The Home Page | Treasure Hunts for Home Lovers

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Ever wanted to walk through the homes you admire in magazines? Dwell is giving us that opportunity with their annual “Dwell Open House: Los Angeles” event on October 17. Featuring three distinctive Eastside L.A. homes in a self-guided, three-hour tour, the event starts off at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House, the UNESCO World Heritage site shown above. Tickets aren’t cheap, and if you’re interested don’t delay: Tickets go on sale today, and the event usually sells out.

Coming up sooner, and much closer to home, is next weekend’s Santa Barbara Home & Garden Expo at Earl Warren Showgrounds. The expo — on Saturday, August 29, from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday, August 30, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. — will feature a variety of exhibitors related to home improvement, remodeling, and home services. Another highlight this year will be a display of shipping containers transformed into ADUs; eco-friendly residences making news as part of the solution to our affordable housing challenges. Speaking of affordable, admission to the expo and parking are both free. I hear they even give away goodie bags!

After sharing the boldest of bathrooms last week, I was delighted to run across this article encouraging people not to replace their old bathroom tile, but rather to incorporate it into their remodel in a new & interesting way. They postulate that the trend towards colorful bathrooms is at least in part a reaction to the austere “AirBnB decorating” style of all-white with grey laminate, and that pastel powder rooms like the example above are actually good for us, raising our moods with a bit of “dopamine decorating.” I’m all for a little color in the lav — and anywhere else that strikes your fancy. 

For the ultimate in recycling: Mark your calendars for the grand opening of Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County’s ReStore this Wednesday, August 26. Located at 400 State Street, the ReStore will sell “gently used furniture and home décor, along with usable building materials and fixtures.” ReStore locations throughout the United States divert construction and household waste from landfills, while proceeds support Habitat’s affordable housing programs. Visiting Habitat’s Goleta ReStore — which closed its doors permanently in 2020 — always felt like a treasure hunt as I walked the aisles searching for unique surprises and ultimate deals. The downtown Santa Barbara ReStore will be open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is fittingly located in the space vacated by Habitat Home & Garden, who’s still selling great furniture at their original San Luis Obispo location. Learn more about ReStore shopping, donating, volunteering, and more. I’ll see you there!

THIS WEEK’S COVER HOME:

With four bedrooms, five baths, two offices, two primary suites, a detached yoga room, and more, the newly listed home at 305 Mesa Lane offers more than 3,000 square feet of luxuriously reimagined living space in one of Santa Barbara’s most iconic locations. 

The kitchen is a centerpiece, with an oversized island, Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, a large, walk-in pantry, and bi-fold doors opening to an expansive deck. Dreamy design details abound in every room. Situated near the Douglas Family Preserve and just moments from the beach via the Mesa Lane Steps, this home offers a rare combination of coastal living and refined craftsmanship on the beloved Mesa. Offered at $4,595,000 by Karina Matic.

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NEXT WEEK’S BIG PARTY:

The Indy turns 40 this year, and next Saturday, August 29, we are throwing a huge block party. Help us celebrate from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. with Indy 40 Fest at the Presidio (a k a El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park) where we’ll have bands all day, journalism panels, a super fun kids zone, and more. Take selfies as you create your own Independent cover, grab some merch, munch your lunch, mingle, and more. We are all excited to see you there!

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THIS WEEK’S OPEN HOUSES: 

We’ve gathered a plethora of open houses all around town; they’re listed right here.

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THIS WEEK’S ISSUE:

This week’s issue is full of compelling stories, including a moving story by reporter Ryan P. Cruz featured on the front cover and a new column by our historian contributor Betsy J. Green in the Real Estate section. Thank you for reading, and for making The Home Page part of your Sunday. Enjoy!