Santa Barbara Spanish Style: Every Picture has a Story
Written By:
Jeff Doubét | Creating Spanish Style Homes®
Jeff Doubét | Creating Spanish Style Homes®
Jeff Doubét is a Santa Barbara-based architectural designer and founder of Creating Spanish Style Homes®. For over two decades, he has specialized in helping Montecito and Santa Barbara clients plan remodels, design new homes, and restore historic properties using authentic Spanish Colonial Revival methods and materials.
Explore Santa Barbara style homes. Pro designer Jeff Doubét shares expert tips, insights, and photography for authentic Spanish home and landscape design.
LISTEN TO JEFF DOUBÉT INTRO and overview
LISTEN TO JEFF DOUBÉT INTRO
Jeff Doubet audio recording of “Santa Barbara Spanish Style: Every Picture has a Story”CLICK [+] to Read Transcript & Translate
“Hey guys, Welcome to Santa Barbara Spanish Style: Where every picture has a story!
Discover photo rich resources for authentic Spanish-style details and materials, and watch talented artisans handcraft beautiful homes and landscapes right here in beautiful Santa Barbara.
My name is Jeff Doubét, and for over two decades I’ve strived to capture the most rare and elusive shots that will transport you into this fascinating world of architectural charm (or at least that’s how I feel about my job (CHUCKLES).
I invite you to explore the genuine characteristics that make this style so special (again, in my opinion). And with unique content that cannot be created or found anywhere else… I invited you to stop by often!
So how it works is you’ll just scroll the page and find photos, or something that looks intriguing. Click that image, and then there will be a story behind each shot.
And it’s basic, it could be anything… from what I think is neat about the photo, or what I was thinking about while I was working on that job site. Or, what I think I could teach you about something that was happening in the photograph.
So, I’m kind of scattered with my… (pause) excitement to start posting a bunch of stuff on my blog. So, it’s gonna be quite interesting (CHUCKLES) each time you visit to see what I have posted. So… Welcome!”—Jeff Doubet, August 21, 2025
About This Blog: Stories Behind the Photos
Santa Barbara Spanish Style is my personal photo blog—Hi, I’m Jeff Doubét, a Spanish home designer and photographer based in Santa Barbara, CA.
For 22+ years, I’ve had a passion (and the discipline) to capture behind-the-scenes photography, day-to-day moments at Spanish home remodels throughout beautiful Santa Barbara and Montecito.
Unlike traditional design galleries or inspiration boards, every image I share has a backstory—what I was thinking on the job site, why a detail caught my eye, or what makes a particular technique special.
Besides client projects, I am also out and about in downtown Santa Barbara and Montecito doing photo shoots at special locations throughout our beautiful town.
These outings are not just to share photos with you, but also to inspire myself! There is so much history in Santa Barbara Spanish homes and landscapes… and I like to see and be reminded of how our area got to be so well known for Spanish-style architecture.
I also enjoy teaching you something about the photos I shoot vs. just posting pretty pictures.
What You’ll Find Here
Behind-the-Scenes Stories Real moments from active job sites where I’m working—artisans in action, design challenges being solved, and the creative processes as they unfold in beautiful Santa Barbara.
Rare & Elusive Details Those hard-to-capture photos that showcase authentic Spanish craftsmanship, created by real people—the kind of Spanish home details you can’t find elsewhere. I’m always striving to share those kinds of special moments, especially now that our world has quickly become very vanilla, cliché and AI built.
My Personal Design Insights From the hip observations, tips, and lessons I’ve learned from decades of hands-on work with talented builders, plasterers, tile setters, and artisans in a variety of specialized trades.
Eclectic & Spontaneous Content I don’t have a rigid posting schedule—just my genuine interest and excitement about sharing whatever inspiring Spanish details I have photographed around town.
I will go in spurts. Sometimes it will be several times a week, other times I am working on behind-the-scenes stuff, and will create a post when I get the chance.
How to Use This Blog
Scroll and explore – Click any image that intrigues you to read the story behind it.
Search by topic – Use the search bar below to find specific posts where I have photos on it, or teach about materials, techniques, or the details
Check back often – I add new photos and stories as I capture inspiring moments
Want More Resources?
This blog complements the comprehensive galleries on the Creating Spanish Style Homes homepage where you can find organized collections of Exteriors, Interiors, Landscapes, Architectural Details, Before & After projects, and my popular 240-page book content.
Blog = My photos & stories | Homepage = Complete visual library
Enjoy these recent posts, or Quick Search entire site, below.
Spanish balconies are a favorite architectural design element to study and admire. Whether it’s wandering the historic streets of downtown Santa Barbara or admiring them…
Today, I’m sharing how talented artisans are distressing wood doors for a Spanish Colonial home. You’ll see the exact tools and techniques they use, plus…
So, I’m wandering through the streets of Seville with a client, listening intently to his goals for bringing authentic Spanish details into his Montecito remodel.…
Showcasing a Spanish entry foyer remodel in Santa Barbara, CA. From an ugly mess to a well-designed masterpiece, follow along as I highlight various features…
This small Spanish home facade was built with classic Santa Barbara details. The home was reimagined, an ugly Mansford roof removed. See the transformation as…
It’s remarkable how creative juices flow when you decide to start from scratch, rip out drywall and redesign a Spanish stair landing with classic materials.…
