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Sep 17, 2023

A Humble 1950s Cabin Becomes a Retreat

Situated between the Santa Barbara foothills and the Santa Ynez mountains in a

Situated between the Santa Barbara foothills and the Santa Ynez mountains in a rock quarry in Montecito, California, the Quarry House went from being a humble 1950s wood cabin to a modern, retreat-like residence designed by AB design studio in collaboration with House of Honey. The property houses two structures, a single-story home and a new guesthouse by the pool – both black and boxy with large expanses of windows. The elongated main house features a long hallway that connects the public space to the primary bedroom suite at the opposite end.

A large wooden deck wraps around all sides of the house creating opportunities for a connected indoor/outdoor lifestyle prominent in California.

A stepped pathway joins the two structures with a garden courtyard in between.

Black-framed windows replace solid walls offering ever-changing views of the surrounding oak forest.

Photo: Sam Frost

The light-filled interior is designed by House of Honey who gives nod to the property's Zen and artistic past when it was inhabited by a collective of bohemian poets, writers, and artists. Original elements are maintained and stones found on the property have been reused in the project.

Photo: Sam Frost

The ceilings are clad in birch veneer, which complements the light wood flooring throughout.

Photo: Sam Frost

Photos by Jason Rick, except where noted.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.

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