Summerland
Ideas for reveling in the Southern California lifestyle abound in the boutiques here, plus the beach is just across the way
Written by Joan Tapper | Photography by Sara Prince | Illustrations by Digital Sunsets
Quiet Summerland has become design row pretty much all along Lillie Avenue, and now that spring is upon us, the focus has really turned to our indoor-outdoor lifestyle. An interesting fact to ponder: Almost all the boutiques here are owned or co-owned by women…just sayin’. The natural world sets the palette and the tone for Botanik, a longtime home-and-garden boutique in a cozy cottage. New to the shop are tightly woven African baskets with a free-flowing edge as well as multicolored cotton throws from Ethiopia. Always a hit—signature succulent gardens in decorative pots. Looking forward to working outdoors? Field + Fort has fun items like Madison James “Get Muddy” garden aprons and Banshu Hamono pruning shears, and is now carrying Pennoyer Newman garden décor. To augment its room-by-room showcase of furniture, art, and accessories, the shop has expanded next door. Don’t miss the new items at its popular café. Garde, like its sister shop in L.A., has evolved from gifts to furnishings by established and up-and-coming designers. Unusual one-of-a-kind ceramics by Julie Nelson and Bronwen Grieves, among others, always catch the eye here, while the Summerland venue also carves out its own personality with lighting by Apparatus and furniture by Piet Boon.
Hacienda by Bonita Lifestyle is a new iteration in a new location of a Summerland mainstay. Paintings by Whitney Castro are on the walls, while the overall vibe is Mexican with wares that now include furnishings and snacks, including grazing boxes for spontaneous picnics. Among the apparel finds: gauzy cotton shirts, pants, and caftans worthy of a summer breeze. Bring the outdoors in, proclaims Porch, which now boasts a venue with a veranda worthy of its name. They’ve added ethereal landscapes by SB artist Colette Cosentino and large-scale photography by Will Pierce to the home décor—from faux bois iron mirrors to the favorite faux sheepskin swivel chairs and stylish outdoor rugs. At The Sacred Space, the go-to venue for books, crystals, incense, ritual items, and garden statuary, Jack and Rose Herschorn have gathered everything you need for your spiritual journey. Among their unusual “treasures from heaven available on earth” are a 4.5-billion-year-old meteor, desert glass from Libya, and moldavite from Europe that goes back 18 million years! For 30 years the individual dealers who have a spot in the Summerland Antique Collective have offered everything from home and garden furniture to architectural elements, china, glassware, books, and jewelry. There are rooms full of treasures here. Be prepared to stay awhile. The Well has perfected the stylish blend of rustic and vintage in developing its unique collections of home and garden pieces from Europe, Asia, and North America. Proprietor Shane Brown is readying everything for spring—from fire pits and outdoor fountains and greenhouses to 9- and 12-foot tables with umbrellas for warm-weather alfresco dinners.
