Author and filmmaker Rhonda Byrne became a household name in 2006 when her New Age self-help book, The Secret, swept bestseller lists around the globe. Byrne’s book, based on an earlier film she produced, urges readers to shape their own destiny and manifest success, happiness, and wealth by thinking positively and believing in desired outcomes. The Secret has been translated into more than 45 languages and remains wildly successful with more than 20 million copies sold. According to Byrne, mental clarity and focus are keys to achieving success. What better place to find peace of mind and uplifting inspiration than at the author’s tranquil California estate, Prima Luce. Located on Montecito’s majestic coastline just outside Santa Barbara and 90 minutes from Los Angeles, this Italian-inspired villa has been specifically designed to take advantage of its stunning natural surroundings and maximize its incredible vistas—while also maintaining the utmost privacy for its residents. A luxurious refuge from the sensory overload of modern life, Prima Luce is a secluded sanctuary where the mind is free to focus on what really matters as it channels its energies into making intentions manifest.
With a name that means “first light” in Italian, this contemporary, Tuscan-style villa on the scenic California coast is tucked in the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains. Upon approach, the ivy-covered façade, with its Palladian proportions and classical symmetry, indicates that this is a luxury residence of particular distinction. Other Italianate details include the stonework of the motor court and garages; the portico at the entryway; and the warm, sunbaked stucco exterior.
Elegant interiors are enhanced with fine details and finishes such as hand-painted plasterwork and flooring made of local stone.
As residents and their guests enter through the massive wrought-iron front door, they are welcomed into an atmosphere of serenity and elegance. The architects of Prima Luce sought to design a home at one within the surrounding landscape and selected local materials, including Santa Barbara sandstone milled from the site during construction, to finish areas like the inviting foyer and vaulted gallery.
Fireside entertaining is elevated in this magnificent living room with formal décor and sweeping views.
Prima Luce’s living area is ideal for sophisticated entertaining underneath its lofty ceiling and stunning chandelier. The room’s impressive elements also include a handsome fireplace surround made of imported Jerusalem marble and numerous limestone-lined alcoves.
Writers and other creative types will draw inspiration not just from this study’s traditional design, but also from its airy, light-filled atmosphere.
No writer’s home would be complete without a study. At Prima Luce, this special space is designed to inspire. Hand-crafted wooden paneling lines the walls between the inset birch bookcases. Above, the coffered ceiling fashioned of alder wood completes the traditional effect. Windows look out on the grounds, and French doors permit fresh ocean air to circulate.
Preparing a meal is a pleasure in this well-appointed and spacious kitchen that leads to an outdoor dining terrace.
The deluxe kitchen at Prima Luce boasts towering, wood-beamed ceilings and native sandstone floors along with marble countertops and custom wooden cabinetry. Its high-end appliances include a Viking range, Miele dishwashers, and a Sub-Zero refrigerator. While the dining area is ideal for intimate and informal meals, access to the adjacent outdoor terrace makes sunset entertaining a breeze.
Awake each morning to an expansive view of the azure Pacific gleaming as far as the eye can see. This sizeable master suite also features a private terrace.
Imagine waking each morning to uninterrupted vistas of the Channel Islands and the blue expanse of the Pacific Ocean. The spacious master bedroom presents views from three exposures as well as plentiful sun for dreamy afternoons spent reading in this intimate retreat. The private loggia off the master suite is perhaps the best place to fully experience Prima Luce’s enchanting location, as its vantage point permits panoramic views that include the ocean horizon as well as nearby mountain summits. The en suite bathroom with equally stellar views is a site for serene relaxation in its perfectly situated soaking tub.
Guests are sure to feel like royalty in the villas with additional bedroom suites.
Additional bedroom suites with scenic views provide ideal accommodations for guests. These generously proportioned rooms feature elegant décor and private bathrooms, and the northern-facing bedroom suite even boasts its own terrace.
Survey the grounds and enjoy the sensory delight of fragrant roses, lavender, and rosemary from the shaded pool pavilion.
In the secluded backyard, a pavilion surrounded by groves of mature olive and oak trees overlooks the 65-foot-long swimming pool. Aromas of rosemary and lavender from the terrace gardens waft in on sea breezes, the perfect sensory complement to an al fresco meal prepared in the pavilion’s outdoor kitchen and enjoyed by its fireplace.
Set on over two acres of mature oak groves and manicured gardens, Prima Luce provides much to discover on a walk through its grounds.
Prima Luce’s stunning terraced grounds seem to cascade down from the hillsides above. The estate’s 2.5 acres offer ample opportunity to explore its groves of wizened oaks, and its lily pond and seasonal brook can be contemplated from a charming footbridge.
