Imagine a place where old-world charm meets modern luxury. While escaping down a rabbit hole admiring luxury listings in warmer places, I came across a gem. It’s a majestic Mediterranean-inspired compound that's more than just a residence; it's a personal private resort. Picture this: an 8,100 square feet regal villa, a charming two-bedroom guesthouse, a pool with its own house, and a lush landscape that transports you to a timeless paradise.

Santa Barbara’s exclusive community of Hope Ranch is no stranger to impressive estates on peaceful tree-lined lanes with breathtaking vistas. Enveloping it all is a veritable forest of flourishing flora—including a towering decades-old lilac that furthers the sense that, much like its Old World predecessors, this retreat has been in this place for generations.

In fact, the residence dates to the early days of the 21st century and was painstakingly rejuvenated by a cadre of superior architects, builders, and designers in 2015. Historic European architectural influences are on bold display here, recalling getaways in the Spanish countryside or other sun-soaked coastal locales abroad: earthy barrel roof tiles, stucco walls, graceful arches, iron-railed balconies, and colorful ceramic tile accents. The interiors feature vaulted beamed ceilings, outsize stone fireplaces, towering windows, classical hardwood and terra-cotta-tile floors, and wrought-iron fixtures, railings, and fittings. Nevertheless, the spaces remain inviting and enjoyable, from the august ocean-view living room and a formal dining room served by two kitchens to the easygoing family room. Atop a supple spiral staircase, the owner’s oasis—a bedroom and a sitting room—gazes out over the pool, terra-cotta rooftops, and the leafy treeline toward islands and the ocean through two sets of sliding glass doors leading to a lengthy balcony. The indulgent owner’s bath includes a steam shower, a soaking tub, and two boutique-rivaling walk-in closets. Serenely secluded, the three-bedroom guest wing is accompanied by its own delightful living area.

As a matter of course, Mediterranean-style retreats—regardless of which side of the ocean they’re planted on—assign a significant role to alfresco spaces. That custom certainly holds true in Southern California, outdoor living is a year-round pursuit. On these lush acres, scores of vibrant plantings surround patios, a series of cascading terraces, an outdoor kitchen, a refreshing pool, and a secluded spa, greatly augmenting the square footage dedicated to open-air gathering and relaxing. The property, naturally, enjoys the peace of mind of gated security. And with its extensive collection of amusements and diversions—a well-equipped fitness center, a pool house ideal for hosting alfresco festivities, a tennis court, garden beds and a chicken coop to please the green thumbs and urban homesteaders, and a treehouse appealing to the young and young at heart—the estate feels utterly timeless and destined to be a private personal paradise for generations to come.

And there you have it, a glimpse into a property that's not just a house, but a haven. If you're as enchanted as I am, there's a world of luxury waiting for you at Sotheby's International Realty. Here's to finding the home that speaks to your soul!!

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