A Parisian-Style Chateau That’s Larger Than Life

This Montecito house was built to look like a Louis XV Parisian chateau. Upon completing construction, the owners realized it was going to be too big for them. “They were young enough to have fun with it but old enough to know that they took on too much,” said listing agent Randy Solakian.

About the home: The house looms large in Birnam Wood, a guard-gated golf-club community. It contains period French marble fireplaces; inlaid marble floors and antique crystal chandeliers.

The facade is covered with handmade bricks from England. The marble fountains are from Italy. A marble mosaic in the pool was inspired by a Raphael painting. Even the maid’s bathroom has gold-plated fixtures.

Asking price: $29,950,000

Size: Six bedrooms in about 16,000 square feet, mostly on one level, on 2.5 acres.

Features: The estate has three elevators: One leads to a wine room and wine dining room with a fireplace, one is between two large closets and one descends to a tunnel hallway opening to a guest apartment. Other features are a cherrywood library, dome ceiling, kitchen equipped for large-scale entertaining, iron doors that open electronically and a full diesel-powered generator.

Where: Montecito

Contact: Randy Solakian, Coldwell Banker Previews, (805) 565-2208