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March 31st, 2021 at 11:00 am

Designed by famed California architect Wallace Neff

History and charm abound at this stunning Spanish-style oasis in Montecito’s Hedgerow neighborhood. Well-known as the Dr. John Willis Baer House, it was designed in the 1920s by Wallace Neff, one of California’s most celebrated architects and featured in a 1926 issue of Architectural Digest.

Gated, private, and convenient to the upper lower Montecito villages, the house is a historical hidden gem. Gloria Easter with The Easter Team in our Santa Barbara office is listing agent for the four-bedroom, four-bathroom, 3,684-square-foot residence, priced at $3,795,000.

Magical from the start

The history and design of this Spanish Colonial Revival home have shaped the bones. The magic that is felt when you stand inside the cathedral ceilings in the living room, surrounded by beautiful tilework, a quaint orchestra balcony, and unique character throughout.

The main level features a grand living room with fireplace, formal dining room, office with a bathroom, and cozy sitting room with views and French doors to the back patio. The kitchen has been updated with beautiful appliances, while maintaining its old-world feel. Upstairs are three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and three balconies overlooking the intricate, vast gardens.

A garden of groves and fountains

A gardener’s dream, the large varietal fruit-tree grove includes persimmons, peaches, apricots, guavas, and multiple plums. The gardens feature multiple fountains, including the largest with 11 waterspouts, a filtration system, and koi pond potential.  Custom-built growing frames can accommodate plants and trees alike. Eighteen lamps light up the .56-acre parcel at night.

About architect Wallace Neff

Southern California-based Neff (1895-1982) was largely responsible for developing the region’s distinct architectural style referred to as “California style.” He drew heavily from the architectural styles of both Spain and the Mediterranean as a whole, gaining extensive recognition from the number of celebrity commissions, notably Pickfair, the mansion belonging originally to Hollywood actors Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. In 2001, actors Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston supposedly paid $13.5 million for a Neff house owned at different times by actor Fredric March and philanthropist and USC trustee Wallis Annenberg. In 1998, actor Diane Keaton, an avid fan of Neff’s work, purchased a low-slung Neff house in Beverly Hills – featured in Architectural Digest in July 1999 – with the front lawn covered in lavender, for $7.5 million. This home was later purchased by Madonna and Guy Ritchie. In 1990, comedian Bob Newhart purchased a Neff house in Bel Air for $4.2 million, subsequently selling it to developer Robert Quigg in 2016 for $14.5 million.

About The Easter Team

Achieving true success can only come from years of client dedication and market knowledge. Backed by over 35 years of real estate experience, The Easter Team offers unmatched service and expertise. With many homes and properties sold, they are recognized as industry experts and continue to receive the Chairman’s Circle Diamond award for placing among the top one-half of 1 percent of agents in the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices global network.

The Easter Team holds the Accredited Buyer Representation designation, as well as Luxury Marketing Specialists, Senior Housing Specialists, and E-Pro designations. Their levels of expertise include trust sales, representing various banks, attorneys, employees of local tech companies, and business managers.

The Easter Team knows the local market. They know the schools, stores, entertainment venues and restaurants. The Easter Team’s expansive sales knowledge and years of expertise in negotiating helps their clients have the best of Santa Barbara, Montecito, Goleta, Summerland, Carpinteria, Santa Ynez and Ventura real estate.

To learn more about this magical property at 1424 La Vereda Lane, get in touch with The Easter Team today.

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