Casa del Herrero was the end product of two forces, a talented architect and an innovative client, who combined to create a house of lasting beauty due to its unique and well-executed details.

 

George Washington Smith designed the house, built in 1925, for George Fox Steedman and his wife, Medora. Steedman was a wealthy industrialist who moved his family to Montecito from St. Louis. He was an inventor with multiple patents. His workshop on the property is full of special tools and machines that he used to make various items including furniture. Medora was an enthusiastic reader and gardener. Inside the workshop is a display of the numerous ribbons she was awarded from her horticultural successes.

Dated or indelible?

The website opens with this description of the house:

Casa del Herrero, the “House of the Blacksmith,” is a time capsule of Montecito, California in the 1920s and 1930s.

While that may be so, in my opinion the house doesn’t quite feel like a time capsule. In some ways it does as the house has a romantic air about it. Inside it feels as if one should slow down time in order to enjoy the spectacular beauty within. Presumably, the time capsule description stems from the furnishings. The Steedmans traveled to Europe with Smith to purchase antiques of all sorts from France, Spain, and Italy. The house is full of them yet I feel the architectural details of hand-painted tile, carved wood, and decorative painting are so distinct that the house stands apart as a singular work of art rather than an historic home.

Casa del Herrero was already familiar to me because of this book. I have poured over its pages countless times inspecting the details. Seeing the house in person, however, is so rewarding. If looking at gorgeous houses is your passion, you could easily spend an entire day there. Our tour guide had to constantly move us forward in order to finish the tour.

Once past this door, the fun begins. Although there is plenty to see outside.

First impressions.

One enters off a busy road through two enormous wooden gates into an expansive courtyard with low walls, pebbled flooring, and California plantings.

The exterior is stark in the Andalusian way with its vast whiteness and small asymmetrical openings.

The side view is lovely.

Palm shadows create a pattern on the library walls.

A beautiful gate, but the surround and the paving is also extraordinary. Every detail was considered so there isn’t a corner left untouched and not made special.

Patterns galore.

Lasting impressions.

An old ceiling purchased by Smith and Steedman in the foyer.

A current (at the time) artist was hired to paint new ceilings to work with the antique one.

The living room with portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Steedman flanking the window.

The dining room.

The kitchen was very appealing to me for several reasons. One, was the color. I love the bold blue chosen for the cabinets. Second, was the combination of functionality with personality. The butler’s pantry provides ample storage and endless counter space while simultaneously being quite attractive with its tile base and backsplash. The kitchen makes good use of its back walls with the tall cabinets fronted by spindled doors and corner shelves with Moorish scallop details.

Inside the octagonal library.

Front stairs.

Back stairs.

Upstairs.

Dressing table in one of the bedrooms.

The amazing fireplace in Mr. Steedman’s bedroom.

Upstairs landing.

Crazy about this mirror with lamps.

Much restraint was displayed by limiting the photos so this post did not go on and on. They don’t begin to do the casa justice. What an experience it was to be inside this masterpiece. This house is not to be missed when visiting Santa Barbara.

Casa V Interiors works to bring the best details to your home to make it its own piece of art.