Divine Dining
For many Ojai residents, the parlor game of assembling a fantasy dinner party would likely include the irrepressible local ceramicist Beatrice Wood, who passed away in 1998 at the age of 105.
Beato Home features five pieces in a textured neutral white, meticulously crafted by Creative Fire Studio in Granada Hills.
For many Ojai residents, the parlor game of assembling a fantasy dinner party would likely include the irrepressible local ceramicist Beatrice Wood, who passed away in 1998 at the age of 105. Now fans of the iconoclastic multidisciplinary artist, known affectionately as “Beato,” can enjoy an homage to her legacy on their own dinner tables with BEATO HOME. “People just went crazy for it,” recalls Heather Stobo about the original dinnerware set crafted by Wood during the 1960s. The pieces were included in an exhibition she and Lisa Casoni curated at the Porch Gallery, the couple’s art-focused Ojai gathering place, which they closed last year. Finding a way to make Wood’s functional tabletop pieces more accessible to a contemporary audience was a logical next step, especially given their partnership with the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts through Beato Chocolates, the artisanal candy line Casoni and Stobo launched in 2018. Beato Home features five pieces in a textured neutral white, meticulously crafted by Creative Fire Studio in Granada Hills. The collection, which is faithful to Wood’s original clay type, colors, and glazes, is available online and at select retailers, including Field + Fort in Summerland. Beato Home is an impassioned tribute to a one-of-a-kind spirit whose “greatest work of art was her life,” Casoni says. “She’s our North Star in the chocolate business and this dinnerware business.” beatohome.com
Global Goods
These chic shops and markets carry everything you need for a well-curated home and kitchen.
These chic shops and markets carry everything you need
for a well-curated home and kitchen
Downtown Santa Barbara’s The Eddy reinvents the corner store experience, serving as a one-stop shop for convenience items and gourmet goods.
Written by Hana-Lee Sedgwick
Photographs by Blake Bronstad
Since debuting last year, THE EDDY has woven itself into the fabric of downtown Santa Barbara. Offering a well-chosen selection of elevated essentials and gourmet delights, along with engaging events and workshops, this modern corner store has redefined the idea of convenience. “We envisioned The Eddy as a hub, constantly adapting to the evolving wants and needs of our community,” says co-owner Alex Suhadolnik. “Our approach is very much community led, so we regularly incorporate customer recommendations, but we also hope to instill a sense of discovery.”
Here you’ll find a diverse mix of everyday necessities and unexpected goods, from tinned fish and artisanal candy bars to Rancho Gordo beans and nonalcoholic refreshments, along with grab-and-go items from local favorites like Merci and Riviera Bread. 137 E. De La Guerra St., Santa Barbara, shoptheeddy.com
“Every corner of the world is brimming with inspiration, which is why I regularly travel to various global markets in search of unique finds”
Effortless elegance is the theme at UPSTAIRS AT PIERRE LAFOND, the esteemed Montecito lifestyle boutique that has delighted locals and visitors alike for decades. An ever-evolving collection of stylish far-flung treasures and locally made gifts ranges from luxurious bedding and rugs to art, tabletop essentials, and children’s toys—each thoughtfully selected to celebrate the joys of artful living. “Every corner of the world is brimming with inspiration, which is why I regularly travel to various global markets in search of unique finds,” says buyer Emily DaFoe. “Our customers can always count on discovering something special and one-of-a-kind, whether for their own homes or for memorable gifts.” 516 San Ysidro Rd., Santa Barbara, shopupstairs.com
Bringing a touch of la dolce vita to the heart of Montecito is MONTESANO MARKET & DELI, a haven of Italian imports and local goods for the table and pantry. Besides the impressive selection of olive oils, jarred olives, authentic sauces, and gourmet pastas—each highlighting Italy’s rich culinary heritage—you’ll find table linens, wine, bespoke tote bags, and artisanal toffee. Also on hand are imported sausages, crackers, and cheeses—perfect for impromptu picnics at the beach. 1150 Coast Village Rd., Montecito, montesanomarket.com
Stylish kitchenware at Field + Fort.
“The vision at Field + Fort was to create a space where people enjoy delicious food and find inspiration.”
