2925 Sycamore Canyon Rd, Montecito, CA 93108

Timeless Elegance Meets Modern Luxury: George Washington Smith's Masterpiece in Montecito

One of the revered world-class Montecito estates, "Los Sueños", with its grand Spanish Colonial Revival home by renowned architect George Washington Smith, encompasses approximately 3.36 stunningly landscaped acres brimming with amenities. Accessed through a regally gated entrance, the lengthy, tree-lined driveway leads to a spacious motor court surrounding a classic three-tier fountain. From here, it is already obvious this historic estate is among California's finest.

THE FINEST MATERIALS & MASTER CRFAFTSMANSHIP

The home’s welcoming foyer opens to a striking long gallery, with one wall a triptych of French doors complemented by sidelights and fanlights that, in communion with the spectacular rib vaulted ceiling, present the space bathed in natural light. The doors open to the sparkling pool and its expansive brick terrace surrounded by lush landscaping.

Throughout the main residence there are beautiful marble and highly polished hardwood floors, custom chandeliers and sconces, designer fixtures, and seemingly endless additional features, expertly melding Old World charm with New World comforts. Fabulous views of the majestic grounds can be observed from numerous balconies and other vantage points.

The property enjoys outstanding landscaping: a fitting complement to the dazzling pool, tennis court, rose gardens, orchard, and covered parking for four vehicles.

Overall, this gracious estate is a showcase of sophistication and refinement; quite cloistered, yet convenient to all the shopping, services, schools, and recreational opportunities Montecito has to offer.

COMMON AREAS

Off the home’s inviting foyer, a handsome wood-paneled study awaits, as does the gorgeous formal dining room: a special place for comfortably accommodating sizeable dinner parties or intimate repasts, it has dramatic stone in its Nero Marquina black marble fireplace mantlepiece, and equally impressive traditional checkerboard marble floor. A multipaned window as well as two sets of French doors immerse the room in natural light and offer delightful views of the grounds.

From the dining room, a full-service butler’s pantry connects to the large, stylish kitchen, designed to please the most discerning private or catering chef. Together, the pantry and kitchen provide a significant amount of custom cabinetry. This spacious culinary center is an excellent example of modern conveniences such as high-end stainless appliances and a multipurpose center island integrated with practicality and period ambiance.

From the long gallery, the living room is warm, welcoming, and steeped in the charm of a rich wood floor and paneling, a lovely fireplace, and a pair of exquisite chandeliers. Three sets of French doors crowned with transoms open to a balcony overlooking an expanse of emerald lawn, embraced by stately trees, and bisected by a walking path to a fountain and koi pond.

BEDROOM SUITES

Seven bedroom suites stand ready to accommodate owners and their guests. Each guest suite within the residence offers its own set of amenities: for example, a sitting room, an office/study, French doors to the gardens, or exclusive access from the kitchen.

The primary suite, tucked away at the end of the long gallery, is an embracing sanctuary rivalling accommodations at the world's most exceptional hotels and resorts. It hosts a fireplace, comfortable sitting alcove, French doors to balconies overlooking the gardens, and dual luxurious baths and walk-in closets.

GUEST HOUSE

The “Tower Guest House” is likely unique among Montecito estates, and, perhaps, in all of California. It is a lofty four-story aerie, with each level reached via a spiral staircase. One enters into a sitting room, then ascends to the kitchen and bath on the way to the topmost level: a cozy bedroom offering a breathtaking view over the surrounding treetops.

THE GROUNDS

The grounds at “Los Sueños” are superbly integrated, meticulously maintained, and timeless in design. As viewed from the several balconies, bricked terrace and walkways of the primary residence, the estate embraces a glistening pool; a tennis court; formal and casual gardens; rose gardens; an orchard; myriad flora, hedges and mature trees; and covered parking for four vehicles, with room for many more in the spacious motor court.

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Client Reviews

“It was an emotional experience selling our mother’s home in Montecito that we all loved so much but Cristal made the process easier on our whole family by guiding us through the transaction every step of the way. She knows the market so well and everything she recommended was on point including the asking price, painting, and staging the home, which looked beautiful and helped the buyer envision her new home. We sold it the first day it hit the market with an offer above asking! Cristal did an incredible job communicating with us and the buyer to ensure that the transaction would run smoothly. We highly recommend using Cristal, she was a pleasure to work with! ”

- J & A

“Cristal is a pleasure to work with! Her knowledge of the local real estate market coupled with her amazing listening skills resulted in her showing us an array of homes that were all excellent choices. Her low-pressure patient attitude made us feel extremely comfortable with the whole process. I cannot recommend her highly enough.”

- M.F.

“Cristal Clarke is #1 in her field - and you don't become #1 by luck. Cristal works harder, and longer, and with more charm and patience than any real estate agent I have ever worked with in the past; her calendar has no weekend, her days have no clocks, her only concern is selling your property as soon as possible and for the best price on the market. Am I a fan? You bet!”

- P.B.

“We have used Cristal now several times and cannot express how grateful we are for her expertise, dedication, and unwavering support throughout the entire home-buying process. Cristal is knowledgeable, patient and attentive. Her attention to detail is remarkable, and she consistently went above and beyond to provide us with all the information and resources we needed to make informed decisions. Cristal is a skillful negotiator and advocate. She can navigate complex negotiations with professionalism and grace and felt like a true partner to us in the home-buying process. Cristal has a genuine passion for real estate and a deep commitment to her clients' satisfaction. I cannot speak highly enough of Cristal and her exceptional service. She is a true expert in her field and her dedication to excellence, combined with unwavering support is the reason we choose to work with her for all our real estate buying needs.”

