The Home Page: Inside, Outside, and All Around Town

Peering Down the Aisles of Ikea

SHE HAD ME AT WALLPAPER

Our Style Specialist did it again this week! She gathers the top upcoming decor trends into one easy-to-read-while-you’re-waiting-for-the-kettle-to-whistle column. Thanks, Christine, for saving me from yet another rabbit hole of design and decor articles online. While greenery, curved furniture, and multifunctional spaces all make the list, she had me at wallpaper. I have a hard time making bold design choices. A purple picture frame is about as wild as it gets at my house. So while I won’t be wallpapering any time soon, seeing the options — and dreaming a little — are vivid-hued vicarious pleasures to tide me over ’til I take the plunge.

KABOMBA, ODGER, SMYCKA?

If you’re hankering for new decor with a lot of pep and a little price tag, it’s hard to beat Ikea. The Swedish-based retailer with the fun-to-pronounce names gives us fun and functional products for every room in the house. This article from Hunker lists 11 hot products that range from a stylish bamboo laundry hamper (the Saluding) to a whimsical curlicue vase (the Finlemmad). The Kabomba is a wall lamp; the Odger is a chair. What’s the Smycka, you ask? You’ll have to read for yourself. And don’t blame me if you fall in love with Splitterny or Månalg along the way.

This edition of The Home Page was originally emailed to subscribers on September 29, 2024. To receive Sarah Sinclair’s real estate newsletter in your inbox each Sunday, sign up at independent.com/newsletter

FOILING THE FRENZY?

I was out visiting open houses on Thursday and stopped by the beautiful mid-century modern home that’s featured on this week’s real estate cover, located at 1144 Portesuello Avenue in Bel Air Knolls, listed by Tyler Mearce and Renee Marvin of Sothebys. Trust me: This home is even more gorgeous in person. Check it out in person at the open house from 1-4 today, or online — with video! — here. Chatting with Tyler, I heard something novel. “We’re not reviewing offers until January 31st. We want to try to slow down the frenzied pace of the market,” he said. “Rather than receiving multiple rushed offers, we want buyers to be able to see the house at their own pace, and make a thoughtful offer that they feel good about. We want them to want this house.” A breath of fresh air in this frenzied market.

TEA PARTY

The iconic Montecito Tea Gardens is on the market. Formally known as Mar Y Cel, the property has a storied past and is listed for sale at $78,000,000. In the early 1900s, a wealthy San Francisco couple purchased the property and turned it into a veritable playground with a 12,000-square-foot mansion with aqueducts, statues, water features, an amphitheater with a stage, and a tea house at the top of the hill. An additional 150 acres of the property is currently held by the Land Trust of Santa Barbara, but this listing includes 18 parcels on more than 331 acres. Realtors Holly McKenna and Chris Harrington of Coldwell Banker are representing the sellers, and although it just hit the market this week, the opportunity is already receiving national attention, like this write-up in the Wall Street Journal.

SCOUT HITS THE STREETS

It’s been pointed out that Scout hasn’t made an appearance here recently. It’s not for lack of activity! She accompanied me on caravan this Thursday and happily soaked up the sun in Bel Air Knolls while I chatted with Tyler Mearce about his property above. Caravan is the collection of mid-day, mid-week open houses that Realtors hold to preview new listings for each other, and it feels like a major social outing these days. Scout and I are always welcome. Well, Scout is welcome outside, which is her preference anyway.

Whether you’re outside or inside, enjoy your Sunday!

Support the Santa Barbara Independent through a long-term or a single contribution.