Gwyneth Paltrow turned $4.9 million Montecito property into 14,000-sq-ft estate

Gwyneth Paltrow's California home. (Image Credit: Architectural Digest) Gwyneth Paltrow's sprawling Montecito home began with a $4.9 million property purchase and a decision to start almost entirely from scratch. The actor and Goop founder bought 2.4 acres in the California community in 2016. Two homes dating from the late 1980s already stood on the land, but both were demolished to make way for a new residence. Six years later, the project had become a roughly 14,000-square-foot home combining high-end design with solar power and a system designed to reuse water. The timing of the project was significant. Paltrow bought the property while California was dealing with a severe drought and communities around Montecito were facing substantial pressure on their water supplies.A $4.9 million property rebuilt from scratchPaltrow's Montecito project was not a conventional renovation. After buying the site, she removed the two existing structures and worked with designers Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch of Roman and Williams. Interior designer Brigette Romanek was also involved in shaping the finished home. The design took inspiration from European architecture, particularly the feel of...