One need not be an interior designer to appreciate Summerland’s FIELD + FORT, a distinctive home-and-garden store that epitomizes refinement. “The owners’ vision was to create a space where people can gather, enjoy delicious food and coffee, and find inspiration in our carefully curated home goods—essentials for elevating living,” says general manager Paul Burns. Notably, Field + Fort is stocked with unique design accessories and products synonymous with quality and style, including items such as Sheldon ceramic dinnerware, Sferra towels, and Flamingo Estate bath products. The store’s pantry section offers gourmet foods like pasta sauces, balsamic vinegars, and olive oils, all destined to become kitchen staples. 2580 Lillie Ave., Summerland, fieldandfort.com
Little Dom’s housemade tomato sauce and pickled vegetables.
Following the success of its original Los Angeles location, Little Dom’s Seafood cast its culinary net to Carpinteria in 2020. Since then executive chef Brandon Boudet has enticed visitors with his delectable seafood and Italian dishes, infused with Southern flair as a nod to his Louisiana roots. This spring the coastal eatery is expanding with the debut of LITTLE DOM’S DELI & WINE SHOP. You’ll be able to pick up some of Chef Boudet’s signature creations, including his renowned tomato sauces and pickled vegetables. Additionally, the space will carry a range of house-made seasonal goods—think preserved lemons and fruit jams—as well as grab-and-go items like prepared salads and frozen meatballs. 686 Linden Ave., Carpinteria, ldseafood.com
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Fresh Stock
Caroline Diani opened her first shop 22 years ago.
“I buy what I like to wear and have in my home, yet I’m constantly thinking of specific customers, especially those who’ve been with us over the years”
Caroline Diani
Written by Jennifer Blaise Kramer
Photograph by Meg Sandu Photo
Caroline Diani opened her first shop 22 years ago. With a background in retail and an education in fashion, she melded her skills to open a business that’s been a Santa Barbara fixture for more than two decades. The world of DIANI includes three storefronts—clothing, home, shoes—in Arlington Plaza, creating a lifestyle hub for countless locals. Being that go-to shop around the corner is both what keeps the doors open and what guides Caroline on what to stock. “I buy what I like to wear and have in my home, yet I’m constantly thinking of specific customers, especially those who’ve been with us over the years,” she says. “None of us are driven by trends; we like quality and understated style.” Caroline’s spring edit (her blog and newsletter are a must!) sports pops of color that appear in nature. For home she stocks her favorite cookbooks, serving bowls, and textiles, and she has been busy building her own home decor brand, The Stone Jug. Inspiration, it seems, is everywhere she turns. “I’m always looking for new lines for the stores, and traveling helps me find hidden gems,” she says. “My eyes and ears are always open.” 1324 State St., Santa Barbara, dianiboutique.com
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Ahoy, Mate
Ten-year-old Mate Gallery, located in Montecito’s Country Mart, is home to all things nautical—from clothing and vintage accessories to home furnishings.
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter
Photographs by Matt Albiani
Owners Matt Albiani (left) and Ron Brand
Ten-year-old MATE GALLERY, located in Montecito’s Country Mart (the retail compound and de facto community center of Montecito), is home to all things nautical—from clothing and vintage accessories to home furnishings. Conceived and owned by Matt Albiani and Ron Brand, the shop was—according to Albiani—designed “to bring a bit of East Coast vibe to California,” and they have achieved that goal; the place is a style source for transplants and natives alike. Country Mart owner Jim Rosenfield recently enabled Brand and Albiani to triple Mate Gallery’s footprint, providing room for more bounty, including vintage furniture and fixtures. “Jim’s been very supportive of us and is a really good guy,” Brand says.
Albiani, a fashion photographer and Boston native, resides primarily in New York; Brand, a real estate agent, immigrated to Santa Barbara from Dundee, Scotland, in 1991. Together they cull and curate unique items that embody the Mate Gallery aesthetic. The pair also own a stylish getaway—dubbed “Sea Roost”—in Montauk, New York, that was recently featured on Magnolia Network’s Beach Cottage Chronicles and is available for rent on Searoost.com. “If you lived in Mate Gallery, it would be Sea Roost,” says Brand. 1024 Coast Village Rd., Montecito, 805-895-6283, mategallery.com
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Desert Gem
Aman Resorts are known for boutique properties that epitomize remote splendor, and perhaps nothing in their portfolio fulfills that promise better than Amangiri.
Written by Caitlin White
Photography by Robert Rieger
Aman Resorts are known for boutique properties that epitomize remote splendor, and perhaps nothing in their portfolio fulfills that promise better than AMANGIRI. This isolated sanctuary in southern Utah, whose name means “peaceful mountain” in Sanskrit, draws much of its grandeur from a minimalist design set against the stunning backdrop of the stark Canyon Point desert. But it isn’t just sweeping views of the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument or the property’s incorporation of the culture of the nearby Navajo Nation that has elevated Amangiri into one of the world’s must-visit hotels.
