MONTECITO Remodel // Design + Build Management

The existing home is a 1949 mid-century modern home in Montecito, California, designed by architect Samaniego (1911–1999), a UC Berkeley graduate. The new owners are from Denmark and desired European craftsmanship combined with California indoor-outdoor living. MCARDLE Design respected the original architect's work while assisting new owners to customize their residence.

We collaborated with Københavns Møbelsnedkeri (Cabinet Makers), located in Copenhagen, Denmark, which specializes in high-end architectural kitchens 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.

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

MCARDLE Design has completed 50+ projects since 2005, including new construction, adaptive reuse, residential renovations, kitchens, baths, ADUs, garages, decks, expansive sliding doors, kitchens, bathrooms, and spas.

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.