When I visited the condominium for sale at 51 Seaview Drive in Montecito last week, I took my shoes off not once but twice. The first time I removed my shoes was before walking in the front door. Open house etiquette often entails a request to doff one’s footwear or to cover your shoes with special paper booties. This is understandable. Multimillion-dollar homes whose floors have been polished and carpets coiffed can’t afford to have umpteen pairs of shoes tromping through and leaving footprints and scuff marks. I didn’t want my sandals to leave a dusty trail, so I gladly slipped them off so that I could traipse through with abandon.
I soon forgot my feet, however, as this stunning abode quickly had me under its spell. The home is a designer’s dream. Every detail, surface, and fixture has been considered with care and expertise. The front door opens to a foyer with options to enter the living room, kitchen, or a half bath. Peeking through to the right, I couldn’t help but check out the living room first. Soaring ceilings and dramatic lines framed a view through floor-to-ceiling windows outdoors to the eucalyptus grove and ocean beyond. The room is artfully lit, showcasing a sleek wet bar and uniquely beautiful fireplace made of light wood wrapped in steel. The details begged to be admired, but before walking all the way in, I decided I should start at the beginning.
So I swung into the little powder room off the foyer. Built-in shelves and designer fixtures made stylish use of the small space. I was about to move on when I realized that hidden behind the far wall was a full laundry room waiting subtly out of view. That’s when I realized that this space offered much more than at first meets the eye.