Since opening in 2009, the 34-suite property has become synonymous with ultra-luxe hospitality and wellness—and a hot spot for celebrity guests who share their experiences on social media, cultivating a sense of exclusivity and prestige that has served the hotel well. In 2020 the hotel expanded with Camp Sarika, an enclave of 10 tented pavilions. That expansion dovetailed with concerns related to the pandemic, which spiked an interest in this distant, mostly outdoor getaway.
One of the selling points of Amangiri, then and now, is the way each room is oriented toward a view of the desert, bringing the outdoors in. The elegance of the decor—concrete, light wood, and earth tones—against the landscape enhances the serenity. Holistic wellness programming also adds to that: Carefully formulated offerings integrate many natural elements into the experience. For example, there’s yoga on the rocks, thermal therapy with saunas and cold plunge pools in the 25,000-square-foot spa, aqua shiatsu, and ai chi, a 4,000-year-old therapy derived from tai chi and qigong that seeks to optimize the flow of chi. If there were ever a place where your energy could unspool, untangle, and flow freely, it’s here. 1 Kayenta Rd., Canyon Point, Utah, 435-675-3999, aman.com
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Charming Chatelaine
The concept behind the newly expanded DOMECÍL boutique on State Street is to showcase unique and handmade items for the home.
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter
Photography by Sara Prince
The concept behind the newly expanded DOMECÍL boutique on State Street is to showcase unique and handmade items for the home. Owner Stephanie Payne Campbell—a Santa Barbara native with a French soul and a sparkling personality—has an instinctive knack for sourcing items that are simultaneously utilitarian and indescribably beautiful: baskets and textiles from far-flung locations (Africa, Chile, Indonesia, Japan), locally made ceramics, linens and clothing (often of her own design), hard-to-find design books, cookbooks, jewelry, and more.
Homes also need art, and breathtaking nature photographs by co-creators Joslyn Lawrence and Brian Kuhlmann grace the shop’s gallery-like walls. And where else can you attend a love-letter workshop taught by local typewriter poet Simon Kiefer? Japanese and French stationery are available if you need something to write on.
It takes a truly sophisticated eye to convene and display these myriad treasures in a coherent manner, but Payne Campbell does so effortlessly and with enthusiasm. “It’s passion that’s gotten me this far,” she says with a smile. 1223 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-324-4971, domecil.com
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Artist’s Retreat
Although it’s only a five-minute drive from Paso Robles’ town square, Steve Werndorf’s mystical micro hotel, INN PARADISO, feels like a world unto itself.
Written by Caitlin White
Although it’s only a five-minute drive from Paso Robles’ town square, Steve Werndorf’s mystical
micro hotel, INN PARADISO, feels like a world unto itself. Venture behind the gates and unlock one of three private luxury suites in the ‘70s-inspired lodge, where exposed wooden beams and a fireplace anchor the central room. Elsewhere, two more private loft suites adjoin a living area and kitchen for the owner, who may make you a cappuccino and explain that most of the art that adorns the property is from his personal collection. An artist and former movie poster designer, Werndorf has imbued the property with a mix of rustic charm and whimsy. His dressed-down Artist Studio is another suite available for booking. A pool and a greenhouse-style lounge, plus lawns surrounded by rare fruit trees, round out the 3.5-acre slice of paradise. 975 Mohave Lane, Paso Robles, 805-275-2706, innparadiso.com
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Garden Gone By
In 1970 society photographer Slim Aarons captured Mr. and Mrs. J. Gordon Douglas at the steps of their hillside Montecito estate.
Montecito residents Mr. and Mrs. J. Gordon Douglas pose for Slim Aarons.
Written by Joan Tapper
Photography by Slim Aarons/Stringer
In 1970 society photographer Slim Aarons captured Mr. and Mrs. J. Gordon Douglas at the steps of their hillside Montecito estate. The grounds of Il Brolino—Italian for “the little garden”—had been designed in 1922 for lumber heiress Mary Stewart by landscape architect Florence Yoch and Lucille Council to complement the Mediterranean villa–style house by architect George Washington Smith. The plan for the property included iconic formal features like parterres, a woodland, a rose garden, paved terraces, a cutting garden, a lemon house, a pergola, and topiaries. The symmetry and precision of the plantings are striking. Known for his access to the rich and celebrated, Aarons traveled from Hollywood to the famous playgrounds of Europe capturing the jet-set lifestyle for numerous magazines, and he was quoted as saying he focused on “attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places.” Il Brolino and its owners certainly fit the bill.
