{"id":346322,"date":"2026-03-17T13:43:15","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T17:43:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.sothebysrealty.com\/?p=346322"},"modified":"2026-04-03T16:24:53","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T20:24:53","slug":"inside-southern-californias-villa-calafia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/inside-southern-californias-villa-calafia\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside Southern California\u2019s Villa Calafia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This estate in the foothills of Montecito is a terrestrial paradise of nearly 16 acres with an Old World-inspired residence, guest quarters, garaging, equestrian facilities, a tennis court, orchards, gardens, and towering stalwart trees.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"exterior<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With its ornate iron gates, iconic barrel-tiled roofline, stucco fa\u00e7ade, warm earthy hues, tall timeless shutters, breezy balconies, and gracefully arching doorways, the handsome home known as Villa Calafia could easily be mistaken for a regal retreat in the Mediterranean countryside. These quintessentially Old World aesthetics, though, belie the fact that it is the centerpiece of a nearly 16-acre estate in the foothills of Montecito with a distinctly American pedigree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"bright<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Carpinteria, California<\/a> | Jason Siemens<\/a> | Sotheby’s International Realty – Montecito – Coast Village Road Brokerage<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dubbed Villa Calafia when it was constructed in the 1930s, the main residence blends enduring vintage flair\u2014coffered ceilings, distinctive fireplaces, richly hued hardwood and terra-cotta-tile floors\u2014with modern minimalism and contemporary comforts and conveniences. Highlights include a chic living room; a solarium wrapped in nearly floor-to-ceiling windows and glass doors; a cook\u2019s kitchen with abundant counter and cabinet space and stainless-steel appliances; peaceful bedrooms accompanied by baths that retain period accents and surfaces of striking green marble; a placid panoramic \u201cpentroom\u201d; a tiered stone terrace with an impossibly verdant outlook; and a rooftop deck that gazes toward not the Mediterranean but the Pacific. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"back<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sharing the acreage are guesthouses, a freestanding garage and carport, equestrian facilities with bygone-era details, a tennis court, and orchards. The \u201cserenity house\u201d is an airy Japanese-inspired spa-like oasis that encourages rest and relaxation in open spaces surrounded by calming natural materials. Towering oak and pine trees stand stalwart over lush lawn, subtly meticulous landscaping, gardens accented with statuary, and meandering brick paths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"carved<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Villa Calafia has a distinguished provenance, designed as it was by the illustrious architect Gordon Kaufmann. Recognized for his work in the Mediterranean Revival and Art Deco styles, he lent his talents to such area landmarks as Scripps College, La Quinta Resort & Club, Greystone Mansion, the Hoover Dam, and the Los Angeles Times Building. But the estate\u2019s historic significance extends further back than its early-20th-century origins. It takes its moniker from Calafia, a character depicted by 15th-century poet Garci Rodr\u00edguez de Montalvo and the namesake of the state of California. The subject of many a sculpture, painting, story, and film, Calafia is widely known to symbolize a \u201cterrestrial paradise,\u201d making the attribution of her title to this idyllic generational estate perfectly apropos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discover luxury homes for sale and rent around the world on sothebysrealty.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This estate in the foothills of Montecito is a terrestrial paradise of nearly 16 acres with an Old World-inspired residence, guest quarters, garaging, equestrian facilities, a tennis court, orchards, gardens, and towering stalwart trees. With its ornate iron gates, iconic barrel-tiled roofline, stucco fa\u00e7ade, warm earthy hues, tall timeless shutters, breezy balconies, and gracefully arching […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":232770377,"featured_media":346328,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1399],"tags":[1423],"class_list":["post-346322","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-and-design","tag-california"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/6-2.jpg","jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pf4gbL-1s5Q","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":437,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/significant-sales-february-2025-highlights\/","url_meta":{"origin":346322,"position":0},"title":"Significant Sales: February 2025 Highlights","author":"Procurement Admin","date":"March 29, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"From an\u00a0AED 330M sale in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to a US$39.995M sale in Newport Beach, California, here are five sales represented by the Sotheby\u2019s International Realty global network in February. 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