Hello all – how was your weekend? It was go go go for us and we got a lot done but still managed to squeeze in a few hours of lounging-around-the-house time, soaking up the bliss that exists in these last few weeks of summer before it’s back to school and all things fall.
Last week we traveled back from Southern California on a family vacay, stopping in Santa Barbara for two days and if ever there was a beautiful place to be, Santa Barbara is surely it! It’s a cool coastal scene with a youthful vibe because of the University. SB has the best of everything: great eats, fab shopping, a gorgeous Pacific Ocean view, a mellow hip atmosphere, and stunning architecture around every bend, much of it inspired by the missions of California.
Matt’s favorite architectural style is Mission Revival, he loves the iconic combination of pale stucco, a tile roof, iron fixtures, and porticos, so our long and lingering drive around town was equally as thrilling to my DIY/design eye and it was to his appraisal expertise.
We talk about building that “forever home” someday when the kids are grown, nothing too big, just a sweet and small Mediterranean style villa in Sonoma on a few acres, one where he can putter around on a tractor tending to the orchard and vineyard and I can spend my hours in the garden. I’ve always dreamed of a tiled staircase (it ranks high on our list with a sunroom) and I was so inspired by the many versions I saw while walking around Santa Barbara.
I absolutely LOVE how these staircases combine symmetry with creativity, blending multiple patterns by riser with steadfast horizontal repetition. There are fountains that repeat this style, rotating tiled patterns in their design too, here are a few more favorite snaps captured on our walk (and drive) around town.
I’m reminded that great design can always be found online or in print in our favorite shelter magazines with our exposure to it daily with the internet.
But how true is it that when you take the time to travel to different places and explore the back alleys off the beaten path, inspiring design appears right before your eyes.
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They’re all beautiful, but my favorite is the last one. A little more subtle.
Beautiful! The curved one and the last one are my favorites. Love!
Wow – LOVE the tile! The patterns and pops of color are so eye-catching!
The tiles are gorgeous. I wonder do they have to import all of that, or is it made locally somewhere?
It’s so funny that you posted this today-we were in SB at the end of last week too-taking our teenaged daughter on a tour of UCSB! It is so beautiful there-I hadn’t been in years. And even though I now live in San Diego, which is lovely also, I had forgotten all the tile everywhere in SB. We stopped at some random shopping center in SB to go to a Starbucks during our road trip and even the fountains there were covered with that gorgeous tile. I actually snapped a pic and emailed it to my mom saying, “you know it’s SB when you see all the tile!”
Thank you – I cried looking at these pictures. I know – it sounds sappy, but I grew up in SB and just over the mountain in the Santa Ynez Valley. When I see pictures of those two places, I’m home again. Seems like a world apart from my current location in South Texas but I’m comforted knowing that my family is still there and I still get to go home once a year. SB architecture is my favorite!
Beautiful! Every time we’re on vacation, I end up with hundreds of pictures of staircases and doors/doorways. Such beautiful variety out there!
I was soooooo excited when I saw your instagrm picture of the tiled staircase last week. I have been talking to my husband regarding doing that to our staircase for months now!!! I am definitely going to do it, specially after seeing all this inspiration. Thank you!
My favorite inspiration is indeed found while wandering! Thanks for the reminder… and for the gorgeous tiles, too.
OK, so I’m now totally craving a Spanish vacation to get lots of colour and pattern inspiration from all their beautiful tiles!
Beautiful tiles!!!!
hugs
Oh, I love these, especially #2. Makes me want to go to Santa Barbara!
You should visit Palm Beach! There are some beautiful tiled staircases…especially in the via’s off of Worth Avenue. I wish I could upload a photo!
This could be a cute idea even if the Spanish look is not for you. Maybe blue and white Delft, or plain glass, or other styles of tile.
Lovely! A couple of years ago my husband and I tiled our front steps and around our door. I’ve been contemplating redoing the steps though so that each stair uses a different style of tile, rather than mixing the three styles.
Wow beautiful Cait, thanks for sharing!
These are stunning! You are (almost) making me want to move to California with these posts.
Hi, I just wanted to tell you that you have EXCELLENT taste. Your place is BEAUTIFUL.
Love tiled stairs! Brings an unexpected pop of color to any space.