In 1910, the belle of San Francisco society, Marguerite Doe Rogers Courtney Ravenscroft (1890-1970), would arrive in Montecito, California for the first time with her mother, Eleanor H. Doe. Educated in Europe, Miss Doe, an avid swimmer, golfer, and horsewoman who drove her own car, was quickly admitted to the most exclusive circles in Montecito. ⁠

In 1911, she would purchase 5 acres along Cold Spring Road, commissioning architect Russell Ray to design an early Mediterranean Revival style home. However, by the early 1920s, a Spanish Colonial Revival was now en vogue, and architect George Washington Smith’s playful interpretations were all the rage in Santa Barbara circles. ⁠

For Ravenscroft, Smith would design a small Andalusian village constructed around courtyards, terraces, and gardens to create a perfect Montecito hideaway. From the massive central living room with staircases framing the fireplace to the rear covered loggia and the easy relationship between indoors and out, this home is a testament to Smith’s design capabilities.⁠

779 Ayala Lane, an 8 bedroom, 9.5 bath, 10,619⁠ square foot estate located on a 1.59-acre lot, is listed courtesy of Ron Brand and the Riskin Partners Group for $29,950,000.⁠

Images courtesy of the MLS and the Montecito Journal⁠.

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