The legendary luxury of Montecito and Santa Barbara has been well documented on Previews® Inside Out. The coastal region is America’s most well-established affluent havens. Among the many prominent Spanish-style mansions and Mediterraneans dotting the Santa Barbara landscape, however, there are only five that reign among the area’s most historic and prestigious hilltop estate. One of them took the name of Solana—a name that recently made headlines when it hit the market for $49 million.
Represented by Joyce Rey of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Beverly Hills and marketed by Coldwell Banker Previews International®, Solana was built in 1914 by Forrest Peabody (of Arrow shirt fame)and designed by architect Francis T. Underhill. Under Underhill’s guidance, Peabody managed to create what many consider to be “the most significant estate in Santa Barbara,” taking full advantage of the site’s majestic location on an 11.2-acre knoll with 360-degree mountain and ocean views.
“The unobstructed views, coupled with its rich history and exquisite detailing, make it a home of unrivaled provenance,” noted Rey. “Simply put, it is a historic estate. Even John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King have been guests at the residence.”
Recently restored with Old World details and modern amenities, the magnificent neo-classical residence spans over 20,000 square feet with five bedrooms and nine baths—offering a dramatic backdrop for a family home or lavish event setting. The scale of public rooms—such as an open kitchen and family room, theater and a stunning paneled reception room resurrected from a library of French oak boiserie belonging to William Randolph Hearst—balance with the privacy of the owner’s suite, three guest suites, two-bedroom guest house and art studio. The estate pays homage to the Santa Barbara lifestyle with a pool, two ponds, loggias, a central courtyard and one of the finest botanical gardens boasting over 200 fruit trees and 500 rose bushes.
Solana is represented by Joyce Rey, a luxury specialist with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Beverly Hills with over 35 years experience.
