Santa Barbara Living |  | Authors: Diane Dorrans Saeks, The Editors of Santa Barbara Magazine
Creators: Lisa Romerein, Jennifer Smith Hale
Publisher: Rizzoli
Category: Book
List Price: $55.00
Buy New: $31.89
as of 9/10/2010 15:39 CDT details
You Save: $23.11 (42%)
New (22) Used (11) from $29.99
Seller: thebookguyz
Rating:  10 reviews
Sales Rank: 90,267
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 224
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.5
Dimensions (in): 11.8 x 9.4 x 1
ISBN: 0847831558
Dewey Decimal Number: 747.0979491
EAN: 9780847831555
ASIN: 0847831558
Publication Date: November 4, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product 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.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 10
 CALIFORNIA DREAMIN November 26, 2008
Shannon Deason (Houston)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
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.
A beautiful glimpse into America's Riviera December 8, 2008
B. Dittmar (San Francisco, CA USA)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
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.
Viva Santa Barbara! January 6, 2009
Lisa Boquiren
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Best-selling author Diane Saeks has once again successfully added to her ever-expanding list of titles. Santa Barbara Living captures the allure of lives well lived. Those familiar with the area will rekindle their romance with it, while those who are not will fall in love.
As always, Ms. Saeks approaches her subject with a balance of curiosity and a curatorial approach. A design maven, her desire to tell stories about design, designers, architects and other creative types always comes through, and her delight in them is contagious. She manages to take her readers fully into the privileged world that is California's "South Coast". Ms. Saeks' ability to engage readers in design by telling a timeless story with a fresh point of view makes Santa Barbara Living a coffee table book for today, at once pretty and purposeful.
Santa Barbara Living -Bravo! December 8, 2008
Gwendolyn Books (atherton ca)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
A fabulous architectural book for many reasons! Santa Barbara Living beautifully combines stunning photographs of historic homes in the Santa Barbara area, and Diane Dorrans Saeks presents a well researched history on each home. For years, I've driven past many of these obscure homes and always wondered what treasures lay hidden behind those ornamental gates. Santa Barbara Living provides a rare view of these gems;beautiful glossy photos of the enchanting gardens, the stunning interiors and intriguing stories about the history, the builders, the architects, the landscape designers and the owners. This is more than a coffee table picture book of gorgeous homes, it provides layers of interesting information on these chic and classic homes. I love Santa Barbara Living and have shared it with all my friends! I would award this beautiful book 10 stars, bravo, a work of art!
Santa Barbara Living is perfection! December 8, 2008
Grant K. Gibson
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
I have to say that this book is perfect and I bought two copies! One is for my father for his Xmas gift!
The houses of Michael Smith and Salidino are perfection...I just wanted to move right in.
I own all of Diane's books and this is a great addition to my interior design library. I know that they make great gifts and that the writing and pictures are going to be wonderful.
Make this your choice for Christmas gifts this year!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 10
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