Originally part of an estate, a Spanish colonial style art studio dating to the early 1900s illustrates how remodeling can preserve the soul and charm of a structure.

In this case, however, the path was not a direct one. At some point, the studio was transformed into a residence. A poorly designed addition added two bedrooms, two baths, a kitchen and dining room. What character the studio once had was eclipsed by the haphazard add-on. Deterioration and water damage also took their toll over the years.

Further, the home was remarkably modest for its location in the prestigious Hedgerow district of Montecito, Calif., with only two bedrooms and approximately 1,500 sq. ft. of total living space.

Montecito, located east of Santa Barbara, occupies the coastal plain south of the Santa Ynez Mountains and is home to more than a few celebrities. The area’s scenic beauty, seclusion and climate attracted the wealthy in the early 1900s, and it became an area of exclusive estates and second homes, a circumstance that no doubt explains the art studio.

The task of restoring and transforming the structure fell to Allen Associates, a remodeler and builder headquartered in Santa Barbara. Completing the team was Neumann Mendro Andrulaitis Architects, LLP, of Carpinteria.

Studio Restored and Preserved

“Upon careful review of potential design options with our client, it was decided to restore and preserve the original studio structure, remove the more recent building additions and create a new residence that built upon the wonderful charm of the studio, while at the same time creating a new modern home for a young family,” says Dave Mendro, AIA, LEED AP.

“Traditional forms and archetypes of the historical Spanish Colonial style were reinterpreted to create a sense of place meshed with the owner’s needs for contemporary living,” he adds.

The artist’s studio, with its high ceilings, a north-facing window that brings in indirect light and offers views of the garden and the Santa Ynez Mountains, wide plank hardwood floors and fireplace, is the centerpiece and inspiration for the new addition. The studio, converted to use as a living room when the home was first remodeled, also features an arched plaster ceiling.

In addition to bringing back the historical character of the home, the goals of the project were to expand and update the kitchen and dining areas and to add four new bedrooms, four new bathrooms and an office space.