MONTECITO Remodel // Craftmanship + California Living

Clients, originally from Denmark, desired European craftsmanship combined with California indoor-outdoor living. The existing home is a 1949 mid-century modern home in Montecito, California, designed by architect Samaniego (1911–1999), a UC Berkeley graduate. MCARDLE Design respected the original architect's work while assisting new owners in customizing their residence with a focus on craftsmanship. To create an expansive connection between the interior and exterior landscape of majestic oak trees, we installed a flush 20-foot steel beam to create a transparent wall of sliding doors.

We collaborated with Københavns Møbelsnedkeri (Cabinet Makers), located in Copenhagen, Denmark, which specializes in high-end architectural cabinets and bespoke furniture. KBH is guided by material integrity, proportion, and sensory detail; they work primarily in hardwoods and natural materials like leather and metal, creating pieces that feel both refined and grounded. MCARDLE Design is honored to have completed the first two KBH projects in California.

The kitchen island Wire Bar Stools are also handmade in Denmark by Overgaard & Dyrman, a contemporary furniture maker and design studio based in Denmark. Merging traditional techniques with modern technology, Overgaard & Dyrman’s unique approach to design bridges the past with the present, resulting in functional products created to inspire.

The raw metal lamps from Bay & Storm are hand-built on the island of Bornholm, Denmark. They are the result of the creative collaboration between Charlotte Storm and the 'grand ol' man' of lighting design, Asger Bay Christiansen. With their strong and unadulterated expression, the lamps tell an honest story of functionality, simplicity, and above all, unrivaled light.

Included in the remodel scope was replacing all the single-pane windows with new oak frames and insulated tempered glass. The window frames were handmade by a local craftsman team led by Lars Amundsen in Santa Barbara.

Seán McArdle / MCARDLE Design has completed 50+ projects since 2005, with a focus on craftsmanship on the California Coast. Projects include new construction, adaptive reuse, residential renovations, kitchens, bathrooms, ADUs, garages, decks, and expansive sliding doors.

Services included architectural design, planning approvals, permitting, and build management. All our projects balance the demands of client goals, artistic endeavor, harmonious proportions, functional pragmatics, financial considerations, and environmental responsibility on the California Coast. Seán McArdle provides high-level personal management across all stages of a project, including Architectural Design, Planning Approvals, Building Permits, Project Management, Construction/Development Management, and Marketing.