I toured two exquisite vintage homes this week, located only two blocks from each other in Santa Barbara’s Upper East neighborhood. Both houses contained more than at first meets the eye, both inside and out.
On the corner of West Valerio and Chapala streets sits a tall, two-story American-colonial-style home with olive wood shingled siding and white trim. White banisters and four brick steps lead up to the stately pillared front portico of 111 West Valerio Street. As it was built in 1894, it’s not surprising that this residence has seen many different uses.
Originally built as a home for one of the founders of Cottage Hospital, over the ensuing years it has served as a sorority house, a bed-and-breakfast inn, a boarding house, and a school. For the past fifteen years, it has been a family home. When you walk through it today, this home certainly feels loved and lived in.