Make Myself at Home: A Mountaintop Mesa Mediterranean

Address: 1211 Harbor Hills Drive

Status: On the market

Price: $3,500,000

I’m a beach walker. My dog, Scout, is the lucky recipient of, and my primary excuse for, a couple of long walks on the beach just about every day. Hendry’s and the harbor are my usual haunts, but I’ll drive to Haskell’s or Hammonds if I have the time. My friends joke that they don’t need to move from their couches — they can enjoy Santa Barbara sunsets and scenery just by following my Instagram feed.

My first thought when I pulled up to 1211 Harbor Hills Drive and saw the view was, “Wow. If I lived here, I wouldn’t ever need to leave home again.” This beautiful Mediterranean home is located at the end of a cul-de-sac on the side of a hill at the top of the Mesa. As I parked my car, I enjoyed a sneak preview of the view before I even went into the house.

Once through the front door, I realized that the street view paled in comparison to what awaited me from within. My attention was drawn straight through the living room to the panoramic view of the islands, the channel, and a huge expanse of coastline encompassing all of Santa Barbara and beyond in both directions. Not quite 360 degrees but well over 180, it’s simply breathtaking. I think my jaw literally dropped. The house is perfectly perched on its lot, with nothing obstructing the awesome vista, which promises sunrises, sunsets, and everything in between.

I walked out the French doors from the living room to the balcony and found myself standing on what I knew would be my favorite part of the house: a romantic curving stairway that leads from the upstairs patio down to the pool, with the view as the backdrop every step of the way.

I could have remained outside the entire day, but it was the house itself that I had come to see. Back inside, I toured through the lower level first. It holds three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a family room. I thought I was walking through the master bedroom suite when I saw the beautiful tub in one of the bathrooms downstairs, but the actual master-bedroom suite upstairs made me realize my error when I saw its bathroom with a huge sunken marble tub and dual-head shower. The gorgeous master bedroom has plantation-shuttered windows along one entire wall to take full advantage of the spectacular view and a walk-in closet bigger than many bedrooms, artfully disguised behind a mirrored doorway. If one has to leave the house, this closet would make prep time enjoyable, too.

Continuing through the upper level, a gleaming kitchen leads to an equally enchanting dining room, and I believe there are two fireplaces. I have to admit, however, that I didn’t pay as much attention to the details of the house as I should have. It’s beautiful; I simply kept getting sucked out to that view. The living room has vaulted ceilings and two balconies, which both overlook the pool, distracting me once again.

There are trellised patios that feel like sitting rooms off of both the upper and lower levels, focusing on the freshwater pool and spa, complete with a cabana and an outdoor fireplace. It looks and feels like a luxury resort. Coffee in the morning as you watch the dolphins or wine in the evening as the sun goes down would be daily delights from this private mountaintop perch.

I had to tear myself away from this home and its view because it was time to take Scout for a walk. Luckily for Scout, I’m not in the market right now, so we’ll keep enjoying the beach up close and personal, which already feels like a dream every day. But if I woke up to this view laid out before me in a picture-perfect expanse, I certainly wouldn’t complain.

1211 Harbor Hills Drive is currently for sale in Santa Barbara, listed by Kellie Roche and Randy Freed of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. Reach Kellie at 705-5334 or Randy at 895-1799.