A Greco Roman Ruin Brought to Life

In the shadow of the Mission's towers is the neighborhood of the upper east.  This area is full of distinctive craftsmans, elegant red tile roofs and turn of the century mansions.  There is one home that has stood out to me since I was a child as truly unique, and inspiring fantasy.

333 Junipero Plaza

Stone gate on Laguna St. entrance
Photo Courtesy Ed Hatt

Photo Courtesy Ed Hatt

Junipero Plaza.  This street alone is special.  One block between two Santa Barbara style sandstone and iron gates.  When I was young, I used to ask to drive down this street just because I loved driving through the gates and looking at the homes.  I would imagine what it would be like to live on this magical street.  One home in particular stuck in my mind.  At the time it was hidden behind a tall, thick hedge with only glimpses of the home peeking through.  I don't know whether it is just my memory or this is the way it really was.  I remember it seeming as though behind that hedge was a roman ruin, as if I was looking through time.  It seemed it was crumbling and falling apart and that is the way I liked it! I have looked for photos and information on the home during this time and have only found the blury one below, without the hedge, date unknown.  Note the enormous junipers flanking the stairs.  I realize now looking back, that this property, as well as the the shady corner of the sunken garden were pivotal experiences building my love affair with the magic fantasy of architecture and the beauty of my city of Santa Barbara.

Photo of property before rehab, courtesy of Maureen McDermutt

The home was designed in 1910 by Francis Townsend Underhill, known for designing the original building of what is now The Biltmore Hotel on Channel Drive in Montecito.  It was built by Underhills's mother in law, Francisca de la Guerra Diblee, in the Greco-Roman style.  Recently renovated in 2004 by Mary and Rowland Hanson for an estimated four million dollars, the property today looks absolutely imacculate.

Under construction, photo courtesy Ed Hatt

I have not yet had the good fortune to see any part of this property in person, except for the front exterior, but I am hopeful that someday...


Entry Courtyard

Pool

I love this home's austere simplicity.  I once read interior designer Jim Howard say that it takes a lot of careful, calculated planning and work to achieve simplicity and a sense of calm and balance within a design.  Now, he wasn't talking about this home of course, but Underhill, as well as the team responsible for the renovation have certianly achieved a calm elegance.

If I has the opportunity to decorate the interior spaces of this home, I would continue the calm elegance of  the exterior, while injecting some of the greco-roman relic fantasy.  My design would bring in influences from Villa Kerylos in France, a historically accurate re-creation of a home in ancient Greece, containing priceless pieces of art.  I would throw in a little Saladino Villa (see earlier post), and I can't help but take influence fron the antiquities room at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.  Think Greek and Roman statues, a shallow, square marble pool, with the quiet trickling of water.  The pallete would be warm whites, light concrete grays, washed out taupe, grayed down wood tones, quiet gold, lots of texture for warmth, and I would throw in just a touch of opalecence, which makes me think of the ancient greek and roman glass bottles I've seen, and Egyptian scarabs.  I would keep everything clean and simple, with a couple elegant french antiques and nothing too modern.  Add in a little steampunkian influence in the light fixtures, faucets or little details...  Does anyone think the owners will induldge me the opportunity??

The biggest suprise I found looking at pictures of the property, was this underground  wine cellar.  It was described as The Stonehouse at San Ysidro Ranch meets Pirates of the Carribean.  Yes!  I love this!  I can just imagine taking guests down here for a late night dinner party completely lit by a thousand candles.  I would keep it very simple and rustic.  A place like this doesn't need much, it is perfect already.
  


If I had known about this underground room when I was young, I'm sure I would have invisioned games of fantasy down in this secret cave.  This seems the perfect place to capture the imagination of a child, and stay in their memory even long after they are grown.  Just like my memories of the house!

SR


All photos from Paul Hurst at Prudential Real Estate unless otherwise noted.