Our favorite builds are rarely one material. Santa Barbara's own architecture is a mix — white stucco, dark wood, iron, tile — and the best fences, gates, and railings converse with that. Mixed-material design is where craft shows most, and it's become a Lighthouse signature.
Steel + wood — the gate that never sags
A steel frame carries the structure; wood carries the beauty. You get thin, modern profiles with real warmth — and a gate that swings as true in year ten as on day one, because the frame doesn't care what the weather thinks.
Stucco + wood — rooted to the house
Wood fencing and gates set between stucco or masonry columns tie the fence line to the architecture — the estate look that makes a property feel composed rather than enclosed. A hardwood gate set into a white wall is about as Santa Barbara as design gets.
Cable + wood — keep the view
Stainless cables in wood frames give you code-safe railings that visually disappear against the ocean or the valley. Warmth where your hand rests, nothing where your eyes go.
The details that finish it
Copper post caps that shed water and age into patina. Blackened hardware against pale cedar. Board directions that shift at the gate so the entrance announces itself. These are small line items that do outsized work.
See it in practice: custom gates · railings · the gallery — or start the conversation at (805) 203-6165.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Why mix materials instead of picking one?
Because each material does one thing best. Steel gives you strength and thin, rigid frames; wood gives you warmth; stucco and masonry tie the fence to the house; cable disappears in front of a view. Mixing lets every part of the structure be the best version of itself.
What are the most popular combinations?
Steel frames with wood infill for gates that never sag. Wood fencing between stucco or masonry columns. Cable railing with wood posts and caps for view decks. Copper caps on wood posts — protection that ages into jewelry. And hardwood gates set into painted walls for that Santa Barbara estate look.
Does mixing materials cost more?
Usually somewhat — there's more fabrication and more trades in one build. But it often costs less than doing the whole structure in the premium material, because you're spending the expensive material only where it shows or works hardest.
How do the materials age together?
That's a design decision we make up front: woods that silver, metals that patina (copper especially), finishes that hold. We choose combinations that look better together in year ten, not just on day one.