Villa Serena

Set well back from East Valley Road behind stone pillars and an allée of olive trees, Villa Serena was built by a Montecito family who spent four years sourcing limestone, reclaimed beams and hand-glazed tile from Italy and southern France. The main residence opens to a loggia that runs the full length of the house, framing views over the oaks to the Pacific and Santa Cruz Island.

Inside, the great room carries a 22-foot coffered ceiling and a fireplace carved from a single block of Vicenza stone. The kitchen pairs a La Cornue range with a scullery and walk-in wine room for 1,400 bottles. The primary suite takes the entire east wing, with a sitting room, two dressing rooms and a terrace that catches first light over the mountains.

The grounds were designed by a Santa Barbara landscape architect around water-wise planting: a 60-foot pool and spa, a lighted sport court, a 90-vine Pinot Noir terrace, citrus orchard and a two-bedroom guest house with its own garden. Solar with battery storage and a private well keep operating costs sensible for an estate of this scale.