6858 Casitas Pass Road, Carpinteria CA 93013

Prancing Horse Estate: Where Legacy Meets Luxury

Among the many world-class properties gracing the Santa Barbara foothills, this magical Hacienda-style Spanish Colonial estate stands out as a masterwork of architectural and landscape design. An approximately 10,999 sq. ft. home by award-winning architect Don Nulty, AIA; a pair of offices above the spacious showcase multi-car garage; and 12.52+/- enchanting acres comprise this spectacular ocean view sanctuary. Convenient to all the wonderful amenities of Montecito and Santa Barbara, yet this very special estate seems far from the madding crowds.

EXPLORE PRANCING HORSE: JEWEL AMONG SANTA BARBARA, MONTECITO, AND CARPINTERIA ESTATES

Entry gates open to each of two driveways that seemingly end near the horizon and are bordered by dozens of mature trees. The grounds provide a multitude of incredible amenities. There are Grenache and Pinot noir vineyards, equine facilities, and avian and koi ponds, among many other features. The imposing residence is built around a central courtyard, floored with an intricate pattern of reclaimed terra cotta tiles and hosting a fountain and stone fireplace. Significant gallery hallways flank the courtyard, rise to rib-vaulted and coffered ceilings, and can be entered via multiple large, handmade wrought iron and glass French doors crowned with fanlight arches.

Only the finest materials and workmanship have been utilized throughout the estate. In the home, handmade wrought iron is prevalent in accouterments ranging from the elegant balustrade of the serpentine staircase, and the filigree adorning windows and doors, to stalwart fixtures such as baronial wall sconces. There are wide plank and marble floors, an abundance of custom tiles imported from Italy and Mexico, and striking open beam, vaulted and coffered ceilings.

An ambiance of calm abiding suffuses casual luxury throughout this singular estate and its magnificent primary residence.

COMMON AREAS

Emanating relaxed sophistication, the living room and adjacent sitting room/library enjoy French doors to a veranda and the rear grounds, finely painted coffered ceilings, richly stained wide plank wood floors, and fireplaces. Beautiful built-in custom bookcases border the fireplace in the sitting room/library. The den -- with its charming fireplace and triptych of bespoke wrought iron and glass French doors set in matching arched panel surrounds -- opens to the veranda and grounds as well. Its view is to the sparkling pool and the trees beyond. The open beam and plank ceiling evokes welcoming strength, accentuated by heavy cross beams and corbels.

An air of tradition abounds in the formal dining room, where a lovely fireplace, darkly stained coffered ceiling, and polished wood floor await owners and guests. Two sets of French doors open to fresh ocean breezes. Nearby, the designer kitchen hosts a ceiling covered in hand-painted tiles complemented by box beams. The high-end appliances, abundant custom cabinetry, and versatile center island stand ready to please even the most discerning home or catering chef.

Wandering among the public areas of this magnificent home, one is sure to come upon places designed for reading, relaxation, recreation, or rejuvenation, such as the rooftop pavilion with panoramic views of the valley and grounds, currently an open-air gym, but also providing a possible space for yoga or meditation.

BEDROOM SUITES

Convenience for owners and guests is paramount here, and nowhere is that more important than in the placement, design, and amenities of the multiple first- and second-level bedroom suites. The spacious, comfortably luxurious primary suite features a box beam ceiling with indirect lighting, a handsome fireplace, a quiet sitting area, and a large private terrace overlooking the pool and grounds. Rivaling suites at the most exclusive resorts, it also has two well-appointed baths and a pair of custom walk-in closets. All guestrooms have en suite baths.

THE GROUNDS

Spectacular and magical reign as descriptors of the estate grounds. The small vineyard of just over an acre is romantically verdant throughout the summer; the vines are laden with ruby fruit as the season wanes. A substantial pond is aerated by picturesque fountains. There are emerald lawns and myriad oak, olive, Italian cypress, citrus, and towering palms at various locations throughout the property, as well as native plants and colorful flora. Walking paths converge at a koi pond and its lush surrounding riparian zone. The spot is a bit of tropical paradise where a charming cabana and bamboo grove await. Rest or dine al fresco in the shade of the vine-covered pergola.

Recreational opportunities abound here as well. There is the sparkling infinity edge pool and in-pool spa, a sport court, and equestrian facilities. Survey this rarified scene from a balcony, terrace, veranda, or belvedere, knowing all the treasures of the estate are mere minutes from the world-class beaches, public and private schools, distinctive shopping and galleries, and necessary services of Montecito, Santa Barbara, and Carpinteria.

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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