Make Myself at Home: Make Friends a Reality

It’s not just me. I’m sure plenty of us have had conversations with our best friends at various stages in our lives that revolved around moving in together and pursuing our various dreams while coming home at the end of the day to our cozy common living space. We would compare notes on our separate professional escapades while preparing elaborate meals together. We would hang out in our living room enjoying our collaboratively amassed entertainment equipment. We would play games in our dream rec room together. We would envision the perfect combination family-yet-all-grown-up lifestyles. These fantasies were fueled by Friends and plenty of other TV shows where the buddies all bunk together.

Walking through 1219 Chino Street, I could almost feel Chandler or Joey lurking in the next room. This home is billed as a condo but sure doesn’t feel like one. We enter through a dramatic foyer with a winding staircase up into the main room, which is a huge combination kitchen and great room with soaring ceilings and a commanding feel. This is where the family — or in my fantasy, the friends — would congregate. Unless they’re sleeping, they’re hanging out right here. The home has four bedrooms and three full bathrooms. Each bedroom feels like a master, with plenty of space and separation from the others.

By Santa Barbara standards, this home is brand-spanking-new, built in 2006, but feels solid and has quality treatments and amenities. The bathrooms are beautifully tiled with well-chosen fixtures. The kitchen has custom built-ins, and there are hardwood floors throughout. Since the living space is all upstairs, you look down on your neighbors, with mountain views as a backdrop, for an almost treehouse feel. Completing the grown-up dorm-room atmosphere is the huge oversized garage. This space is just begging to be used as a massive playroom, the perfect open office space for your startup, or to fulfill your creative fantasies as an art studio for collaborating with your housemates.

The backyard is fenced high enough to be completely private, with a room-sized patio and a grassy area ready for a game of horseshoes while you wait for the barbecue. The location of this home is perfect, too. You’re on the very edge of the Westside, offering a quick hop onto the freeway or a straight shot to the beach in a couple of different directions. Whether you all walk downtown together or go your separate ways for the day, you’ll be happy to be back home with your besties at the end of the day.

1219 Chino Street is currently for sale in Santa Barbara, listed by Vickie Craig and Sharon Fisher of Village Properties. Call 695-7264.