With Love, Meghan: inside the Montecito home used to film the Duchess of Sussex's new series

Yahoo

03-03-2025

There's no denying that Meghan Markle knows interior design, as demonstrated by the glimpses we're getting of the $14.7 million (£11.6m) mansion she shares with Prince Harry in her brand-new series on Netflix, streaming from March 4. Or does she?
The eight-part cooking and entertaining series, With Love, Meghan, is actually filmed at an $8 million (£6.3m) farmhouse just two miles down the road from the couple's real property they share with children Archie and Lilibet and belongs to renowned philanthropists Tom and Sherrie Cipolla.
Interestingly, around the same time as Meghan reappeared on Instagram to promote the show under @meghan, so did the new @montecitoorchard account, seemingly used by the Cipollas to plug their estate for exclusive weddings and events. Indeed, the producers of Meghan's new series certainly weren't kidding when the voice-over on the teaser said: 'Let's make a show.'
As you'd imagine, everything about the house — set on five acres of sprawling Santa Barbara countryside with spectacular mountain views and comprising 4,500-square-foot of open-plan living space that includes four bedrooms and four bathrooms — has been painstakingly curated.
'I've always loved taking something pretty ordinary and elevating it,' Meghan says while building a board of crudités with hummus, 'and I'm going to share some little tips and tricks.'
Rather surprisingly, perhaps, the undisputed star of the show isn't the Duchess herself, but the luxuriously-appointed country kitchen, which has more than a little Martha Stewart-meets-Nancy Meyers about it.
Think cream Shaker-style cabinetry, black hardware, sleek Caesarstone countertops, butler's sink, oversized Thermador cooker, kitchen island, rustic wooden bowls, butcher blocks, blue-and-white serveware and Le Creuset pots and pans as far as the eye can see.
It's not just about the kitchen, though. As billed on the recently-launched Instagram handle for the gated residence, there's a lemon grove and avocado orchard, too, not to mention bee hives from which Meghan (in full beekeeping suit) collects honey, a glasshouse — the Beckhams have a similar Victorian-style design from Alitex UK — vegetable garden and plenty of raised beds spilling over with flowers.
A party barn, this summer's hottest garden trend, also complements the main building to provide ample living and entertaining space for both residents and guests.
Prior to either estate in Montecito – rental or home – the Sussexes stayed at close friend and filmmaker Tyler Perry's house in LA as a temporary pitstop, while back in the UK they started married life at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor after renting a Grade II-listed cottage in the Cotswolds.
Could another big move be on the horizon for the Sussexes? The value of Harry and Meghan's Montecito estate is reported to have skyrocketed since they bought it, and reports suggest Meghan no longer wants to rent a kitchen for the filming of her series.
To recreate the look, blend high-end comfort with natural elements to create a serene, stylish and welcoming atmosphere
Birgit Klein
But how do you get Meghan's Montecito aesthetic in your own home?
'When it comes to interior design, Montecito has become synonymous with understated luxury and effortless sophistication,' says Birgit Klein, the Montecito-based interior designer to the stars.
'To recreate the look, blend high-end comfort with natural elements to create a serene, stylish and welcoming atmosphere. Think muted tones paired with reclaimed materials; open, flowing spaces, high-quality, comfortable furnishings; and indoor-outdoor living with sliding glass doors, lounge areas, fire pits and expansive seating.'
Luckily, Restoration Hardware – the seriously high-end American brand that opened its first UK outpost in Oxfordshire back in 2023 – has also launched its timely Montecito collection featuring everything from sofas to cabinets and tables in Meghan-approved American white oak. You'll need to fork out for its expensive designs, but it's a small price to pay to keep up with the Sussexes, right?