The legacy blog about all things luxury real estate by Riskin Partners Estate Group
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Montecito
What's more American than the 4th of July? A BBQ on the 4th of July of course! Today we're browsing through some of our favorite outdoor dining spaces in Montecito and Santa Barbara in search of some inspiration for tomorrow's fabulous holiday. Wishing everyone a fun and safe 4th!
It's that time of year when the temperatures climb and a swimming pool sounds more and more inviting. In case you don't have access to your very own pool to lounge by this summer, here are a handful to drool over. We selected our favorite pools from our current listings in celebration of summer!
Just last month we reported to you that sales for Santa Barbara County were booming. Well, the May numbers are in and the market is gaining speed even faster than expected. In fact, the South County real estate market is now running 40% ahead of 2011 year-to-date. The graph below displays a serious spike in sales, with May 2012 reaching an all time high and breaking the 200 property threshold. This is the strongest start to the year we've seen since 2004!
Meanwhile at Rebecca Riskin & Associates, we are definitely feeling the market heat up as we continue to break records. Our year- to-date sales are now at $135 million! Make sure to visit our website to view the beautiful photos and full details of our 22 current listings.
As of lately, fantastic weather has graced our seaside town. Things aren't just looking up outside, however: Our office has been booming with action. We have proudly closed nearly $110 million in sales since January, a new record for us. In fact, the southern Santa Barbara County real estate market is up 33% in sales compared with last year.
We're thrilled to see the market upturn, as increases in high end real estate sales bodes well for the market in general, boosting consumer confidence.
Additionally, we have some exceptional mega listings coming up and will have some beautiful things to share here. Stay tuned because can't wait to show them off!
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.
Over the years, kitchens have become a more and more important part of the home. Throughout most of the history of the kitchen-- especially in high-end homes-- it was closed off from the rest of the home, considered more of a workspace than a living one. The popularity of cooking as a creative outlet and admirable skill encouraged the trend of open kitchens, eat-in kitchens, and kitchens suited for socializing in. Today, the kitchen can be the most important room of a home and many buyers will make decisions based primarily on this room. A well-appointed kitchen can be a spectacular place to spend time with family and friends, and thus a major selling point for a home.
We adore lovely kitchens and appreciate the many styles that can be done. Here are a few of our favorites from our current and recent Montecito real estate listings:
1. Between the view, eat-in kitchen, and center island, this Mediterranean kitchen was certainly designed to spend some quality time in.
2. This very white kitchen with over-sized spaces and counter tops, and a pitched ceiling achieves a very heavenly feel.
3. This kitchen, in a modern, Spanish-style home, features another white-based space that is far from bland. Dark accents and exquisite details make it feel refreshing yet opulent.
4. Stainless steel and sleek lines make this contemporary kitchen so beautiful, you'll forget there are other rooms to relax in.
5. Vintage-style appliances make this country kitchen an incredible and unique living space.
These are merely but a few impressive spaces; we'll be back soon to showcase some more exceptional kitchens, including old world Mediterranean styles and kitchens that make a small space a gorgeous one.
Recently, one of our favorite high-end real estate affiliations, Luxury Portfolio, chose to feature our La Pumada property alongside a group of properties with "captivating ceilings."
Indeed, intricate, hand-painted ceilings grace the living and dining rooms of this estate. The amount of craftsmanship and artistry that has gone into this ceiling-- along with the similarly exceptional details that cover every corner of the house-- make this property the gem that it is. Such intricacies seem almost dreamlike and otherworldly, and thus walking through La Pumada feels downright heavenly.
We don't like to play favorites, but if we had to, La Pumada would be at the top of our list.
More photos of La Pumada, a Montecito estate.
Here are a few other captivating ceilings Luxury Portfolio featured:
1. A very jungle-like, natural ceiling on this Sierra Blanca Estate, Marbella Golden Mile, Spain:
2. Quite contemporary in composition, the ceiling of this Moroccan Villa works beautifully with the traditional shapes and patterns, Marrakech, Morroco:
3. We love the sleek, yet natural look in this Architectural Estate, Beverly Hills, California:
4. For those with ultra-chic, avante garde taste, who never grew out of their love for tree houses, the Villa Due Mari fulfills dreams, Sardinia, Italy:
Yahoo Real Estate published an interesting article today about the most popular home styles of 2012. We decided this would be a great opportunity to discuss their findings and showcase the many beautiful listings we currently have that fit each category.
1. One of the most popular styles right now is the modern home. Clean lines, simple floor plans, and easy, open spaces. The modern design leaves out decorative details in favor of industrial materials like glass, steel, and concrete.
Our property on Olive Mill Road honors the modern style with bold splashes of color and unique architectural details.
While not overtly modern-esque, our newly-built Hot Springs property features an open, flowing floor plan, geometric lines, and a clean aesthetic in a modern style. The home's Spanish flair adds a bit of intrigue for contemporary style-lovers who want a bit of detail.
2. Neo-Mediterranean homes look fantastic on Montecito and Santa Barbara foothills and coastal cliffs. Local architects have always recognized this and built (and continue to build) in this style accordingly.
One of our most stunning properties is a Mediterranean home graciously overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
A brand new construction, this next home features state-of-the-art amenities with a grand, old-world feel.
One of the most beloved features of the Neo-Mediterranean style is its eye-catching, red spanish-tiled rooftops. Another newer construction, this Mediterranean beauty graces the foothills and overlooks Montecito's one-of-a-kind coastline.
Ornate details, while out of place in modern homes, can figure beautifully into the Mediterranean style. In this home, intricate details warm up grand spaces.
3. Craftsman style homes have captured the adoration of Americans across the country for over a century. They are perhaps one of the few distinctive styles that have timeless charm.
Our historic listing on Ashley Road offers the best of the style, with a wrap-around porch, and decorative brackets and gables. Its artistic details make every room feel special and it looks like it belongs among the giant oak trees that decorate its landscape.
We are incredibly thrilled to announce that the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) has ranked Rebecca Riskin & Associates Santa Barbara's top selling agent in 2011. This honor is such an inspiration to us, and one for which we can thank our exceptional clients and colleagues.
Here are some gorgeous listings whose sales allowed our success:
Edgecliff Beach Cottage
Italian Villa on the Prestigious Picacho Lane
Butterfly Beach Home
Sophisticated Santa Barbara Riviera Jewel
European Country Estate in Montecito
Parra Grande Creekside Home
Again, we can't thank the community enough for its support this past year. We wish a very prosperous 2012 to all!
One of the best aspects of living in Montecito is residing in a tight-knit, involved community. At the center of the community sits the Montecito Association, a nonprofit organization that unites local businesses and individuals with the city and each other. It is supported directly by its members for whom it monitors, and thus protects, issues affecting the area.
This week, the Montecito Association proudly unveiled its new website, which provides a plethora of new services for members and the community in general-- it's a great place to check out all things Montecito. Quoting the Montecito Association, some of the new features include:
-Updates on current issues affecting Montecito
-Secure payment system that accepts online payment for membership dues
-Community calendar featuring local events of interest
-Useful links to community resources
-Spotlight opportunities for area nonprofits
-Photo gallery and uploader showcasing Montecito scenes and festivities
-Community Hall rental information
If you're a Montecito resident, property owner, or business, be sure to make great use of this new forum. If you're not a member yet, we recommend that, too!
