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P R O F I L E | A M B R O S E C R A M E R
president of Chicago's Armour meat packing
company, who was of the belief that Santa
Barbara and Cape Town shared similar appeals
in climate and scenery. As such, Meeker
commissioned the home in Dutch South African
style, marked by great gables and half-shuttered
wide windows, as well as a high-pitched roof
and gently curving Dutch archways. The bold,
graceful lines of the façade obscure the peaked
second story roof, serving the dual purpose of
creating a commanding entryway.
The grounds, designed by illustrious landscape
architect Lockwood de Forest, are a further
testament to enduring style. De Forest was
tasked with making the relatively small area
appear larger, which he accomplished with an
unapologetically eye-catching reflecting pond in
front of the home and a series of stepped terraces
to create a cohesive separation between the
house, with the largest garden in front, and the
reflecting pool. This also allowed for an outdoor
living room space in the terrace closest to the
home, a popular California concept.
Constantia has been home to multiple
noteworthy owners since Meeker. Renowned
architect Jack Warner adored the home from afar
for years before purchasing it in 1974. Warner
designed the interior of the home himself,
beginning with all-white walls and unadorned
windows to open up the space—a technique still
seen in the home today. Stewart and Katherine
Abercrombie were the home's next inhabitants.
Taking a similar "do-it-yourself" approach to
the design, they added their own touches, such
as hanging silk from the dining room walls and
undertaking carpentry projects as a labor of love.
While the Abercrombies called Constantia home,
it was known to play host to some of Montecito's
swankiest soirées. In 2006, yet another owner
purchased the home and began a thorough
renovation, which included updates to its
interior, exterior paint and landscaping, as well
as the building of an all-new media room and
gourmet kitchen. Far from taking away from
the property's history, these developments fit
seamlessly with the home's spirit, modernizing
it while maintaining its original charm.
Currently owned by the author of Legally
Blonde, Amanda Brown, and her husband, Justin
Chang, the home continues to attract noteworthy
residents. And why not? With an enduring
sureness of its own style and an enviable
location, the home's storied Santa Barbara past
provides a canvas that anyone would want to
leave their mark on.
8.11.23 | DIGS.NET 59
