Our story

A two-story building with white walls, green window shutters, and a terracotta tiled roof. The building has a large tree with thick branches and dense foliage on the left side. There is a small outdoor seating area with four green chairs and a table, and a parking lot in the foreground with no cars. The building has a sign that reads 'OFFICE' near the entrance, and decorations such as a wreath hang outside.
A two-story building with white walls, green window shutters, and a terracotta tiled roof. The building has a large tree with thick branches and dense foliage on the left side. There is a small outdoor seating area with four green chairs and a table, and a parking lot in the foreground with no cars. The building has a sign that reads 'OFFICE' near the entrance, and decorations such as a wreath hang outside.

Before it was Solei House, it was Sunset Motel. And before that, it was Melanie’s home.

In the 1990s, Melanie's parents landed in Santa Barbara after a long journey. Starting from Taiwan, they moved and built a life in France, before finding their way to the US. Like many immigrant families, they built a business to make it. They bought a small motel on Upper State Street, added a second story, and raised their family here. Melanie grew up in the manager's unit just down the hall from guests.

Eventually, Melanie went to UC Berkeley (go Bears!), and spent 15 years working in education nonprofits. She started her career helping first-generation students access higher education, and then supported literacy programs for elementary students nationwide.

In 2025, Melanie came back, this time with her husband, Eric. They took the inn back over, redesigned, and renovated the rooms to feel beautiful and timeless, but without the crazy price tag. And they gave it a new name, Solei House, to honor her roots and her immigrant story. We like to say we’ve come full-circle back to Santa Barbara.

We're not backed by large investors or a big corporate budget. We're two people building upon a legacy of immigrant entrepreneurship and sacrifice to make Solei House a warm, welcoming stay for every guest.

We look forward to welcoming you to Santa Barbara.

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