An Organic Modern House by the Ocean Is Airy and Bright

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Post Image
(Image credit: Elizabeth Burns)

Name: Elizabeth Burns
Location: Mission Canyon neighborhood — Santa Barbara, California
Size: 1,900 square feet
Years lived in: 8 years, owned

A mid-century modern home was the farthest kind of house from my mind when I began house hunting in Santa Barbara. My husband is bicoastal and so the search for a West Coast home fell on my shoulders. After nine months, I walked into this house and knew it was the one. It has beautiful mountain views, a distant peek of the ocean, and scads of natural light. That it is close to hiking trails and shopping was the icing on the cake. There are so many commercial glass windows and French doors, we named it the Little Glass House. It also has a double meaning for the collections of sea glass collected at Santa Barbara beaches.

(Image credit: Elizabeth Burns)

I’m often here on my own when my husband is on the East Coast and it is perfect for one or guests, too. With three bedrooms and three baths all separate from each other, everyone has their privacy. This home was tailor-made for the California lifestyle, with the doors open to the outside most days. We added a natural fire pit, redwood hot tub, and an outdoor shower to complete our Cali living! It feels like a vacation most days…

(Image credit: Elizabeth Burns)

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Organic, Modern, Airy, Cali home.

(Image credit: Elizabeth Burns)

What is your favorite room and why? The main part of the house is open-concept so the dining, kitchen, living are all in one room. Of course this is where we spend the most time entertaining and living when we are not outdoors so the heart of the home is my favorite!

(Image credit: Elizabeth Burns)
(Image credit: Elizabeth Burns)

If you could magically change something about your home, what would it be? A wing that was added in 2000 by the previous owners has a guest room, office, and smallish bathroom. As we don’t utilize the office, I would love to turn the office into the master suite with a larger bathroom and closet. As I have many other projects going on right now, that one is somewhere off in the future!

(Image credit: Elizabeth Burns)

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? The last thing I found for our home is a vintage watercolor for the gallery wall. I bought it on my recent East Coast trip from Windham Antique Center in Bellows Falls, Vermont.

(Image credit: Elizabeth Burns)

Any advice for creating a home you love? Be sure the house reflects who you are whether it is art that has meaning, an antique passed down from a family member, or something collected on your travels. These are what give a house soul and make it a place you will want to return to… home.

Thanks, Elizabeth!

• Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour & House Call Submission Form.