- T.C.

“Cristal is a top-notch realtor who sold my home before it ever went on the market. I had two competing offers that enabled me to get top dollar for my home. Not only is Cristal superb but her team is extraordinary. I cannot say enough about Cristal and her team. They are simply phenomenal, the consummate professionals, who took care of every possible detail, making the sale and transition period, smooth from our end. They are also lovely, caring people, who knew all the right professionals, to get the job done. Thank you, everyone!”

- D.R.

“I could list lots of cool adjectives to describe Cristal. All good by the way. But, that is not why I or anyone should hire Cristal. My reason for hiring her, which proved to be correct, is very simple. She got the job done. And, she does it time and time again and with zero issues. And, that is why she is one of the top agents in the country. End of subject. ”

- M.A.

“Working with Cristal was a complete pleasure. Cristal was extremely patient with us as we evaluated nearly 2 dozen homes over a span of 2 years. Her knowledge of the market is unmatched. Cristal provided us with exceptional counsel as we evaluated opportunities and negotiated pricing. The closing process was handled thoroughly and efficiently. We could not be happier with our purchase and even more happy to now call Cristal our friend.”

- D.K.

“Cristal Clarke has conducted numerous real estate transactions for me beginning 13 years ago with the purchase of a Lemon Ranch. She has handled both large and small purchases and sales with equal dedication. As a negotiator, you can’t find anyone better. Her transactions are always conducted in the most appropriate and professional manner. Cristal has considerable knowledge of the Santa Barbara market.”

- S.N. Decker Ph.D.

“Living in Europe, we were to say the least, unaccustomed to the nuances of Real Estate acquisition in California and Cristal steered us through the process with absolute professionalism and personal attention to detail at every turn. Her in-depth knowledge of the market place combined with enthusiasm and drive was the only reason we secured the property of our dreams and will be forever grateful. If you are looking for personal discrete and private representation of the highest quality we suggest you look no further than Cristal Clarke.”

- Johan and Paula van den Berg

“Cristal is very straightforward, cheerful, helpful, professional and trustworthy….we felt very lucky to work with her.”

- John and Lacey Williams

“After considering our many choices, we are grateful it was Cristal Clarke of Sotheby’s International who represented the sale of our Montecito cottage. We are familiar with Cristal’s reputation of hard work and dedication to clients, but it was her attention to detail that made our experience so positive. She offered suggestions for staging the property, worked in harmony with potential buyers and was even able to secure back up offers. The sale of our cottage was completed much sooner than we expected, due in great part to Cristal’s professional skills and support. We highly recommend Cristal as a first choice for anyone needing representation with real estate.”

- Michael & Nancy Lee

“Our experience in working with Cristal Clarke resulted in the successful and discrete acquisition of a property which was not yet on the open market. Her knowledge of the Montecito/Santa Barbara area and vast expertise blended with her passion for real estate and architecture, provided us with the very highest level of professionalism and personalized services. Cristal exhibited a rare combination of excellent communications, attention to detail, creativity and patience.”

- Richard and Catherine Frinier

“Cristal really breaks the mold. She knows every nook and cranny of this real estate market, understands value, and follows up on everything, all the time. She was incredibly patient with our two year quest to find the perfect house. Every house hunting trip from across the country was well planned, and our time was never wasted. On top of her professionalism and expertise, she is delightful to spend time with. We are thrilled with the home we purchased, and grateful to Cristal for so wisely advising us through this process, right through to the close and beyond.”

- Laurie Siegel

“We met Cristal first in the course of renting a winter home (for three years), then buying a house using her as our agent. She was amazingly good at listening to our wants and showing us homes that fit our needs. Her mastery of the paperwork was perfect. Most importantly, there was never a situation where we doubted her straightforwardness or integrity. If we do another real estate transaction in Montecito (which I doubt, we’re happy with what we purchased), without question we’d use Cristal again.”

- Ken Saffir

“Susan and I just want to thank you for your efforts in the sale of our home. You are really quite amazing. Your competence, persistence, optimism and humor made the entire process effortless. Every problem that arose, you somehow fixed; any obstacle, you overcame. We have bought and sold many homes. It has never been such a painless and enjoyable process!”

- Michael & Susan Marquart

“A little something about “our” realtor, Cristal Clarke. My wife and I came to Santa Barbara about fifteen years ago looking for a seasonal home from which to enjoy the weather and amenities of the central coast. Being in the real estate business myself I was familiar with agents and brokers so entered the market with open eyes. We “flipped” a few houses in the early years, dealing with various agents and finally ended up in Montecito. That’s when good fortune put us together with Cristal. To say we were impressed is to put it mildly. Cristal really knows the market. She is familiar with the area, its history and trends. When we have questions about a particular property she either has the answers immediately or gets back to us by phone or email. There is no waiting or wondering with Cristal. She is an agent who is “on top of it.” Her recommendations as to price points, contractors, inspectors and title agents have proven to be exceptional, showing great insight and the highest professional standards. We consider ourselves exceedingly fortunate to say that Cristal Clarke is our realtor and would recommend her services to any serious buyer or seller.”

- Rob & Judi Kelch