| | |  | Design Books | Home » » Santa Barbara Living | | | | | | | Description: | | One of the most beautiful regions of the California coast, Santa Barbara also has one of America’s most affluent and stylish demographics. Possessing the most summery, mild, seductive climate in the country, Santa Barbara has been an elegant and chic style destination since the turn of the last century, when wealthy East Coast families wintered there. Soon after, villas and estates were being built, designed by the finest architects and landscape designers. In recent years the Santa Barbara region continues to be an outpost of style and culture—now with many leading Hollywood producers, directors, and stars acquiring the historic estates for their weekend escapes. Today, cultured and stylish couples are living in Santa Barbara continuing the traditions of beautifully appointed mansions (many of them in the Spanish style first brought to California in the 1850s). The first book to take readers inside the mansions and estates of Santa Barbara today, Santa Barbara Living will feature the houses and gardens that make Santa Barbara a rarified version of the American Dream. This book will show how that dream is lived. | | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| Diane Dorrans Saeks | | Hardcover:
| 224 pages | | Publisher:
| Rizzoli | | Publication Date:
| November 04, 2008 | | Language:
| English | | ISBN:
| 0847831558 | | Product Length:
| 9.55 inches | | Product Width:
| 1.0 inches | | Product Height:
| 11.8 inches | | Product Weight:
| 3.48 pounds | | Package Length:
| 11.8 inches | | Package Width:
| 9.4 inches | | Package Height:
| 1.0 inches | | Package Weight:
| 3.45 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 11 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 11 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 27 found the following review helpful:
 waste of moneyDec 07, 2008
By van der Hof
What a waste of time and money ! There are so many exellent houses in Santa Barbara but you won't find them in this book ! OK architecture and landscape but truly mediocre interiors: a truimph of money and social connections over taste and style. Except for John Saladino, where did they find so many expensive but barely competent interior designers ? Saeks keeps pushing Michael Smith but his work is tedious. Most of the interiors have not made it to mainstream publications and there is an obvious reason. The great book on interiors of Santa Barbara is still waiting to be written.
9 of 11 found the following review helpful:
 CALIFORNIA DREAMINNov 26, 2008
By Shannon Deason
Even with the devasting fires that recently ravaged this region, this area is without a doubt the most beautiful in America, and this book shows it at its very best. Santa Barbara is blessed with the perfect semi arid climate of the French Riviera and wealthy Americans for more than a century have made it a haute playground. This book lets you inside this rarified world and lets you appreciate the beautiful architecture and decor of these fabulous homes. I appreciate that most of the mansions are in a style fitting of the climate, most are of the Mediteranian venacular, mostly Spanish and Italian influenced; this sort of completes the fantasy that you are within driving distance of Monte Carlo or Cape Antibes. Southern California, in particular, Southern California culture is special, and it's nice to see it so well presented. If you have any interest in Santa Barbara or just appreciate fine books with vivid images and informed text, then I really can't imagine you being disappointed.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 How the other half lives in Santa BarbaraMar 18, 2009
By Clark Schnell
"The Den"
Great pictures and insight into the owners of the properties, reasons for their individual choices in architecture and design. More than just a "Spanish style" architecture book. Has no idea that such properties existed in California.
5 of 7 found the following review helpful:
A beautiful glimpse into America's RivieraDec 08, 2008
By B. Dittmar
Have you ever driven down the winding, tree-lined roads in the hills of Santa Barbara and Montecito and wished you could see behind all of the well-manicured hedges and impressive entry gates? Now you can -- on the pages of Santa Barbara Living. This elegantly designed book, expertly written by Diane Dorrans Saeks, takes you on a magical tour of some of California's most beautiful estates. Lush gardens and impressive exterior architecture lead one inside to experience the understated elegance that characterizes California style. Subtle yet well-planned design nuances abound in each and every stunning photograph -- a visual treat awaits each turn of the page! Ms. Saeks has brilliantly captured the highly-desirable lifestyle from this region of California plus provided a rich history of each home profiled. A fantasy world few have seen is brought to life in Santa Barbara Living! I highly recommend this book -- it will not disappoint.
 A little disappointedMar 01, 2012
By Cat in Texas
I love Spanish revival architecture and was hoping this book would be filled with it along with beautiful California gardens. But it wasn't. The photos in the book were ok--just ok. "Casa California", another Rizzoli publication that I purchased from Amazon, is much better. If you're looking for gorgeous photos of California homes, "Casa California" is what you need.
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