Tags
Flea Market Style, French Antiques, French design, Montecito, Rough Luxe, San Ysidro Ranch, Santa Barbara Style
So through which neighborhoods did I roam last week…?
The correct answer is Montecito in Santa Barbara County…
JFK and Jackie Kennedy honeymooned at the San Ysidro Ranch
in Montecito in 1953, today Saladino, Oprah have palaces there…
It was a brisk five hour drive from north of San Francisco’s
Golden Gate Bridge to the sunny lavender banked, cypress
edged, anduze urn adorned, Provence style Santa Barbara
garden path of Jermaine Chastain of French Kissed…
Where I was treated like a princess!
My husband was amazed…bemused…that relative strangers
can become best buds over a few months of blogging and that
Jermaine would open her home to me…
As soon as I straggled in after a bucolic odyssey down one of
California’s most scenic highways (101), dropped my son off to
stay with his cousin at UC Santa Barbara, which he’s considering
for college next year, and presented my bedraggled self at
her door, Jermaine made me feel at home….
She pulled out chilled water in tall glass bottles,
threw together a salad and quiche for lunch and then whisked
me off to tour Santa Barbara. She gave me a choice between
antique stores and thrift….I chose the thrift. Anyone can
find a prize at an antique store…but to find treasure at
a thrift is high art.
Jermaine’s concept for French Kissed is all about finding the frog
and with a kiss…turning it into a prince. Her eye tracks silver, gilding,
likes adding a touch of the natural world to rough it up a bit…
Like this shell soap dish…
marrying the opulent with the natural world…
I did a post on 18th Century Embroidered Vests here…
so maybe that’s why I fell in love with Jermaine’s
Rough Lux Redux post here. She made these chair
back slips from a thrift shop comforter!!!
I actually won this give away from Jermaine last summer…
she’s irreverent about silver…mixes and matches…
We met Jermaine’s husband Steve for dinner at San Ysidro Ranch
where he indulged some blog talk on the outdoor dining patio
under a twinkling night sky… with hollowed out gourd lights
dangling overhead. See Jermaine’s Romantic Ranch here
This is the entrance to San Ysidro ranch…
we pulled aside and Jermaine snapped this from the car…
After dinner we sat at her kitchen counter with laptops
open and peered into each other’s blog’s inner workings…
comparing notes and making plans…
Finally I was ensconced in her “guest wing” for the night…fragrant with
freshly picked wisteria…while the room’s owner sleeps in Paris…
This is just a corner of her daughter Bardot in Blue‘s room with a
charming toile upholstered settee in the sitting area…
A guest suite for a fellow blogger…
Our visit was far too short but wholly wonderful…even down to the lavender
filled, golden bee topped memento to take home. As a long time resident,
Jermaine knows the ins and outs of Santa Barbara and its environs from
the loftiest neighborhoods to the lowliest thrift store, and has a long
list of haunts and hang outs to take me to…to be continued!!! And I’m
inspired to start working on my guest suite immediately!
*
You lucky ladies! How fun to explore and share time together! Jermaine’s home is beautiful! Will be waiting to see and hear of your adventures!
I can see why the two of you are “kindred spirits” the blog was just the way you found each other. What a beautiful world you two share. It sounds like a good pairing for a business venture, too.
May your friendship bloom like God’s promise of spring time blossoms, simply divine —
Joanny
What a wonderful occasion! I imagine Jermaine to be about the best hostess one could hope for!
What a treat to be shown around beautiful Santa Barbara by your best blogging friend, especially one who knows the ins and outs as she does!! I can’t wait for your next post!!!!
How exciting for your son to go to UC Santa Barbara!!! Congrats!
xo
He’s still in a quandary between UC Santa Barbara vs UC Davis…Physics major. Not an easy choice!
What an exquisite spot! I’m in love with those chair covers … I may have to find a rayon satin comforter myself!
Isn’t it terrific to meet blog friends, and find out they’re even more wonderful in person!
Does this have to appear on your comment page?
For the rest of my life I’ll be looking for the 18th C fabric in Jermaine’s chair vests. Montecito is so amazing.
