Meg Ryan, who generally has a residential revision project on the table, has acquired a property in Montecito that needs a bit of attention. Last summer, Ryan paid $9.5 million for the property, which is situated in a particularly fantastical corner of the desirable coastal city.

The purchase comes within months of Ryan’s sale of another Montecito home. That house, a 4,268 sq. ft. modern farmhouse dating to the 1990s, was acquired by the three-time Golden Globe nominee for $5 million in early 2020. She renovated it and passed it on late in 2021 for $13.3 million.

Ryan’s new property in the much lusted-after Santa Barbara County community came at a cost of $9.5 million. Cast very much in the Montecito mold, it begins with a long, winding driveway flanked by hedgerows; as the romantic preamble continues, the landscape it moves through changes to plantings of oak and fruit trees. The residence, when it comes into view, is surrounded by mature trees and plantings.

At the heart of the gated 2.04-acre estate is a two-level dating to 2010; the home also features modern farmhouse leanings, although its exterior is more ornate than usual for the style. The emphasis is on the comfortably familiar, and its covered porch is as charmingly inviting as can be. Inside the home, the same spirit of relaxed traditionalism prevails, with beamed ceilings, French doors, built-in shelves, fireplaces, plentiful glass, and plank hardwood floors. Cool tones pop up throughout the house.

Landscaping is as richly detailed, with highlights including a water feature and a stone pathway. There are three bedroom suites on the property; an in-law apartment over the garage brings the total square footage to about 7,000.

Ryan’s residential project back pages include a three bedroom apartment in the Soho neighborhood of Manhattan. She purchased the 4,100 sq. ft. unit in 84 Mercer from Hank Azaria in 2014 and restored it to taste, ultimately selling it for a whisker under $10 million during the summer of 2017.