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Breathing Life
Wallpaper is so 2023. Suddenly every hot workspace, restaurant, and home wants a wall that does more—a wall that’s alive.
“Lush Air” of tillandsias displayed on glass with graphic of honey onyx at Sonos.
Written by Jennifer Blaise Kramer
Photographs by Elliot Lowndes
Wallpaper is so 2023. Suddenly every hot workspace, restaurant, and home wants a wall that does more—a wall that’s alive. Terra Basche, owner of LUSH ELEMENTS, is the designer behind the living walls at offices of Netflix, Zoom, and Sonos. “We’re making headquarters unique as well as home offices, which may be smaller but can be special, sacred retreats,” she says. Having started as a florist, the self-trained designer creates massive living walls hung with mosses, ferns, and air plants that require little water and are low maintenance. (She also does follow-up care for most clients.) Her mural-like installations, in addition to edible towers and container gardens, are focal points at restaurants that include Local Montecito, Validation Ale, and most recently Silvers Omakase. There, owner and chef Lennon Silvers Lee dreamed up a back patio full of plants where his guests could pleasantly relax after their two-hour dining experience.
Basche is now on a mission to catch the attention of nonprofits, whose donors might consider sponsoring a living wall rather than giving cash. Currently the offices of the Wilderness Youth Project and the Community Environmental Council feature her living art, and she hopes others will appreciate the perks of working with plants, which buffer sound, add beauty, and increase air quality, well-being, and productivity. Says Basche: “When you live among plants, you sink into something so special at a cellular level, you just have to pay attention.” lushelements.com
“Lush Wall” of preserved mosses, foliage, and crystal spheres at Origins Integrative Medicine.
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Polishing a Hidden Gem
The history of CASA DEL HERRERO—House of the Blacksmith—and of Santa Barbara are inextricably linked.
Sunlight warms the arched loggia of Casa del Herrero
Written by Joan Tapper
Photographs by Matt Walla/Rizzoli
The history of CASA DEL HERRERO—House of the Blacksmith—and of Santa Barbara are inextricably linked: On the morning of June 29, 1925, George Fox Steedman, owner of his family’s foundry in St. Louis, was staying at the Santa Barbara Club when a devastating earthquake hit the city, leveling most of downtown. He headed for his new home in Montecito, which had just been finished after three years of construction. The Andalusian farmhouse-style residence was fine, cementing architect George Washington Smith’s reputation and distinguishing the home as an early example of Santa Barbara’s prevailing Spanish look.
Steedman and his wife, Carrie, embraced the growing fashion for the Spanish Revival style, and Smith’s plans for the 7,000-square-foot residence incorporated arches, wrought iron, loggias, a red-tile roof, and Moorish accents, like the thousands of colorful tiles that grace fireplaces, fountains, and walls. To furnish the home, the Steedmans commissioned Hispanic art experts Arthur Byne and Mildred Stapley, and traveled with them around Spain, acquiring centuries-old treasures that eventually packed 160 containers.
Portraits of George and Carrie Steedman preside over the living room.
The Steedmans brought on Ralph Stevens to develop the garden and grounds, which soon encompassed 11 acres. In the back of the house, the garden extends from a loggia down a long grassy allée, while the rest of the extensive grounds are divided into a series of “rooms.” An enclosed Spanish garden opens to a blue-and-white garden with gorgeously tiled benches and a fountain. There’s an herb garden, a boxwood-edged rose garden, an Arizona garden, and extensive orchards. One of the most extraordinary features of the estate is the workshop, where mechanical engineer Steedman designed and crafted silver, other metalwork, and even garden furniture.
Charles Steedman died in 1940; Carrie passed away 22 years later. Medora Steedman Bass, who inherited the house from her parents, lived there until her own death in 1987, after which the family established a foundation that eventually opened the residence and grounds to the public in 1995. Visitors who come for docent-led tours are wowed by the place, which has maintained a low profile for the past three decades.
Now, however, it’s time for the Casa to step into the limelight—and ensure it is ready for its next 100 years. To begin, the foundation is leading up to its centennial with programming that more closely connects the place to the community.
The cover of a history of the Casa depicts its interior stairway.
