1514 E Mountain Drive, MONTECITO, CA 93108 (MLS# 19-1594)

Supplements: Calming yet breathtaking views are experienced from nearly every room thanks to great expanses of glass in windows and large sliding doors. A massive grouping of atelier windows  slanted to showcase the hillside, its flora and rock outcroppings  is installed above the central living area. The modernist architecture emphasizes angles and the inter ... (Read more) Calming yet breathtaking views are experienced from nearly every room thanks to great expanses of glass in windows and large sliding doors. A massive grouping of atelier windows  slanted to showcase the hillside, its flora and rock outcroppings  is installed above the central living area. The modernist architecture emphasizes angles and the interplay of light and shadow. The interior's geometric patterns contrast with the landscape, conjuring an impressionist canvas viewed through a minimalist frame. Aesthetics and ambiance are of paramount importance here. For example, while homes in Montecito seldom honor the proper display of one's art, this abode's spacious minimalist walls, architectural features and superb lighting call for just such a presentation. Even the kitchen is an ode to aesthetics, with its limestone counters, teak cabinets, and stainless Wolf, Viking, Subzero and Miele appliances. The master suite and primary guest suite and their luxurious baths open through walls of glass to terraces showcasing the gardens, water features and 180-degree ocean panoramas. Retracting the oversize glass door, one is instantly swathed in a waft of soft, sweet summer or refreshing evening ocean breeze. Upon stepping out to a garden terrace or into the embrace of tranquility filling the courtyard and its serene reflecting pool and rock grotto, one finds peace. Through an open glass portal to the plunge pool, its companion spa and surrounding terrace, one finds equanimity. There are also places for reflection and meditation in the form of vine-covered pergolas, inviting walking paths and intimate seating areas. The current owners have loved the home as a vacation residence, and have said there is such comfort, quietude and contentment here, once one arrives, one is reluctant to leave. Leaving, at least briefly, is not so bad, however, considering the home's convenience to such amenities as the nearby San Ysidro Ranch, several of California's best beaches, and Montecito's distinctive shopping, dining and galleries.