From classic Spanish Colonial Revival homes to mid-century modern residences, rock gardens to lush Mediterranean-inspired landscaping, Santa Barbara home and garden styles are incredibly diverse. This is due to the region’s geography, which stretches from the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains to wide swaths of south-facing beaches, as well as to its rich culture and a history that goes back several hundred years.
Spanish Colonial Revival
Santa Barbara Home and Garden Styles
Spanish Colonial Revival is arguably the most prevalent architectural style in the area. This is not only because of Santa Barbara’s roots as a Spanish mission, but also because this was the style that the city chose to rebuild in after the 1925 earthquake. Red-tiled roofs, stucco and wrought iron detailing are some of the style’s common features, though it must be noted that Spanish Colonial Revival is something of an umbrella term that encompasses a wide array of architectural influences, including Pueblo, Moorish, Baroque, and Romanesque.
Garden designs have evolved to complement the Spanish flavor of this prevalent architectural style and you’ll find that many of these particular homes will have a Mediterranean-inspired landscape. Palms, olive trees and citrus trees are among the unifying elements, all serving as the perfect foil for the residence and having the added advantage of blending well with the native vegetation at the same time.
Victorian and Craftsman
Would-be buyers interested in the real estate Santa Barbara, CA has to offer will also find quite a few homes from the very eclectic Victorian period and a significant number of Craftsman bungalows. There are elaborate Queen Annes and Italianate houses as well as elegant French Second Empire residences and homes that boast a blend of the myriad influences and building trends of the age.
It’s not unusual for English-style gardens to be part of the feature of these properties, albeit with a tropical influence in keeping with the natural setting and with modern principles of landscape design. For a better idea of the types of private gardens you will find throughout the region, explore public gardens such as the Alick Keck Park Memorial Garden, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, or Casa Del Herrero, all of which have served to inspire both property owners and landscape architects here over the years.
Mid-Century Modern and Contemporary
An overview of the region’s different home and garden styles wouldn’t be complete without mentioning its notable collection of mid-century modern and contemporary homes. Echoing the sleek and minimalist aesthetic of these properties are rock gardens and Asian-inspired landscapes. As a whole, Santa Barbara home and garden styles are as varied as the area’s terrain and distinct selection of neighborhoods. Properties here are unique and will each have its own one-of-a-kind selection of features customized according to its owner’s particular tastes.
Take a look at my exclusive listings and browse the Santa Barbara real estate MLS to preview currently available properties throughout the region. Need more insights on the different communities here? Explore the site and contact me at your convenience. I look forward to helping you make the right choice in Santa Barbara.