Photos: $125M Montecito estate in California

News

Rancho San Carlos is a Monterey Colonial set on approximately 237-acres with ocean views and is one of the most significant estates in California.

Reginald Johnson’s architectural ingenuity is no better showcased than in his brilliant use of the natural slope and contours of the property. He astutely sited the home on two natural terraces. By planning the formal living rooms around a central courtyard and placing the Master and family bedroom wings on the upper terrace he effectively created a spatial separation that afforded privacy, calm and exceptional views. For more information, please visit www.TheRanchoSanCarlos.com.

Through grand gates where giant palms stand as silent sentinels is the magnificent Ranch San Carlos, a 237 acre estate property that for nearly 100 years has been under the ownership of one family. For more information, please visit www.TheRanchoSanCarlos.com.

A long, gently curving driveway over a half-mile long is edged with Santa Barbara stone and ascends through acres of citrus groves to the sprawling hilltop manor home designed in 1931 by master architect Reginald Johnson for one of America’s most prestigious families. Johnson was the pre-eminent architect of the era and continues to be celebrated for the many notable homes he designed in Pasadena and Montecito. For more information, please visit www.TheRanchoSanCarlos.com.

Available for the first time in nearly 100 years, Rancho San Carlos is a Monterey Colonial set on approximately 237 acres with ocean views and is one of the most significant estates in California. Designed by famous architect Reginald Johnson in 1931 with an approximately 29,483 sq. ft. exquisite main residence, 10 residential cottages, extensive horse facilities, and producing orchards. For more information, please visit www.TheRanchoSanCarlos.com.

The grandeur of the light-filled Library and formal Living and Dining rooms is remarkable. The wide “L” shaped central gallery is on perfect axis with both the Living and Dining rooms and overlooks a formal inner courtyard where graceful palms stand over clipped boxwood hedges that encircle a peaceful water feature. This is yet another example of Johnson’s intimate knowledge of scale and symmetry. For more information, please visit www.TheRanchoSanCarlos.com.

During the 1920s the Owners acquired a stately Manor Home in Great Britain. The oak paneled formal rooms were meticulously disassembled and shipped to Santa Barbara where Johnson incorporated them with stunning results into their new Santa Barbara home. For more information, please visit www.TheRanchoSanCarlos.com.

The exceptional artistry and workmanship of these paneled rooms would be impossible to duplicate today, and the beautiful patina, exquisite moldings, finials and mantle pieces are timeless testaments to a bygone era. With its ocean-viewing south terrace, the baronial- sized living room with two majestic fireplaces and spectacular crystal chandeliers is without doubt one of the most exquisite rooms in all of Santa Barbara. For more information, please visit www.TheRanchoSanCarlos.com.

The Library is lined with the homeowner’s personal collection of books, many of them first editions. The grandeur of the light-filled Library and formal Living and Dining rooms is remarkable. For more information, please visit www.TheRanchoSanCarlos.com.

The barrel vaulted central gallery which connects the sumptuous public rooms to the upper bedroom wings is lined with hand-painted period murals and windowed display cases. This grand hall sets a tone of luxury and attention to detail for which Johnson was so well known. For more information, please visit www.TheRanchoSanCarlos.com.

This spectacular Monterey Colonial of approximately 25,000 square feet is comprised of over thirty rooms. From the vast motor court one passes through the front door and into the grand entry hall where one is immediately transported back in time to an era of elegance and refinement; where men wore formal dress and women donned Parisian couture gowns to welcome dinner guests to glittering soirees. The home is infused with an atmosphere of sophistication and refinement. For more information, please visit www.TheRanchoSanCarlos.com.

At the entrance to the Dining Room is a marvelous card room with walls covered in silver foil art-deco wall paper and furnished with lacquered card tables; the sedate setting for competitive backgammon and card games. The marvelously proportioned dining room is located at the eastern end of the central gallery and is grand in scale, yet intimate in ambiance. It too has a private stone terrace for al-fresco dining on temperate Santa Barbara evenings. For more information, please visit www.TheRanchoSanCarlos.com.

The Dining Room also overlooks formal parterre gardens that would be the ideal setting for a reflecting pool as it enjoys a large level site. The dining room is served by two large butler’s pantries that have ample storage for crystal, china and silver. For more information, please visit www.TheRanchoSanCarlos.com.

The expansive kitchens (Main and Prep) were state of the art in the 1930s and feature stainless island and counters and retain the original vintage ovens and refrigerators. Beyond the kitchens are Staff dining room, employee lounge and sitting room, plus three service bedrooms. On the north side of the Central Courtyard is the staff hallway that serves a very large storage area, laundry and drying rooms, plus the Staff Office. For more information, please visit www.TheRanchoSanCarlos.com.

A graceful staircase leads to the Master bedroom wing. Available for the first time in nearly 100 years, Rancho San Carlos is a Monterey Colonial set on approximately 237 acres with ocean views and is one of the most significant estates in California. Designed by famous architect Reginald Johnson in 1931 with an approximately 29,483 sq. ft. exquisite main residence, 10 residential cottages, extensive horse facilities, and producing orchards. For more information, please visit www.TheRanchoSanCarlos.com.

A very large Master suite enjoys both ocean and mountain views and features a fireplace and period décor. The Master’s dressing room is paneled in the deco style and the oversized bath is also tiled in a deco motif. For more information, please visit www.TheRanchoSanCarlos.com.

Beyond the Master is the Boudoir/dressing room. This very feminine room features numerous built-in closets; there is also a spa size bathroom with separate dressing area. Three additional staff bedrooms are down a private hallway from the Boudoir. In addition, there is a linen/sewing room. A tower office with incredible views is located above the Master suite and is accessed by an exterior staircase. For more information, please visit www.TheRanchoSanCarlos.com.

1/25

Reginald Johnson’s architectural ingenuity is no better showcased than in his brilliant use of the natural slope and contours of the property. He astutely sited the home on two natural terraces. By planning the formal living rooms around a central courtyard and placing the Master and family bedroom wings on the upper terrace he effectively created a spatial separation that afforded privacy, calm and exceptional views. For more information, please visit www.TheRanchoSanCarlos.com.

Today's Gallery Headlines

Alerts

PHOTOS: Civil rights icon Jesse Jackson found stage and home in Atlanta

PHOTOS: Day 5 of spring training for the Braves

Metro Atlanta students write valentines to veterans

PHOTOS: Georgia teams dance way to state championships

PHOTOS: Metro Atlanta ICE protest join national effort

PHOTOS: Georgia's first snowfall of the year

PHOTOS: The Compass Rose Cafe serves up quality food with heaping side dishes of life skills

PHOTOS: People gather in downtown Atlanta to protest U.S. military action in Venezuela