Thanks for the mention. Like to send you some of what you saw on the website. Marnie
Marnie…your caramels are gorgeous…and love your logo!
Trish, how totally amazing to actually take the step and meet a blogger friend in the flesh, and how extra totally amazing to be invited to Santa Barbara to do it. Your photos are wonderful as always, but most of all I love your text, we can feel your enjoyment seeping through.
Sharon
It is such a wonderful experience to be abble to meet others bloggers …
Her house is gorgeous and amazing ! thanks for the tour
I bet you had a fabulous time! Thanks for another peek into Jermaine’s world.
Lee
I think blogging is like getting on a train where the destination is well loved by everyone on board. Chances are good you’ll meet someone you feel you have known forever. What fun for the two of you. And good luck to your son as he makes this big decision. I’ll loan him Kansas’ state motto for good measure: Per aspera ad astra.
“to the stars through difficulties” …love that, HBD…also train analogy. Very interesting time in life where child-centric view shifts back to ones own interests. I’d love to visit Kansas….when your garden is at its finest!
Just a wholly delightful story. One of life’s delights is to connect with people who share your passions, isn’t it! Thanks again Trish for making my day.–Sue
Trish, I am checking in today to see who the lucky owner of that fantastic mansion is. What a home – Jermaine! And what a lovely friendship the two of you have started. I can predict many fun travels and gatherings for you together (perhaps overseas?).
And the slipvover vests. Hello!!??? Gorgeous!!! Can’t stop thinking of them!
And Trish dear, you must be a very proud Mama. Congratulations to your son!
Much fondness,
Mon
P.S All I could offer you is a little tag on my blog…. (:
I absolutely love these images…the furniture, the gardens, all so gorgeous. you’re blog has really inspired me lately and I will be back soon, thanks for sharing.
Solange
I so enjoyed your visit and I can’t remember the last time my house has been so “buffed”. I even cleaned out my refrigerator for you! Oh, what bloggers won’t do to impress another blogger. Next time, plan to stay for a week!
~jermaine~
You know, I was very impressed with your refrigerator! Loved the tall clear glass bottles with water! You can tell alot about a person by their fridge. Mental note to not forget fridge when you visit me!
Two of my favorite girls!!! Such a great post….I love the idea of the gourd lights.
Oh Trish, how fun to not only meet Jermaine, but be her guest. I have been following her for a while. I didn’t realize she lived in Santa Barbara–how fun this must have been! Her home looks wonderful! Isn’t it amazing that through blogging, we can connect with one another!?
How fabulous, I adore Santa Barbara!!
Trish and Jermaine, how fortunate to spend such special time together.
Karena
Art by Karena
Oh Trish!
How wonderful it must have been!! I am jealous of you girls!!
Jermaine’s home is so beautiful and charming!
Thank you for sharing this with us! I really enjoyed it!
Have a nice weekend my friend!
xx
Greet
Absolutely stunning, magical and inspiring!
Hi Trish,
How wonderful that you could go and visit Jermaine and enjoy each others company.
She has a very beautiful home and garden and thanks for sharing ~ great to have a little glimpse of her home and lovely things.
Also want to say thank you for telling me of Roger Viollet and his Paris collection ~ enjoying looking through all his wonderful photos.
Have a happy weekend
Hugs
Carolyn
This was just great Trish! I am so glad you two have gotten the chance to meet and how appropriate you got to photograph her place!!!!! It looks just beautiful and sounds like you had a great time! I love the table in the entryway and all the little details just show Jermaine’s sense of elegant style. Boy I wish I could have been a fly on the wall for THAT conversation!!!!!!!aLWAYS A PLEASURE! Maryanne xo
Hello Trish,
Loved both your post and Jermaine’s on you visit to her lovely home and SY Ranch. You are a very lucky lady to have enjoyed Jermaine’s exceptional hospitality. I heard you two had a wonderful visit!
i feel like i’m in another world! a much more glamorous and peaceful one than the one i live in! is that a field of lavender? i have only seen that in Italy. all so lovely
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