Comments on: Solana – The $57.5 Million Peabody Estate In Santa Barbara, CA

By: Bella Dunn

Bella Dunn — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 16:36:55 +0000

I think Tony nailed it. He offered better choices rather than this home. His hard work proved to be worthy of consideration instead of wasting your time on this home.

By: awv Graham

awv Graham — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 00:28:10 +0000

Wasn’t this house sold to the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions by the Graham/Cowles family in 1959? It had, I believe, 51 acres at that time. It sold, I was told by the niece of the seller, for about $260,000. It is a fabulous place.

By: ZigZagBoom

ZigZagBoom — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 11:26:09 +0000

I agree. These other places seem like better values, if nothing else.

By: ZigZagBoom

ZigZagBoom — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 11:10:11 +0000

And btw I don’t get worked about interiors, generally, but they do not at all have the majesty befitting a 57 million dollar price tag. That one paneled room is slightly ridiculous because it should be about 6′ taller to have such high paneling. The other similar room, the library, feels more authentic – but it feels like a $15 million dollar library in that market, not a $57 million one. Overall, it gives a somewhat ersatz impression to me…for example the curious way those foyer columns have no pedestals. But of course, some would argue that’s part of the charm of “Hollywood Regency”…and this still has more character than most of the Southern California places we see. I just think it must be overvalued, even with 11 acres.

By: ZigZagBoom

ZigZagBoom — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 10:59:08 +0000

I’m all for austere exteriors – as you should know by now. But this just doesn’t work for me. It looks like a megalomaniac billionaire’s giant mausoleum. That yellow place in the Italian hills was good austere…this is bad austere.

By: Kenny Forder

Kenny Forder — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 20:22:20 +0000

No, sorry!

By: lambskin

lambskin — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 17:20:53 +0000

The interiors are the most elegant I have seen on this site. The grounds are beautifully done as well. Windowless walls are great for world class art collectors. I would take this place in a heartbeat only if the decor stays-as is! This is up there as a fave on this site for me.

By: Tony

Tony — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 15:50:03 +0000

oh my bad. I thought it was blocked. That was why I reposted it. Sorry. I see now that my comment is there but I didn’t see it when I checked before.

By: Ron

Ron — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:08:38 +0000

Kenny….Do you have a floor plan of Solana?

By: Kenny Forder

Kenny Forder — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 08:45:17 +0000

It wasn’t blocked. When a comment has multiple links in it, WordPress makes me approve it first.

By: Tony

Tony — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 06:27:51 +0000

this house is way over priced. I’d rather buy this house at the link below for only $18 million http://www.sbphototours.com/preview/Default.php?AutoStart=true&ListingID=4594. This house isn’t on as much acreage, but its still on 3.5 acres and it is way cheaper. Also if you want a lot of acreage you could buy this other Santa Barbara property, its 38 acres, for only $32 million and then build a 25,000 square foot mega mansion of the finest quality for about another $25 million. That’s a total of $57 million but you’d have a way bigger house on 38 oceanfront acres. Here’s the link http://www.sothebysrealty.com/eng/sales/detail/180-l-1172-0592359/exceptional-ocean-front-estate-santa-barbara-ca-93110

By: Tony

Tony — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 06:21:54 +0000

Hey Kenny, why was my last comment blocked?

By: marc22

marc22 — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 03:23:33 +0000

Spectacular design, elegant interiors, wonderful use of outdoor space, fantastic and lush courtyard and what a view. A true estate property.

By: NOVA Ben

NOVA Ben — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 01:46:29 +0000

I’m not a fan of the facade, unfortunately I can’t make that windowless look work for me…Everything else, however, is picture perfect.

By: Tony

Tony — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 00:28:01 +0000

This is a huge rip off. How can anyone think this is a good deal. This is about the amount Oprah paid for her Montecito home but hers was on 42 acres. Also Oprah way over paid at the time because she was just so rich and she just didn’t care. Oprah drove up the prices in the Montecito/Santa Barbara area after she moved there but the prices have since dropped drastically once the real estate market crashed. This is way over priced. I’d rather buy this house for only $18 million http://www.sbphototours.com/preview/Default.php?AutoStart=true&ListingID=4594 . This house is way nicer. Its less acreage but its a way better looking house and it is still on 3.5 acres and is way cheaper. Now if you want a lot of acreage then I’d buy this other Santa Barbara property for $32 million, you get a 38 acre lot which rivals Oprah’s huge estate. You could spend another $25 million on top of that to build a huge 25,000 square foot mega mansion of the finest quality and the total is $57 million. But you’d have an almost 40 acre mega estate that is ocean front. Thats a almost 40 acre estate that rivals Oprah’s mega compound except it is right on the ocean. I know its Santa Barbara and not Montecito but they are pretty much the same area. Check out the the 38 acre lot here http://www.sothebysrealty.com/eng/sales/detail/180-l-1172-0592359/exceptional-ocean-front-estate-santa-barbara-ca-93110 . Its $19 million for 22 acres, but to get all 38 acres it is $32 million.