About 15 decades back, using their two boys starting to outgrow their house, Marilyn and Steven Gutsche ventured out to search for a larger place. When they saw a beautiful Don Nolte ranch in the sunny hills of Santa Barbara, California, it was clear that they had discovered their new house. They promptly repainted the exterior and inside from stark, contemporary white to considerably calmer, soothing tones and transformed the home into a Mediterranean-Italian ranch.
The inside colour palette and decorations had been closely chosen to accommodate Steven’s big assortment of antique Persian carpets. Carpets are draped on the ground in nearly every area and even on the wall in the first vaulted Palladian entranceway, among the few areas of the home kept in its original condition.
in a Glance
Who lives here: Marilyn and Steven Gutsche and their two sons
Location: Santa Barbara, California
Size: 6,500 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths
That is interesting: The few have hosted a number of weddings.
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A gorgeous colonnade connects the classic-style living area to a gazebo surrounded by a colorful array of fruit trees.
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Marilyn was motivated by the orange trees from the backyard to bring the gazebo.
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The Gutsches desired more space for those boys and their friends. They expanded the kitchen, attached a family room complete with big TV and pool table, and also added a pool home from the back. Santa Barbara architect Ketzel and Goodman designed all the new spaces.
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The pool home, here and next photo, is reminiscent of a Greek beach cabin, with soothing blues and whites, straw shades and a lot of natural light coming through big windows along one side. It’s the ideal spot for children and guests to relax or get a little noisy without bothering anyone in the main property.
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Steven’s study is a tribute to the Napoleonic age. The space includes original busts, a first French cavalry saber collection along with a museum replica of a famous painting of the man himself.
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This bookshelf from the library houses first leather-bound history novels from the Napoleonic era in addition to art pieces commemorating Napoleon.
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The family room layout is based in part on the Four Seasons Biltmore, with as many big windows as you can.
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Apollo, the Gutsches’ Lutino cockatiel, lives in a gorgeous Indonesian antique wooden birdcage found in an antiques shop. With all the big windows, it may be harmful for Apollo to be flying around the home, but he’s still a happy clip-winged member of the household, often hitching a ride across the ranch around the shoulders of Steven or Marilyn.
Among the owners’ preferred areas for antiques shopping nowadays is nearby Summerland, a small beach town just 1 mile long containing no fewer than many antiques shops.
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As Marilyn tells it, she had been “bitten by the chicken germ” only a couple of short years back. She has her very own coop, “Chez Poulet.” The theme of birds and chickens runs through much of the home, especially the kitchen.
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French limestone floor tiles extend across the remodeled kitchen and family room. The tiles were imported directly from France by ship, requiring months to get there. The wait was worthwhile, though, since the high quality flooring show very little wear after many decades.
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“Once you begin a chicken coop, everyone buys you poultry gifts,” Marilyn says, explaining her stovetop accessories.
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This dark wood kitchen island cabinetry by William Oh was installed years ago, before it had been in fashion. The windows show real beans held in the front of each drawer.
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A close-up of this kitchen.
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A crystal chandelier imported from Italy hangs from the classic-style dining area. It reflects direct sunlight over the smooth surfaces and mirrors which cover the space.
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These finches were purchased to match the lamp from Maison K in Montecito.
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This brass music rack is a gorgeous original piece found at one of Santa Barbara’s many antique stores. It serves function and form standing beside a rosewood piano. The living room’s large windows allow sunlight to pervade the room and bounce into each nook and cranny.
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This rosewood grand piano, Marilyn’s pride and pleasure, is still in perfect shape after 32 decades.
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An Aphrodite torso in the entranceway is a first-century Roman bit that introduces the Italian-style design and architecture seen throughout the home.
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The Gutsche house at night.
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