Ellen DeGeneres and Portia di Rossi have once again bought in Montecito, their favorite stomping ground for property flipping. The couple’s newest residential acquisition in the city? A pair of Tudor Revival barns that have been artfully composed into a private residence.
The two post-and-beam structures were originally built in the 18th century; they were deconstructed on their home soil in England, transported across the pond, and reconstructed in the mid-1980s as an intoxicatingly historic house in the Mediterranean climate of Montecito.
The property’s setting is spectacular, supporting the time-capsule fantasy established by the period structures and fixtures. The lot measures a solid 1.35 acres, with strikingly lovely gardens, raised stone plant beds, stone walkways, and specimen trees; the grounds have been engineered into a meandering, shady expanse that’s nothing short of enchanting.
The interiors of the residence are a convincing argument for a final word on converted barn designs, with exposed timber, plaster, and whitewashed stone setting an atmosphere that is intensely historic, and soaring cathedral ceilings adding the spatial benefits of the style. Leaded windows, fireplaces in brick or stone, and floors in brick or hardwood plank are also featured.
The home’s master suite occupies an upper floor of one of the two connected structures. It’s a huge, wide-open space, and its bath works with hand-made tile to add a bit of soothing cool to the interior living style.
