Montecito
Living
Full-service interior design studio
House Rupert recognized by Luxe Interiors as one of the studios defining American interior design in 2026
MontecitoInterior design
Montecito is one of the few places in California where the architecture does most of the talking. The Spanish Colonial Revival estates designed by George Washington Smith and Lutah Maria Riggs in the early twentieth century set the tone — whitewashed stucco, terracotta tile, arched openings, handmade ironwork, properties that sit within their land rather than upon it.
But Montecito has never been architecturally singular. Mid-Century Modern homes occupy the foothills with their clean lines and connection to the landscape. Contemporary estates rise quietly behind mature oak groves. Ranch properties, Tudor cottages, and Mediterranean Revival villas share the same winding lanes.
What unites them is not a style — it is a sensibility. Understated, unhurried, and quietly confident in its own character.
Recognition · LUXE Next 2026
House Rupert has been recognized by Luxe Interiors as one of the studios defining interior design in 2026.
DesignShaped by the architecture
Designing well in Montecito means beginning with what is already there. Whether a home was built in 1926 or 2026, whether it has arched doorways and terracotta tile or floor-to-ceiling glass and poured concrete, the team at House Rupert starts every project the same way — understanding the architecture on its own terms before considering what it might become.
That foundation is what makes the difference between a home that feels considered and one that feels decorated. Within it, the opportunity for expression is considerable. Organic stone, real hardwood, solid brass, vintage lighting: materials that work with the grain of a Spanish Colonial estate and are equally at home in a Mid-Century living room or a contemporary build. The goal is always a space that feels entirely personal to the people who live in it — and entirely at home in Montecito.
Local rootsGlobal eye
House Rupert is located in the heart of Montecito, immersed in the community, working seamlessly with local clients. The team has built deep relationships with the architects, contractors, and craftspeople who work here, with an intimate understanding of local planning sensibilities and an eye for what works in this particular landscape. For clients undertaking projects in Montecito, that proximity is a genuine advantage.
The team is led by Principal Designer Bailee Roberts, whose background is anything but local. Born in Cape Town, raised in Santa Barbara, educated at UC Berkeley and King's College London, and shaped by fifteen years living and working across Europe — moving between the grand interiors of London, the sun-bleached palazzos of Italy, the considered minimalism of Scandinavia, and the textured warmth of the South of France — she brings a design sensibility to the work that is genuinely rare on the Central Coast. A studio entirely of this place, led by a designer formed by the world beyond it.
Testimonials
The Right Fit
House Rupert works with a small number of clients at any one time.
Some are Montecito residents embarking on a significant renovation or reimagining a home they have lived in for years. Others are arriving for the first time, purchasing a property and looking for a studio that understands the landscape, the architecture, and the particular quality of life here.
What connects them is less about project type and more about approach. Clients who work with House Rupert tend to value craft over trends, want a collaborative process rather than a studio with a premade design, and are looking for a relationship built on trust.
THE PROCESS
01
Discovery
The conversations that shape the formation of the brief.
02
Design
The brief becomes a complete and considered concept.
03
Execution
The work that turns a designed scheme into a finished home.
INQUIRE
If you are considering a project, we would love to hear from you. Share a little about your home and ideas and we will be in touch.