ELEGANCE & ELEMENTS

THE TIDE OF STYLE IS HIGH AT A MOUNTAINTOP CALIFORNIA HOME THAT RELIES ON NATURE TO SET ITS DECORATIVE TONE

- LISA ROMEREIN

Few California coastal communities share the charm of Montecito, the luxurious enclave near Santa Barbara that lures assorted residents, including second-home dwellers and celebrities looking to escape the frenzy and flash of their work in Los Angeles.

With panoramic vistas from the lush mountaintops, it's every design team's challenge to create a residential oasis that delivers a statement while allowing the landscape to dominate.

Designer Jodi Fleming mastered the assignment for one Midwest couple whose Montecito luxury retreat underwent a full-scale remodel that spanned more than two years. The project needed to honor traditional design but enhance the veneer of the California lifestyle that celebrates nature and the casual ease that comes with it.

"I knew that we would take advantage of the land, views, and light," Fleming says. "We based our design inspiration on the opulence of Italian villas with a farmhouse feel." Fleming rooted the interiors in traditional design aesthetics but knew it was important-to her and the homeownersthat the look be interpreted through a contemporary lens, appealing to the family's diverse tastes. "For us, timelessness is immune to trends and is classic at its core," Fleming says.

Entry A parade of iron lanterns dangles from the groin-vault ceiling that references the arched architecture of the windows. A 19th-century French monastery trestle table with a rough, rustic finish flaunts how Fleming embraced antiques to add texture. A modern pedestal provides dimension and sculpture. Family room An iron bowl and a pair of old bottles displayed on a coffee table showcase craftsmanship.

Flooding the home with natural light was key to establishing a modern-day sensibility. Interior walls were removed to open rooms. Airy monotone neutrals lean into the breezy ambience of the nearby ocean and replace the original dark coloration.