Santa Barbara Designs
Luxury Outdoor Umbrellas for Refined Living
Refined Shade for Distinguished Outdoor Living
Roy Mattson specifies Santa Barbara Designs for projects that require more than simple sun protection. These are architectural shade elements — proportioned, detailed, and constructed to complement refined exterior environments.
From private coastal estates to yacht clubs, luxury hotels, and exclusive restaurants, Santa Barbara Designs umbrellas define outdoor rooms with clarity and presence. Their silhouettes are instantly recognizable yet restrained, making them equally suited to traditional garden settings and contemporary terraces.
Design professionals return to the collection because it delivers consistency: thoughtful scale options, refined profiles, and materials that perform in demanding climates.
The Original Santa Barbara Umbrella®
Introduced in 1981, the Santa Barbara Umbrella® drew inspiration from the open-air markets of the Mediterranean. Its sculptural canopy and balanced proportions established a new standard for elevated outdoor shade.
That original silhouette remains the foundation of the brand — timeless rather than trendy — and continues to inform newer collections. The result is shade that feels considered, not decorative.
Specification & Advisory Guidance
Roy integrates Santa Barbara Designs umbrellas into broader outdoor compositions — coordinating scale with furniture layouts, aligning canopy color with architectural palettes, and considering exposure, wind conditions, and long-term durability.
Rather than selecting an umbrella in isolation, he advises on:
Proper sizing relative to dining and lounge groupings
Fabric selection appropriate for coastal or high-sun environments
Base weight and anchoring strategy
Visual alignment with teak, ceramic, or performance textile elements
This approach ensures the umbrella becomes part of the architecture of the garden, not an afterthought.
Ideal Applications
Santa Barbara Designs umbrellas are particularly well suited for:
Luxury residential terraces and pool environments
Yacht clubs and waterfront properties
Resort and hospitality settings
Institutional courtyards and private estates
When specified with intention, shade structures shape how a space feels — creating comfort, intimacy, and proportion.