proportioned room is a luxurious sensation,” Jane Austen once wrote to her sister, perfectly encapsulating the combination of refinement, comfort and simplicity that gives Georgian architecture and interiors their timeless appeal. As fans of the novelist mark the 250th anniversary of her birth this December, enthusiasm for everything Austen shows no sign of slowing. Another much-anticipated adaptation of “Pride & Prejudice” comes to Netflix in the new year. Starring Jack Lowden as Mr Darcy and Emma Corrin as Elizabeth Bennet, it’s bound to set a new generation of bonnet ribbons fluttering.Pemberley, Mansfield Park, Donwell Abbey—cradled in the English countryside, the fictional backdrops to Austen’s masterful social satires are sparingly described, but as alluring as her heroines. “Stepping into a Jane Austen-style home is to enter a world of understated elegance and refined social theatre,” says Amy Boyington, architectural historian and author of “Hidden Patrons: Women and Architectural Patronage in Georgian Britain.” Worcestershire, England | United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty Ombersley Court, Worcestershire, built for the first Lord Sandys in around 1730, has a storied Regency history to match the magnificent architecture of its galleried grand hall, oak paneling and library. The Duke of Wellington was a notable visitor, invited to recuperate here following the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, explains Andrew Barnes of United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty. “To mark this important moment in European history, the Duke’s bedroom on the first floor of the property has been left unchanged ever since,” Barnes adds. “It still has the same silk wall coverings and curtains that were installed for his stay.” Leinster, Ireland | Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty It’s a style that has consistently inspired contemporary architects and designers. Ashleigh House, built deep in the glorious countryside of County Kildare, Ireland, in 2002, combines the clean lines and perfect proportions of Georgian living with modern standards of comfort and convenience, including a home cinema, fitness centre and courtyard guest house.The neo-Georgian architecture of 550 Round Hill Road in Greenwich, Connecticut, similarly offers exactly the sort of “large, well-proportioned room, handsomely fitted up” that Elizabeth Bennet famously admires at Mr Darcy’s Pemberley. Combining cozy family spaces and more formal rooms, it brings the spirit of Regency England to a contemporary American home. In homes he has designed for collectors, Yantrasast carefully balances the needs of art with the owner’s lifestyle. “You don’t want to expose a priceless art collection to the salt air, but you also don’t want to live in a house where you cannot open a window,” he says. The art, he adds, shouldn’t “overwhelm the living.” Greenwich, Connecticut | Sotheby’s International Realty – Greenwich Brokerage The expectation of regular hosting is key to all these design schemes, as it was in Austen’s time. “The interiors are sumptuous in their lightness and attention to detail, designed specifically for elegant entertaining,” says Boyington of a typical Georgian home. “Looking up, one will find soaring high ceilings often finished with delicate plasterwork and ornate cornices,” she adds. “The walls themselves are transformed into elegant backdrops, typically clothed in pale pastel colours, whether through carefully chosen, subtle wallpapers or rich, delicate silken fabrics. And the beautiful fireplaces, which act as a focal point for each room, are exquisitely decorated with classical motifs.” New York, New York | Sotheby’s International Realty – East Side Manhattan Brokerage Meanwhile, a true flight of fancy in the heart of Manhattan, 525 Park Avenue is a jewel of pre-war elegance with a dash of “Regencycore,” as it’s more recently become known. With 10-foot-high ceilings, crown moldings and raised doorways, the palatial interior of this 12-room condominium is opulent yet intimate, as suited to formal entertaining as to family life. What’s more, the aptly named Regency Hotel is to be found just across the street. “Neither gaudy nor uselessly fine”—to borrow Elizabeth’s words—it strikes just the right balance between splendor and elegance. Might even Lady Catherine de Bourgh approve? From Austen to Shakespeare: live out your bardian fantasy in these picturesque homes
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