Make Myself at Home: Carpinteria Country Cottages
Inside 1226 Bega Way, Down a Winding Lane on an Avocado Ranch
Address: 1226 Bega Way, Carpinteria
Status: On the market
Price: $1,795,000
Sundays were family days when I was growing up. We lived in San Diego, so there was no shortage of attractions. My mom and dad would wrangle all four of us kids into the station wagon and head to Mission Bay or Torrey Pines State Beach or Balboa Park. Of course the zoo was one of our favorite destinations, and one of my favorite parts was the huge, walk-through aviary. I would sit on a bench next to my dad, trying to stay very still and quiet, so that the birds would ignore us and let us watch their activities. The longer we sat, the more we would see.
In retrospect, it may have been one of the few ways that my father could create some quiet time in the midst of our weekend whirlwind. But I remember those magical afternoons fondly, and they fueled a young passion for appreciation of the diverse details of nature.
I was reminded of those quiet interludes recently when I visited 1226 Bega Way in Carpinteria. Tucked down a peaceful winding lane on the mountain side of Bailard Avenue, this beautiful four-acre ranch is close to everything yet feels like it’s in a tranquil world of its own.
The gated entrance leads through an avocado orchard to the first of two separate three-bedroom/two-bath homes. The houses themselves are light and airy, with a contemporary feel and lots of windows to take in the private mountain views. They also both have covered porches and decks, providing lots of outdoor seating areas. In addition, pathways meander through the grounds and lead to distinct areas like a pond and a fire pit with benches. The carefully landscaped grounds are a mix of both indigenous and exotic plants and trees, but the property still feels wild and close to its natural state.
The two separate houses mean that this property has income potential. Each of the houses has its own parking area and is completely private from the other. The configuration of two homes — separate yet close to each other — could also accommodate any number of extended family living situations. It’s just a short walk down the path from one house to the other, so it’s easy to imagine cousins growing up together or grandma’s house right next door.
And, yes, it’s also easy to imagine spending hours sitting on one of the benches studying the birds. The inviting landscape and the beautiful mountain views just beg to be enjoyed. In addition to the avocados, I’m told that the variety of fruit trees on the property includes cherimoya, pineapple guava, strawberry guava, lemon guava, sapote, apple, peach, nectarine, plum, pluot, fig, cherry, mandarin orange, and Meyer lemon. It’s all part of this secret garden only minutes from the freeway but in a world of its own.
1226 Bega Way is currently for sale in Carpinteria, listed by Daniela Johnson of Sotheby’s International Realty. Reach Daniela at (805) 453-4555 or daniela.johnson@sothebyshomes.com.
