When you walk through the front door of Jessie and Brian De Lowe’s Santa Barbara House, you’re not fully registered whether you’re inside or out. Free winds blow through the open windows of the 1950s farmhouse, pulling you past the kitchen island where Jessie arranges salads, straight to the backyard where Brian harvests avocados from their giant tree.
It was magic hour at De Lowes – that time of day when the sun was bright and about to set and there was a dim light that made everything look gorgeous. The house, known as Four Feathers . Farmhouse, is their most recent passion project. Bought during the pandemic, it has views of the canyons and ocean, and they have completely turned it into a veritable paradise for their family. Their days in Montecito are defined by beach walks and picnics with their daughters, 4-year-old Amelie and 1-year-old Lucia – and have a palpable gratitude for the life they’ve created out here for my family.
Jessie is a Expression Coach and founder of the popular healthcare platform How you glow. Her background in art therapy and yoga is evident in both her cheerful demeanor and creative approach to life. Brian’s warmth and hospitality comes as no surprise – as the co-founder and president of Suitable hotelhe spends his hours creating some of the friendliest and most eye-catching spaces (and my personal favorite places to stay).
Spending time with Jessie and Brian is to feel like family – you’re invited to warm up your shoes, enjoy a drink and feel cozy in the piece of paradise they’ve showcased here in Montecito. Continuing my interview with one of my favorite couples and all the details from the magic hour gathering they held for friends at Four Feathers Farm House.
Home and their life in Montecito
Tell us about your incredible home – How did Four Feathers Farm come to be?
We rented in Montecito and were looking for a place to settle down with our family – and when we saw Four Feathers Farm House, we knew how special this property was. We felt the good energy of this property immediately while on tour.
There are 6 gorgeous chickens roaming around in this lush, lush garden that feels like Hawaii or Costa Rica. The property is full of avocado, passion fruit, persimmon, plum, fig, citrus, banana… it’s all there.
We were sold on the outside but the inside didn’t inspire us much, but the bones were amazing. We had the opportunity to design our dream home with the help of The house of honey over 7 months or longer. We moved in while it was still under construction, but thanks to the indoor-outdoor nature of the house, we didn’t feel too constrained.
What are some evening meals of your week to eat at home?
Rang salmon and vegetables, clams and garlic, gem salad
What is your typical breakfast?
Brian makes the most delicious oat decaf latte and brings it to my bed every morning. My friend recently brought in some homemade collagen marshmallows that I put on top, which really took it to the next level!
Recently we have intermittent fasting and wait to eat until we exercise, so the first meal is usually around 11am – sometimes we have breakfast but other times we go straight to lunch. Ideally, a large salad with some protein, and then some Rolled oats with berries and yogurt for dessert.
Guide us to a typical weekend for your family.
We have the best cuddles in bed in the morning. Amelie and Lucia watch cartoons while Brian and I relax drinking coffee. Then we went to the farmers market to shop for the week. We meet a lot of you here, because Santa Barbara is really a small town, dance to the live music and enjoy the great energy.
Then we headed to Oat Bakery to pick up some of their delicious hygge, charcoal sesame bread, and whatever seasonal bread they had that day. If we’re feeling ambitious, we’ll head to the Santa Barbara fish market to buy some seafood for dinner. We usually have breakfast burritos took us home from Corazon and brought them home for a picnic in our garden while Lucia took a nap.
In the afternoon, we’ll ride e-bikes (our girls are absolutely obsessed with e-bikes!) and meet friends for drinks and food while the kids play. In the evening Brian and I will go on a date (we like to go for a drink at the San Ysidro Ranch at sunset and then enjoy a burger and fried chicken at the Honor Bar) or have a family dinner at home and invite your friends to join us.
About food and cooking
Jessie, how did you learn to cook?
My mother is a professional chef, cooking teacher and cookbook author so I learned everything by osmosis. Seeing her in the kitchen and growing up in a family that was so obsessed and focused on food definitely made me feel sick. Cooking is a great way to make guests feel welcome, appreciated and loved.
What informs your approach to food?
Living in Santa Barbara is a gift because we have access to the best seafood and produce all year round! My approach is to focus on what’s fresh, seasonal, and really let the ingredients shine. i love u colorful food plate… I find that the more colors there are on the plate, the more excited my child is to eat it.
What are your must-have cookware?
I add a lot of lemons to my dishes and salad dressings, so the lemon squeezer has been used a lot lately.
Tell us something we will always find in your fridge?
Pickled vegetables, various cheeses, gem lettuce, baby arugula, apples, eggs, oat milk, kimchi, berries
The way they gather
What does a great gathering look like to you?
A great gathering means having a great music playing, friends laughing, eating while feeling at home.
What scares you about entertainment?
Time everything correctly! I don’t want to burn anything but also want to be present and attentive to guests so I try to make dishes that can be prepared in advance and assembled when it’s time to eat.
What is your signature dish for gatherings?
I always earn a large amount charcuterie table for guests to graze. I made sure there was something for everyone there and made it really eye-catching by adding lots of colors and beautiful flowers. A large loaf of sourdough bread on top is always a good idea.
I make a big salad with anything fresh from the market. I make sure to always include some toasted nuts for a crunch and some fruit for sweetness.
Lately, I’ve been obsessed with the Farro Salad from Charlie Bird and kept repeating it over and over.
What is a tip for those who want to organize a meeting on a budget?
Make him a fool!
Start a favorite conversation or a question to get to know someone?
What are you thinking about lately?
The list of perfect dinner parties includes:
Nicola Cruz and Jorge Drexler
Go to the center:
Flowers and citrus fruits from the garden. Besides cheese board could be a nice mall!
What’s your stress-free partying rule?
Guests can just relax like their hosts!
Dream dinner guests?
Our parents. Always a good treat to have them here.
Sentence complete set:
A perfect meal should be… enjoyed outside and barefoot.
It wouldn’t be a dinner party without… our daughter Amelie’s mid-meal performance.
Every chef should know how to make a delicious salad dressing.