“Medora Steedman Bass wished for the future of Casa to pursue and support the interests of her and her family,” says Edwin Rodriguez Jr., marketing and events director. These include “gardening, architecture, metalwork, silversmithing, restoration of the grounds, global problems, sustainability, population control, family planning, mental health, arts and literature, film, and several others.” Adds board chair Heather Biles, “We are working hard to open the doors of Casa del Herrero to a wider audience and to bring to the community new and interesting ways to experience the Casa.”
Meanwhile, the board is launching an $18 million capital campaign—headed by Palmer and Susan Jackson, who have kicked things off with a $1 million donation—to support preservation of its architectural legacy and protect the institution’s future. The hidden gem will be hidden no more. Santa Barbara architect Marc Appleton says, “The Casa, one of Santa Barbara’s best-kept secrets, is a unique, historic, and special place for the community of Santa Barbara to be able to enjoy, support, and cherish.” 1387 E. Valley Rd., Montecito, casadelherrero.com
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Table Talk
Beautiful books to spark inspiration for your home and garden
Beautiful books to spark inspiration for your home and garden
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter
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Style Sanctuary
A historic church has been transformed into a multipurpose studio and shop
A historic church has been transformed into a multipurpose studio and shop
Brown Design Studio sensitively updated the 1926 Second Baptist Church building, the longtime base of the Black congregation founded in 1910.
Written by Jessica Ritz
Photographs by Sara Prince
“The partners—in business and in life—eventually realized the opportunity to add something more to the meaningful site”
While the Second Baptist Church that has stood on East Gutierrez Street since 1926 no longer functions as a house of worship, Ryan Brown and Diego Monchamp of the Brown Design Group are continuing its legacy in fresh ways. The historically protected building was originally home to the Black congregation that was established in Santa Barbara in 1910, then to Church of Skatan, the popular skate shop and locals-only spot. After years of physical decline, interior designers Brown and Monchamp, who work in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara and settled in Santa Barbara full time in 2020, are ushering the property into its next chapter with care. As of this spring, it’s the headquarters of their Brown Design Group, featuring a lifestyle boutique appropriately dubbed MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR.
“It was a great collaborative process to restore it,” Monchamp says of the 4,700-square-foot Gothic Revival building. He and Brown pored over the church’s archival materials and learned about its cultural and social significance from local historians. They repaired the stained glass windows using the original fabricator, designed new custom lighting pendants built by SH Studios, and increased the ceiling height with new trusses and skylights. “DMHA and Henry Lenny Design Studio were fundamental in helping us pull this off,” Monchamp says of their consulting architects.
Restored Gothic arched stained glass windows and new railings have renewed the historic site’s presence on East Gutierrez as Ministry of the Interior; the former sanctuary now houses the team’s working spaces and a welcoming retail experience; Brown’s and Monchamp’s respective studios are on the upper level; “My favorite aspect of our job is the final touches—the accessories, the art, the lighting,” Brown says of offering eclectic goods such as leather-wrapped crystals; partners Brown (left) and Monchamp; more curated finds.
“My favorite aspect of our job is the final touches,” Brown notes. “The accessories, the art, the lighting.” Ministry of the Interior was a way to respond to clients’ wishes to “shop from our shelves” for items like that and also fill a local retail niche.
The inventory features Brown’s finds from his recent travels to 15 countries. Books, small vintage goods, and furnishings from places such as Denmark and Argentina intermingle with ceramics by Chicago-based Julia Archer and braided leather-wrapped crystals crafted by Los Angeles artist Matthew Ready. A seating vignette with a residential feel is another delightful surprise. “My goal was to have it be approachable,” Brown says. Think of this store as a new type of welcoming sanctuary for design lovers. 26 E. Gutierrez St., Santa Barbara, 805-228-4113, interiorministry.com
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The Orchid Chief
Beauty and community meet at Westerlay Orchids
Beauty and community meet at Westerlay Orchids
“One of our core values is community,” Overgaag says. “We donate to just about everything local.”
Written by Jennifer Blaise Kramer
Photographs by Sara Prince
It seems there’s not a benefit, a gala, or an auction in Santa Barbara County that doesn’t have an orchid at its center. And the mastermind behind those appearances is Toine Overgaag, president of WESTERLAY ORCHIDS, who took over the family flower business from his parents and is upping not only its acreage and output but also its philanthropy, which has always been at its heart.
“One of our core values is community,” Overgaag says. “We donate to just about everything local,” which includes the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse’s Amethyst Ball, Dream Foundation’s Flower Empower, and the Santa Barbara Breast Cancer Center. One element of their commitment to the community is an annual fundraiser where every dollar from a week of retail sales directly supports the Carpinteria Education Foundation’s arts and STEM programs. “It’s hyperlocal—a dollar goes so much further at these schools,” he says.
