Product Description

Santa Barbara. For centuries this temperate, inviting locale has glowed with subtle but unmistakable light-- a beacon of warmth beside the profound blue of the Pacific. From the Chumash, whose predecessors can be traced to 11,000 b.c.e., to the present-day resident, vacationer, and tourist, diverse and countless peoples have been enchanted and enraptured by Santa Barbara's spell.

In Santa Barbara Style, author Kathryn Masson and photographer James Chen, invoke this magic and invite us to walk with them through winding and abundant gardens, onto the grounds of grand estates, and into the great houses of this region. Here we find the work of such architectural luminaries as Addison Mizner, Bertram Goodhue, and Reginald D. Johnson. We wander from the historic adobe mansion Casa de la Guerra-- built in the early-nineteenth century by town patriarch Jose de la Guerra-- to the spectacular, and aptly named, Villa Lucia (House of the Light)-- built in 1989. We are given an intimate look at George Washington Smith's Spanish Colonial Revival masterpiece, Casa del Herrero; and a broad view of Lotusland, the thirty-seven acre horticultural paradise. With each turn of the page, we see the beauty, grace, and style of Santa Barbara.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #114783 in Books
• Published on: 2001-09-15
• Released on: 2001-09-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 280 pages

About the Author
Kathryn Masson, author and former long-time resident of Santa Barbara, is deeply committed to the Santa Barbara preservation community. She was a member of Santa Barbara's Historic Landmarks Commission-- serving for six years as chairman of both the Landmark Designation Committee and the Awards Committee; as well, she has been on the board of the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation. She is co-author with Patricia Gebhard of the recently published Santa Barbara County Courthouse.

James Chen is a graduate of Brooks Institute of Photography and a recipient of an Honorary Master of Science in Professional Photography. He has received awards from the Art Directors Club of Los Angeles and the San Francisco Society of Communications Arts.

Customer Reviews

One of the most beautiful books I have ever seen
I have seen many great books featuring extravagant homes. The best books of this type usually display homes in Europe. Well this book is by far the most remarkable home photography book I have ever seen. I knew Santa Barbara has excellent architecture, but this vastly exceeded my expectations. Buy it - you won't be disappointed.

As for the other reader who was looking for shacks... if you think Santa Barbara is made up of beach shacks, you should get out of the house more often.

A lovely book on Santa Barbara architecture
As person who was born and raised in Santa Barbara, this book truly captures the beautiful architectural style and gardens of the city. Santa Barbara Style has a permanent spot on my coffee table and makes me homesick for the incredible homes and lush gardens found in Santa Barbara. This book is a must for anyone who is interested in Spanish and Mediterranean architecture. This is the true style of Santa Barbara!

great design book
The photographs are outstanding. This book is a great resource for anyone who is looking for ideas for interior design, or for landscape design. Great coffe table book too.