A Jeff Doubet Design for a Santa Barbara Modern Cottage
Are you seeking help with design ideas for creating a modern Santa Barbara or Montecito Cottage?
Have a fixer upper that needs some inspirational input?
Hi, my name is Jeff Doubet, a local Santa Barbara Home Designer who enjoys working with clients who value high quality in materials, design and workmanship.
Please scroll to see how I helped an out of town client modernize a Montecito cottage.
This 1940's fixer in the Santa Barbara area lacked personality.
This photo was take before renovations and the new pool.
Here, the owner and I were exploring a 2 piece clay roof option.
A Spanish style renovation was passed up for a clean, modern architecture.
I specialize in Santa Barbara style Spanish Homes. HERE IS MY NEWEST WEBSITE + PHOTO BLOG.
As a second home, this out of state client envisioned a turn key retreat they could come and go, knowing it was safe and secure behind it's new site walls and gate.
This project collaboration came at a great time in my life.
I was just beginning my home design and consultant business after many years as Sr. Product Designer + Manager at a modern Architectural Products Company Forms + Surfaces.
I utilized my experience to help this special client achieve her dreams-
including designing this wide entry gate that she envisioned to pivot on an offset mechanism.
During my career as a Product Designer at Forms + Surfaces, I had the pleasure of traveling many trips to Asia exploring materials, factories and their capabilities.
I used this experience to design this custom stainless steel waterfall fountain. I worked with a talented local artisan welder who fabricated it.
The client planned 7 foot tall site walls which would provide instant privacy for the new pool.
After walking past the front courtyard and pool, guests arrive at a double french door entry.
These doors are paired with other sets in the living room with a beautiful ocean view, beyond.
The small entry foyer features a deeply recessed art niche as one focal point of interest.
To open up the space some more, I designed this see through art niche.
The see through niche is fun to walk past, as it opens up interesting new perspectives as you walk through the small space.
The contemporary lines of the living room are accentuated with lots of french doors that open to an attractive patio space and provide that Indoor Outdoor feel everyone wants these days.
The fine art collection includes four art panels above the fireplace... original designs by Jeff Doubet (created in early 2000)
A view from the living room, looking back at the foyer and the pool in the front yard (beyond).
A beautiful contemporary round mirror reflects the living room.
The owner had a vision of windows that would be installed lower than normal.
They would provide natural light, but also provide privacy from the neighbor, a property positioned higher in elevation.
These windows became "Living Art" as the shadows on the plants and the plaster site walls change as the sun moves over the property throughout the day.
The owner also had great instincts for installing modern lighting. Pendant lighting can be arranged as "art" for small spaces like this.
This same design concept was incorporated in the eat-in kitchen, the foyer, and the bedroom hall.
An inviting dining room table is close to the kitchen. Both overlook the living room, beyond.
Here, my wife Lori visits with one of my clients (the homeowners).
The clean lines of a stainless steel farm sink add to the modern design of this kitchen.
Modern Cottage Interior Design in Santa Barbara California
For this small Santa Barbar modern kitchen, an eclectic mix of components were used.
A long awning style window was installed directly above the Stainless steel sink.
Clear coated Maple cabinets give warmth to the stainless appliances.
The kitchen / dining room open out to a beautiful outdoor patio with fireplace.
An outdoor living room was created using new masonry walls. The owner had a dream of an 8 foot wide bed of glass and flames as a fireplace focal point.
Here, my beautiful wife Lori enjoys the space as the host prepares dinner very close by.
The couch wall Lori sits at actually doubles as the pool equipment room that is located directly behind it. Here I designed pairs of modern wood doors as easy access to the various pieces of equipment.
I also designed an 8 foot long "Gull Wing" Copper Fireplace Cap for this modern fireplace in Santa Barbara.
My dimensioned sketches were given to a local copper fabricator, and then the fireplace contractor installed it.
Modern Interior Design in Santa Barbara California
This modern and contemporary style Santa Barbara cottage was designed with crisp, sharp lines in the architectural detailing.
Here, another "See Through" niche within a newly thickened wall.
This niche allows a bit of mystery and peek views to the living room, beyond.
The art niche with view to the small family room, beyond.
The homeowner discovered this cool hammered nickel silver sink and we designed it into a new floating countertop.
The P-trap drain is a work of art in and of itself, so it was fun to leave it exposed.
Specialty art niches were designed throughout this project. Note the Light Well, with modern lighting...
Specialty art niches were designed throughout this project. Included... this Light Well. The space was framed up into the existing attic space.
A way to show off and highlight this one of a kind modern light fixture.
Also something to point out: There was no window or door trim used throughout this modern cottage interior design.
It is a design trick I borrow from my Spanish home design background.
But in this project, we used straight edges vs bullnose drywall details.
A European-style toilet. A special installation with the water tank installed in the wall.
The toilet bowl floats above the wood floor.
A cool feature, and new experience for me as I planned the design for the room.
The Spa-like master bath has a soaking tub in front of a "french window".
When the window is open, it provides the homeowner the experience of bathing in a private garden.
In this photo I show how I used Red Rosin paper to mock up the tub location.
At approximately $10,000 for this high-end soaking tub, I wanted to confirm that the specific size would work in the small space before the homeowner wrote the check for it.
Modern Interior Design in Santa Barbara, California
I enjoy helping my clients create modern designs throughout their Spanish-style homes.
There is something very sculptural in creating spaces with contemporary lines, don't you think?.
Lots of materials and components that can push a cottage like this, toward a modern contemporary feel.
Here, a traditional style soaking tub was paired with very contemporary tub fixtures, as well as modern furniture placed within the bathroom.
For the office / guest room:
The long awning window above the couch provides privacy from the next door neighor, and is a nice backdrop for the couch which also functions as a hide-a-bed.
Another set of French Doors continues the theme of the indoor outdoor experience throughout the house.
These particular doors provide a view to the front yard pool.
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