A Guide to Summerland
- By Jackie Johnson McBride
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
One the the best design towns in California
In the quintessential seaside neighborhood of Summerland, California’s central coast charm is on full display. Only a ten-minute drive away from the heart of Santa Barbara, this small town of just over a thousand residents is a world unto itself, and a complete design haven. While plenty of tourists venture up the coast from Los Angeles, eager to soak in all that Santa Barbara itself has to offer, those truly in the know schedule a stop in Summerland. Consider this your guide to the home design scene there, along with a few culinary and cultural gems thrown in for good measure.
This shop is part of why I ended up living in Santa Barbara at all. Every year, my mom would come visit me in LA for her birthday or Mother’s Day and we’d come up to Santa Barbara for the weekend. This was our ritual to stop in Summerland on the way in and the way out town, and remains a must-visit. Cherishing those memories with her is part of why this store will always have a special place in my heart, even decades later. My mom and I loved antiquing and we always found great pieces here. I’ll still go and walk around once a week or so and think of her. Whenever I visit my parents’ house in Nashville, I still smile when I see the long antique pine console she found here, and drove—yes drove! she was stubborn that way—all the way back to Nashville. Following in her footsteps, I recently bought a large antique pine chest for our family room, along with my vintage geranium dutch oven that I use constantly—it’s always showing up in my cooking photos and videos.
Over time, Summerland has grown quite a bit more stylish, and it’s now a design mecca. Opened recently in 2020, The Well is my favorite decorating store that’s part of the new wave. It’s curated to a T only stocking the best of the best. They mix old fine European antiques and art with beautiful fountains and the most gorgeous antique greenhouses that I’m coveting. They also have a treasure trove of plants and antique pots. It's my absolute dream. I love all of my rooms to feel like the outdoors, and if I could redecorate my entire house, I would do it solely with items from The Well. I have to say they’re also extremely kid-friendly—my kids love running around playing with all of the fountains. They’ve given my daughter many bracelets. Oh yes, they also sell cashmere, officially cementing them as my all-time favorite. I was fortunate enough to purchase a Frances Mabel Hollams painting here as well. My daughter, who has great taste, was actually the one who found it. It’s a painting of a dog, and the background is green, so it fits perfectly on the wall of our mudroom which adjoins the kids’ playroom.
If you read my recipes, you know I’m an avid gardener and most of my cooking follows the “garden-to-table” method. For my fellow green thumbs, Botanik will be your place because of its laid-back indoor/outdoor vibes. I get all of my terracotta pots here, many of my plants, and great gifts. They also have the best selection of outdoor furniture—some of it is so cute that I’ll even use it indoors for a sophisticated yet rustic feel.
If you’re looking for a spot to meet a friend for coffee or lunch, I highly recommend Field and Fort. Along with tasty salads, and soups, they also have stunning home decor as well as specialty curated items for the kitchen, and beautiful hostess gifts. I always opt for the vegetable soup of the day and a matcha latte with oat milk. They have exquisite one-of-a-kind antique pieces. (Ask to see their not-so-secret building next door that’s packed full of antique furniture.) My favorite part of the entire place is when you walk in, to the left are all upscale garden items. My first winter in Santa Barbara I got the cutest Christmas ornaments here, all themed as candied fruit, which was part of the tablescape that landed me on Martha Stewart’s blog.
This is another great decorating store—I especially love their kitchenware section on the bottom floor. I got a large wood salad bowl and tongs here after somehow losing mine in a move, and I’m happy I did as I like this one so much more. They have beautiful linen placemats and large baskets which I always need around the house. I think my favorite part about this store is where I saw my first Pedro De La Cruz painting in person. He’s my favorite local artist, as well as one of my favorite people.
I’ve always said the only thing Summerland is missing is a good bookstore. Then one day this place opened! This is the newest place to put Summerland over the top, and it just might be the world’s best bookstore—even the name is perfection. It’s as gorgeous inside as it is outside, and they have a wonderful menu for quick bites when you’re meeting friends or browsing to find your latest literary obsession. My favorite part is how they bring the community together through interesting guests, by hosting story time for kids, and helping out with local charities. I’m working on a cookbook for release sometime next year, and when it’s time to do a book signing or host an event, this place will be my first stop.
Jackie, you embody all that is summerland!! 💛