Always looking to make an impact, Overgaag ensured that orchids were popping up everywhere during the pandemic, when supermarkets were scaling back or cutting floral offerings entirely. He launched the “100,000 Orchid Challenge,” in which his team donated flowers to hospitals across California, sending trucks filled with 8,000 orchids each for health care workers to take home. Another initiative led to deliveries for neighbors and friends, lifting spirits when people really needed that blooming surprise.
Varieties blooming in the greenhouse.
“There’s a relational aspect to orchids,” says Overgaag. “People feel responsible to take care of them and then share their story.” In fact, he’s heard so many moving orchid tales—about how a grieving person tended to a loved one’s plant or how an orchid led friends to reconnect—that he used it in the company tagline: Every Orchid Has a Story. “You realize you’re in the connection business, not the flower business,” he says. “It’s a privilege to step in and help locally.” 3504 Via Real, Carpinteria, 805-684-5400 ext. 120, westerlay.com
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Hollywood 101
Our world-renowned FILM FESTIVAL finds the sweet spot between Hollywood and international cinema
Our world-renowned FILM FESTIVAL finds the sweet spot between Hollywood and international cinema
Bradley Cooper
Written by Josef Woodard
The 39th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which wrapped on February 17 with the world premiere of Heather Graham’s good-natured rom-com Chosen Family, achieved its long-standing game plan of finding the sweet spot among Hollywood celebrities and Oscar-timed buzz, serious international cinema, feel-good diversions, documentaries, and other facets of film.
As a popular part of its densely packed 10-day (plus one opening night) festival, the celebrity-tribute component was well stocked with Oscar-nominated actors, starting with the prefestival Kirk Douglas award tribute to Ryan Gosling (aka “Ken”). Regrettably, Annette Benning—the only woman on the tribute schedule—had to cancel. But due kudos were given to other powerful actors—Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Paul Giamatti, and Jeffrey Wright (honored for his rare leading role in American Fiction). The Outstanding Directors night focused on Justine Triet (Anatomy of a Fall) and Martin Scorsese (Killers of the Flower Moon), who accepted his award by asserting that “the real gift was getting to make the movies.”
Three peripheral celebrities generated their own special buzz. Lily Gladstone, the first Native American nominated for an Oscar (for Killers) was greeted with a hero’s welcome; she commented, “A win by one of us is a win for all.” Billie Eilish showed up at the Arlington and helped sell out the normally more specialized Variety Artisans panel, noting that her Barbie theme song “picked me up like a little hook lifting me out of a dark place.” Musician John Batiste showed up for a soulful and heartfelt Q&A with festival head Roger Durling, following the poignant doc American Symphony.
In the all-important heart of the program—its 200-plus screening schedule, with an unusually broad geographical sweep—programming director Claudia Puig, in her third year here, summoned an impressive range of cinema. By festival’s end, the avid SBIFF-goers could find resonance in Durling’s opening night comment that “we come to the movies for the feeling of being alive.” sbiff.org
Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images (Brad Pitt; Finneas and Billie Eilish). Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images (Bradley Cooper; Jeffrey Wright; Paul Giamatti; Roger Durling, Justine Triet, and Martin Scorsese; Emma Stone; Mark Ruffalo; Greta Lee, Andrew Scott, Charles Melton, America Ferrera, Lily Gladstone, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph; Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., and Rob Lowe)
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Bicoastal Book Soirée
President and CEO of Paramount Pictures Brian Robbins and his wife, Tracy, hosted an intimate event at their home in Montecito last weekend to celebrate the release of Jeremiah Brent’s first book, The Space That Keeps You.
Designer Jeremiah Brent toasts his tasteful tome in Montecito
Brian Robbins, Jeremiah Brent, Tracy Robbins and Nate Berkus.
Photography by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures
President and CEO of Paramount Pictures Brian Robbins and his wife, Tracy, hosted an intimate event at their home in Montecito last weekend to celebrate the release of Jeremiah Brent’s first book, The Space That Keeps You. Brent is a celebrated AD 100 interior designer and a just-announced new cast member of Netflix’s critically acclaimed hit series Queer Eye. The book currently holds the #1 spot on Amazon’s Interior & Home Design list.
Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, Nate Berkus, Jordana Brewster and husband Mason Morfit, Fatima Robinson, fashion designer Anine Bing, and SB Film Festival’s Roger Durling were among guests who attended the event. Three of the stories featured in the book are in the Santa Barbara area so it was a very special place to host the launch of the book.
“Jeremiah has been our dear friend for over six years, and to host his party in a place that so deeply embodies the spirit of his book felt so meaningful. He has truly made our house into a home that reflects the essence of who we are, and we’re so grateful for the personal warmth he brings to every detail of every corner of our home. And then when you consider that three of the stories featured in the book take place in the Santa Barbara area, it was very special to bring everyone together here, and Brian and I were honored to host this event.”
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Beach Bungalow
Orlebar Brown brings year-round summer to our shores
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter
Photography by Meg Sandu
To celebrate the grand opening of the British menswear brand Orlebar Brown at Montecito Country Mart, Santa Barbara Magazine, editorial director Jennifer Smith co-hosted an evening cocktail along with the brand’s founder-designer, Adam Brown, who was fittingly decked out in an immaculate navy wool blazer that’s destined to sell out.
Guests enjoyed catering by Ramon Velazquez (who will be opening his second restaurant, Alma Fonda Fina, at the Mart) while they mingled in the stunning space with its off-white color scheme, a perfect canvas for the brand’s tempting wares. Conceived by chief marketing officer Trevor Hardy, the store’s interior evokes Caribbean oceanfront bungalows, with wide shutters integrated into the displays and an exposed truss ceiling with sheets of wavy metal recalling beach shack roofs. A shiny red-and-white canoe floats overhead, suspended among rows of lights that mimic sea waves.
The opening drew a handsome crowd who enjoyed perusing the racks of men’s swim and resort wear, including design duo Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent, Paramount CEO Brian Robbins and wife Tracy, as well as investment guru Mason Morfit and wife, Santa Barbara Magazine cover star actress Jordana Brewster. Also seen scanning the shelves were models Achok Majak and Vanessa Taylor Black, as well as Anne Towbes, Belle Hahn, Kate Kim Shah, Kyle Brace, and artist Cassandria Blackmore.
Owned by luxury powerhouse Chanel, Orlebar Brown has an international reach with stores in England, France, Greece, Turkey, and Australia. U.S. locations include New York, Palm Beach, and Beverly Hills. Renowned for its tailored swimwear, the brand is a celeb favorite; Daniel Craig donned a pair of sky blue Orlebar Brown Setter shorts in the James Bond flick Skyfall. 1016 Coast Village Rd., Montecito, 805-869-2039; orlebarbrown.com.
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Mattei’s Returns to Life
A 19th-century tavern is reborn as a luxurious eatery
Seasonal offerings from the property’s poolside, Mediteranean-inspired kitchen, The Shed.
A 19th-century tavern is reborn as a luxurious eatery
Written by Anna Ferguson-Sparks
The INN AT MATTEI’S TAVERN, AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION, is now open for dining and resort stays. The “new” Los Olivos hospitality mecca—reborn from the original Mattei’s Tavern, circa 1886—was reimagined by renowned design firm AvroKO. Original buildings now coexist with newly built structures that align with the landmark property’s heritage.
“The Tavern is the main culinary attraction, featuring refined California ranch cuisine.”
The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern includes 67 luxury guest rooms and cottages, a signature spa, and five dining venues. Named for original owner Felix Mattei, Felix Feed & Coffee kick-starts days, while evenings may be spent at The Bar, sipping history-inspired craft cocktails. Poolside, The Shed serves Mediterranean cuisine, and Gin’s Tap Bar pays tribute to a chef at the original Mattei’s with Asian-inspired smokehouse fare. The Tavern is the resort’s main culinary attraction, featuring refined California ranch cuisine.
Two tiers of limited private memberships are also available. The Trailblazers Membership grants access to the fitness and spa facilities, weekday use of the outdoor pool, restaurant perks, private-event discounts, and member events and programming, while The Founders Membership adds a complimentary resort stay, additional pool availability, wellness offerings, and other rewards. 2350 Railway Ave., Los Olivos, 844-837-2999, aubergeresorts.com/matteistavern
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Sweetly Blooming
The top of Rincon Mountain between Carpinteria and Ojai has its own microclimate, explains Mary Gonzalez, who runs SWEET MOUNTAINTOP FARM with her partner, Rob Peed.
Mary Gonzalez of Sweet Mountaintop Farm sources flowers from her approximately two-acre plot atop Rincon Mountain.
