Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire!

Fireplaces and impeccable spaces in these Montecito Estates.

Montecito and Santa Barbara are renowned  for year-round sunshine and temperate temperatures. The enviable climate allows for surfing, golf rounds, hikes, wine tasting and just about any other outdoor activity you enjoy, 12 months a year. Even the "cold front" which has moved into our lovely coastal town, bringing daytime highs down to the 50's and evenings to almost freezing temperatures, hasn't kept residents and visitors indoors, with many continuing with morning beach walks and strolls along Coast Village Road. Embracing our abnormally cool weather, Riskin Associates invites you to enjoy three cozy spaces where fireplaces are warm and inviting centerpieces. To enjoy more of these distinctive estates, click the links below.

From the top: Shadows of Provence, Stunning Ocean View Estate, Rustic Beauty

beautiful kitchens: eat your heart out (part two)

As promised, today we bring you part two of our kitchens feature. We briefly spoke about the importance of a well-appointed kitchen these days, especially with a cultural shift in how Americans use their kitchens. In other words, increasingly more people are using their kitchens as a central social zone in their homes, foregoing separate dining rooms in favor of enjoying meals directly within the kitchen itself. Here are some more of our favorite kitchens from various Montecito real estate listings-- ones we definitely want to spend time in.

1. We love how this kitchen places bright, white marble with dark cabinetry and hardware; it creates a sleek, yet prominent contrast.

2. Country style kitchens tend to feel the most inviting and easy to spend time in. The use of open spaces and an immediate eat-in area makes this one feel particularly social.

3. Another lovely country-style kitchen, this more charmingly-sized space uses lots of bright white, light countertops, and a bit of sheen to maximize cheerfulness. This creates a perfect balance between refreshing and cozy.

4. Country kitchens can take on a Mediterranean flair, like this one, which has a touch of Tuscan villa and looks out over the Pacific Ocean and Santa Ynez mountain range.

5. Kitchens with less space can still be spectacular, with beautiful beamed ceilings, gleaming granite counter tops,  stainless steel appliances, and stone tile back splashes.