Make Myself at Home: Retro Riviera Townhome
A look inside 400 E. Pedregosa St., Unit K, a Condo that Lives like a Home
Address: 400 East Pedregosa Street, Unit K
Status: On the market
Price: $1,215,000
At the corner of Prospect Avenue and Pedregosa Street lies a hidden home with a retro feel and a Palm Springs vibe. Secluded from the street and suspended in time, it is part of a 14-unit community of townhomes on a five-acre city block that is probably one of the best-kept secrets in Santa Barbara. Built in 1961, this set of homes is known for being unknown. Even real estate agents who have been in town for years aren’t aware of this unassuming enclave.
Unit K is the residence available for sale, although it feels wrong to label this spacious two-story, three-bedroom home a “unit.” With more than 2,200 square feet of living space and tons of storage inside, plus an oversized garage, this is no condo. It looks and lives like a single-family home.
Starting at the top, the crowning glory of this house is the huge sundeck off the master bedroom. The deck is elevated enough to offer an impressive ocean view and expansive enough to envision a variety of uses for the lofty space. An outdoor playroom for the kids? Rooftop vegetable garden? Telescope setup for stargazing? Alfresco art studio? The space is partly covered and partly open, so the options are limited only by one’s imagination.
Back inside the house, there are two large bedrooms upstairs, each with its own bath, and another big bedroom and bath downstairs. A spacious living room leads into a full dining room and extends into a nice-sized remodeled kitchen. Parts of the house emanate its 1961 pedigree, and other aspects of the décor reflect the feel of the remodeling that has occurred throughout its history. Located within earshot of the Santa Barbara Mission, the house is a blend of styles with touches of The Brady Bunch but plenty of American Riviera, too.
The Palm Springs resort feel is due at least in part to the home’s plentiful outdoor spaces. In addition to the divine deck upstairs, there are two separate patios downstairs, as well. One is off the kitchen, perfect for outdoor dining, and there’s another tiled patio in the front of the house, offering a shady spot to read a book or entertain a friend. Inside, floor-to-ceiling windows and huge sliding glass doors line the living and dining rooms, bringing the outside in to the entire first floor.
As I walked outside, the neighborhood felt so serene that I didn’t want to disturb any of the residents by nosing around the common areas. But a quick visit to the sparkling pool and sprawling deck, adjacent to the community clubhouse, completed my impression of a relaxing vacation retreat. Walking distance to everything yet secluded enough to command private ocean views high above downtown, I found myself hoping that the next owner of this home will allow it to keep its retro character while making it their own special secret hideaway.
400 East Pedregosa, Unit K, is currently for sale in Santa Barbara, listed by Marty Rodgers of Village Properties. Reach Marty at (805) 886-1459.