Go grow it on the mountain
Written by Joan Tapper | Photography by Sara Prince
The top of Rincon Mountain between Carpinteria and Ojai has its own microclimate, explains Mary Gonzalez, who runs SWEET MOUNTAINTOP FARM with her partner, Rob Peed. Their roughly two-acre plot has ocean breezes, hot summer sun, chilly winters, and rocky clay soil, and it’s perfect for growing flowers and herbs, from which they create teas and tinctures, an herbal skin-care line, decorative garlic braids, mixed bouquets, and colorful wreaths.
Gonzalez, a Carpinteria native, started farming vegetables and melons in 2017 on her father’s avocado ranch, but after the Thomas Fire she became interested in herbal medicine and shifted her crops. Peed, who’s from Orange County, had been producing mead and cider for another Santa Barbara company. He joined Gonzalez in 2019, bringing new products into the business, and now distills their plants for hydrosols and essential oils. The couple sell their wares at farmers’ markets and have a robust online presence. “I like that we have multiple uses for the flowers,” says Gonzalez, who hosts workshops throughout the year next to their flower field. Spring planting begins soon, and their one-year-old son helps keep things lively. “We live where we work. That’s a blessing and a curse,” says Gonzalez, laughing. sweetmountaintop.com
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Culinary Goods
Much like the town of Ojai, Jennie Prebor takes a slow-growth approach to her business.
Owner Jennie Prebor
Written by Jessica Ritz | Photography by Stephanie Helguera
Much like the town of Ojai, Jennie Prebor takes a slow-growth approach to her business. After operating blanchesylvia women’s clothing and accessories shop in the historic downtown arcade since 2016, she’s recently opened culinary store BLANCHESYLVIA KITCHEN in nearby Meiners Oaks. “It emerged in the same way,” she says. “It’s about just finding stuff that I love.” And just as she vouches for merchandise in the dress shop, “there’s nothing in here that I wouldn’t use in my kitchen,” Prebor adds. Named for one of her grandmothers, Blanche, and her mother, Sylvia, the new outpost is a longtime fulfillment of certain obsessions and touchstones, starting with Prebor’s family kitchen in Pennsylvania. In contrast, interior details like polished concrete floors and unvarnished wood shelving stem from a visit to minimalist movement pioneer Donald Judd’s famed pantry in Marfa, Texas, two decades ago. As for the eclectic collected wares in her shop, she hopes “people will want to buy these things as much as I love them,” whether it’s a vintage Greek olive oil jug, Oaxacan pottery, or even a jar of Grey Poupon mustard. Blanchesylvia Kitchen also stocks “local friends,” such as Bonito Coffee Roaster, Beato Chocolates, and Caroline’s Marmalades and Jams.
Here, the boundaries between home, life, and community overlap, as evidenced by the olive oil bottled from fruit in the grove owned by Prebor and her husband, architect Fred Fisher. “It’s very personal,” she says of the project. 443 W. El Roblar, Meiners Oaks, @blanchesylviaojai
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Stage Presence
For a century and a half, a wealth of talent has graced the stage of the Lobero Theatre, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this month.
Written by Joan Tapper
For a century and a half, a wealth of talent has graced the stage of the Lobero Theatre, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this month. Founded as an opera house in 1873 by Jose Lobero, the venue is the oldest continually operating theater in California and the fourth oldest in the country. The earliest years included appearances by the Tennessee Jubilee Singers; boxer John L. Sullivan, who tried a new career as an actor; and Susan B. Anthony.
In 1924 architect Lutah Maria Riggs, in partnership with George Washington Smith, redesigned the theater in the Spanish Colonial style that would come to epitomize Santa Barbara’s look after an earthquake the following year flattened much of downtown. The theater was undamaged, however, and in the following decades has welcomed classical musicians like Sergei Rachmaninoff and Yehudi Menuhin, actors like Humphrey Bogart and Lucille Ball, jazz greats like Charles Lloyd and Dizzy Gillespie, and folk/rock performers like Tom Waits, Neil Young, and the late David Crosby.
The Lobero interior has retained its graceful elegance with fluted columns that ring the auditorium, a circular chandelier, and an elaborate painted ceiling. And, of course, its support of the arts, which has only gotten stronger over 150 years.
Architect Lutah Maria Riggs put her stamp on the redesign of the Lobero Theatre in 1924, with a Spanish Colonial exterior and graceful interior details. This archival photo shows a couple of the surrounding columns, the painted ceiling modules, and the chandelier, along with stage decor.