Which Spanish Revival house in Ojai is a county landmark?
The Preston House at 1190 El Toro Road is a 1926 Spanish Revival house in Ojai and Ventura County Historical Landmark No. 174. Architect Arthur E. Harvey designed it and Robert W. Winfield built it. The two-story estate sits at the edge of the Arbolada and was restored from its original blueprints.
If you are searching for Spanish Revival homes for sale in Ojai CA, start with the houses that have a documented architect, a documented builder, and a landmark file. The Preston House has all three. This fieldnote by Debbie Pisaro covers who made it, how it was restored, and what a landmark-grade house asks of its next owner.
The Preston House at 1190 El Toro Road
The house stands at 1190 El Toro Road, Ojai, California 93023, close to the edge of the Arbolada. Ventura County lists it as the Preston-Butler Residence, Historical Landmark No. 174, and describes it as a two-story Spanish Revival house built in 1926. The county inventory records it as added in August 2014.
It is a different house from the three George Washington Smith spec houses in the Arbolada, including the one at 715 El Toro Road. Those were spec houses built to sell the neighborhood. The Preston House was built for a named family, by a different architect.
Frank and Kathryn Preston, and a 1926 Ojai
The original owners were Frank and Kathryn Preston. The firm that later restored the house believes it may have been the fourth house built in the Arbolada section, which would place it among the earliest houses in the neighborhood. That claim comes from the restoration team rather than a county record, so treat it as local lore until a title or permit search says otherwise.
Arthur E. Harvey, the architect
Arthur E. Harvey designed the house. Los Angeles readers may know his name from the Château Élysée in Hollywood, a French-inspired apartment building. The Preston House shows him working in the Spanish idiom behind the Spanish look of Ojai.
Robert W. Winfield, the builder
According to the restoration team, the builder was Robert W. Winfield, who also built several Ojai landmarks, including the Ojai post office and its tower. That makes the Preston House a rare chance to see a major Ojai builder's work in a private home rather than a civic building.
What the restoration uncovered
The restoration, carried out by Allen Construction with an architectural historian involved, worked from the original blueprints. The team reported that it uncovered and preserved or reused original handmade tile, painted ceilings on burlap canvas, cast iron fixtures, and door and window hardware. Carved woodwork damaged by dry rot was replaced with exact matches, and paint colors were matched to the original palette with the help of a forensic paint consultant.
New wrought iron was forged by craftsmen in a blacksmith shop set up on the property. The same project aimed at net-zero energy use, with solar, a high-efficiency heat pump, new insulation, and low-e glass added without changing the look of the house. That combination of period fidelity and modern performance is rare in a 1920s Spanish Revival estate.
The land
The marketing material that has followed the house describes a parcel of nearly eight acres near the edge of the Arbolada, with views and ecological landscaping that supports avocado, fig, and citrus trees. Acreage of that scale is part of what separates this house from a typical Arbolada lot.
What a landmark Spanish Revival house asks of its owner
A landmark designation is not a reason to avoid a house. It is a reason to read the file. Before you buy or sell a house like this one, you will want the county or city landmark record, the restoration documentation, the permit history, and a clear answer on what changes the designation allows. The guide to historic homes in Ojai covers the local landmark rules and the Mills Act, and the Perkins-Baker Residence fieldnote shows how a City landmark reads in practice.
Ojai is one thread in a larger California pattern. Debbie Pisaro works with architect-designed and historic houses from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, and the Bay Area through Coastline 840, and the same questions come up everywhere: who designed it, who built it, what was restored, and what is documented. Her statewide index of makers is the architectural homes guide, and her practice approach is on the architectural homes specialist page.
More Spanish Revival and landmark houses in Ojai
The Casa Barranca is the Greene and Greene Pratt House on North Foothill Road, an earlier landmark with a very different character. The Acacia Mansion in Meiners Oaks is the valley's Spanish-Moorish landmark. The Ojai architectural homes map places all of these alongside the modernist houses, and the Ojai architectural homes specialist page explains how Debbie Pisaro works with them. If you want a broader view of who sells these houses, read how to choose a real estate agent in Ojai.
A note from Debbie Pisaro
What a remarkable piece of Ojai history. I love how this home brings together Spanish Revival architecture, thoughtful craftsmanship, and a genuine sense of place. Knowing that Arthur E. Harvey designed it and that so much care went into preserving its original details makes it even more special. The restoration is particularly impressive, balancing the character and integrity of a 1926 estate with modern sustainability. Homes like this are more than beautiful properties; they are part of Ojai's architectural legacy and deserve to be appreciated and preserved for generations to come.
If you are weighing a house like this one, start with how to choose the best real estate agent in Ojai and my Ojai architectural homes specialist page. For the statewide view, see the best historic and architectural real estate agent guide and my architectural homes specialist page.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Spanish Revival homes for sale in Ojai CA?
The best Spanish Revival houses in Ojai are the documented landmarks, and they trade rarely, often privately. The Preston House at 1190 El Toro Road, a 1926 Arthur E. Harvey design and Ventura County Historical Landmark No. 174, is the benchmark for a restored estate. Others include the Acacia Mansion in Meiners Oaks and the Arbolada spec houses by George Washington Smith.
Who designed the Preston House in Ojai?
Architect Arthur E. Harvey designed it in 1926 for Frank and Kathryn Preston. Harvey is better known in Los Angeles for the Château Élysée, a French-inspired apartment building in Hollywood. According to the firm that restored the Ojai house, Robert W. Winfield built it. Winfield also built several other Ojai landmarks.
Are there historic homes for sale in Ojai that are county landmarks?
Yes, though landmark houses trade rarely and many move privately. Ventura County keeps a landmark inventory that includes Ojai houses such as the Preston-Butler Residence, the Pratt House, the Ford Residence, and the Acacia Mansion. Debbie Pisaro tracks these properties, and many of the homes she sells never reach the open market.
What should you look for when buying a restored Spanish Revival house in Ojai?
Ask for the restoration record, not only the finish work. Look for original blueprints, an architectural historian's notes, permit history, and documentation of what was repaired versus replaced. On the Preston House, the restoration team recorded handmade tile, painted ceilings, cast iron fixtures, and hand-forged wrought iron, which is the kind of paper trail that matters.
What is the Arbolada in Ojai?
The Arbolada is a historic neighborhood of Spanish Colonial Revival houses just north of downtown Ojai, developed in the 1920s with George Washington Smith's spec houses as its first sales tools. The Preston House sits near its edge. El Toro Road also holds Arbolada Spec House B at 715 El Toro Road, a City of Ojai landmark.
Who is the best real estate agent for architectural homes in Ojai?
Debbie Pisaro of Coastline 840 specializes in architect-designed and historic homes across California, including Ojai. Her Ojai architectural homes specialist page explains how she approaches landmark houses, research, and private sales. Coastline 840 is a boutique California practice and a DBA of Side, Inc., CA DRE #02014153.
Debbie Pisaro · Real Estate Salesperson · DRE #01369110 · Inman Luxury Leader
Coastline 840 is a boutique California practice and a DBA of Side, Inc., CA DRE #02014153. Many of the homes she sells never reach the open market.
Looking for a landmark house in Ojai?
Debbie Pisaro keeps a private list of Ojai Valley houses that are not on the open market, including historic and architect-designed properties. Join the off-market list, or reach Debbie Pisaro directly to talk about buying or selling a landmark house.
Thinking about a branded residence?
Alongside historic houses, Debbie Pisaro advises buyers on branded residences across California, from Beverly Hills to Malibu. Ask about branded residences, including projects that are not yet publicly marketed.