In a valley of orange groves near Santa Barbara, California, photographer Victoria Pearson and her husband and kids have created a decidedly comfortable, family-friendly house.

The living room is filled with bright light; white walls and furnishings reflect the sunshine still more. The floor-to-ceiling bookcases are original to the house; woven baskets hold family photos. Wide thrift-store chairs are slipcovered in sturdy cotton. A cowhide rug tops a sea-grass carpet; behind those are vintage terra-cotta tiles.

In the living room, Chinese tables separate Jean-Michel Frank chairs and a modern sofa (not shown), both upholstered in Belgian linen. A wooden lamp brings a sense of nature indoors, and Buddhist Quan Yin figurines gather on an Indonesian table; the lemon portrait is one of Pearson's photographs.

Vicki Pearson and Marshall, Trevor, and Brett Laymance in the garden.

Prickly-pear cactus fills the view from the windows of the original living room, which blends seamlessly with the house's new addition to the left -- a den and upstairs master bath.

To illuminate the entryway, Laymance proposed a wedge-shaped window above the door and hung a Balinese mirror to reflect the garden; the floor's pebble mosaic was created by the home's original owner.

In an arbor outside the kitchen, climbing 'Royal Sunset' roses bloom.

The kitchen's fireplace is a magnet for everyone in the house, including the family dog, Jewelie.

Boxwood, rosemary, and gravel steps create a Provencal-style welcome.

A large oak table and padded chairs make the kitchen a comfy, informal gathering spot; open shelves hold English and French ironstone and Spanish and Moroccan pottery, along with everyday plates from a restaurant-supply store.

A pepper tree shelters an open-air dining spot.

East meets West Coast in this California house.

Prickly-pear flowers stretch upward in the home's landscape.

Ironstone fills a Sri Lankan cabinet in the living room.

The terrazzo fireplace has a cave-painting motif.

Glass vases hold Pearson's roses du jour.

A corkboard-covered refrigerator is a natural place for photos, post cards and notes to live in the kitchen.

Kitchen shelving holds dinnerware.

Homegrown avocados add a shot of green to a kitchen counter.

Vicki's gardening books add a splash of color to the library shelves.

Roses and lavender flourish by the pool.

A Japanese torii gate leads into the vegetable garden.

English roses are ready for picking.

A gorgeous shot of color in the home's garden.

A sycamore edges a meadow.

A room corner offers a perfect spot for the family's office area.

The garden's vegetable beds provide salad ingredients.

Tall French doors draw light, breezes, and perfume from orange trees into the master bedroom.

One of four fireplaces contributes to the house's cozy feel. Mounted elk horns add a rustic touch; just-snipped roses are deposited in Pearson's collection of flea market vases.

A window over the sink stands in for the typical mirror and offers views of the citrus grove and distant mountains.

Pearson's photograph of a glass of water hangs just above a claw-foot tub.

A well-cushioned chair offers a seat beside more French doors; the plush chair, a stately chandelier, and a Chinese chest (with linens, toiletries, and a large makeup mirror inside) make this a room of eclectic comforts.