Well, it happened. After two years of visiting open houses each week, choosing one to write about every Thursday, and talking to friends in the real estate business just about every day, I fell in love with a house that I couldn’t resist. The stars aligned, the numbers aligned, and now, as of just this week, I am once again a home owner. Next week I will move from a one-bedroom cottage downtown to MY one-bedroom cottage downtown. And I couldn’t be happier.

However, just because I’m spoken for, doesn’t mean I can’t check out the available properties that are on the market. I’m committing myself to love and cherish my little craftsman bungalow, to care for it in sickness and in health. But a girl can still dream about hilltop hideaways and Montecito mansions. We have no shortage of fantasy-worthy properties in our community, and I’ll share every notable nook and delightful detail.

One such dream home is 2150 Las Canoas Road. Like my new place, it’s a one-bedroom house, but that’s about where the similarity ends. This home is perched on a hillside up above Las Canoas Road, in Mission Canyon. Driving the winding route to get there takes one past the Mission, the Museum of Natural History, and almost to the Botanic Garden. Pulling up to the huge oak tree in front of the house, it’s easy to forget that you’re only a few miles from State Street, because the privacy and quiet setting make it feel worlds away.

Two winding pathways lead up to the house, both equally as inviting. I chose the path to the front entryway, stepped inside, and found myself in a living room that felt at once cozy and yet also spacious. My gaze automatically fell to the far wall, where two built-in bookcases framed a striking floor-to-ceiling steel window, showcasing a view over the treetops all the way down to the ocean. The window itself is a work of art, with a curved top and multi-paned face, and one round porthole-style window sitting above it at the peak of the roof. The ceiling has hefty, rough, wooden rafter accents, and a commanding fireplace against the other wall anchors the room.

Tearing myself away from the view, I walked to my right, into the kitchen, which is open to the living room, forming one great space. The kitchen sports sleek gray cabinets with monochromatic Viking appliances in a subtle, modern space. One side of the U-shaped area is a long counter that can function as a breakfast bar or prep surface. It’s a cool, subdued room that humbly offers its gourmet features while letting the living room take the glory. Both rooms have rustic cement floors that disguise their water-powered radiant heating. In fact, since the house was built in 2014, it has energy-efficient and high-tech conveniences throughout.

Up a few stairs, past one charming bathroom, lies the bedroom. To call it the master bedroom seems silly since it’s the only bedroom in the house, but this romantic space certainly feels like a room of distinction. His-and-hers bathrooms extend off either side of the bedroom. “His” bathroom shower has a floor made of river rocks, while the showpiece of “hers” is a unique, free-standing bathtub made of steel and porcelain. Beyond lies a huge walk-in closet with custom cabinetry. A set of glass-paned steel French doors open off the bedroom onto a completely private garden, one of many outdoor spaces that surround the house, showcasing the naturally beautiful setting.

On my way out, I kept noticing decorative details that mirrored my style: a white sparrow statue perched on a windowsill, a faded oriental rug in the bathroom. Back in the living room, I couldn’t help but ask about the mesmerizing chandelier hanging from the ceiling in the center of the room. Crystal droplets dangle from a central gold frame, providing a glamorous sparkle, but with strong, sturdy bones. It is at once feminine and brash, beautiful and bold.

I was told that the owner of the house rescued the fixture from the May Madness rummage sale held annually at the Music Academy of the West and painted it to create its unexpected golden glow. Learning a bit of the history behind the decor of this handsome home made me love 2150 Las Canoas Road even more. I drove back down the hill, smiling and thinking about both houses, and hopeful that, given a little time, creativity and TLC, my cottage might soon feel like my castle, too.

2150 Las Canoas Road is currently for sale in Santa Barbara, listed by Joyce Enright of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties. Reach Joyce at (805) 570-1360 or joycee@bhhscal.com.

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