California Colonial: The Spanish and Rancho Revival Styles (Schiffer Design Book) [Hardcover]

Elizabeth Jean, Ph.D. McMillian (Author), Matt Gainer (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2002 | Series: Schiffer Design Book

The drama and beauty of historic homes in California are studied and displayed here in a deeply researched text and over 350 stunning color and over 50 black and white photographs. Southern California's Spanish Revival monuments are pictured here-such as Hearst Castle at San Simeon, the Adamson House in Malibu, Casa del Herrero in Montecito. You will enjoy Rancho Revival landmarks like the Lummis House on Pasadena's arroyo, and Will Rogers' ranch near Pacific Palisades. These are all different portrayals of the California Colonial, its romantic past and its manner of settling into California's climate and landscape. Vernacular and religious structures built between 1769 and 1848, during the Spanish Mission and Mexican Rancho eras, gave California its unique character; a look that was subsequently fictionalized in the revival architecture produced since those colonial days. Particularly influential on residential work, the colonial styles have indulged in the rich associations with Spain's culture-employing styles and ornament from the country's provincial Andalusian, Plateresco, Churrigueresco, and Desornamentado styles and its ever-present Mudjar crafts-or burrowed into its rustic pioneer roots and depicted as individual visions of earthy rancho haciendas.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Art and architecture historian McMillian delineates the domestic and foreign influences that inspired the California colonial style, most evident in the abundant white-walled dwellings with red-tiled roofs seen throughout California. Numerous color photographs show houses, churches, and commercial structures that typify each variation of this revival style, from Mission to Spanish Colonial to Mediterranean. Also included are views of exteriors, interiors, and architectural detail, such as tiles and even light-switch plates. A concluding section examines the Spanish-inspired ranch houses of Cliff May and the Barker Brothers line of Monterey furniture that typically furnished this style of home. Recommended for large and regional interior design collections.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Elizabeth McMillian is a writer and an art and architecture historian. She is a former landmarks commissioner in Santa Monica, and former president of the Southern California Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians. She holds a Ph.D. in art history from the University of Southern California, was the recipient of a J.P. Getty Memorial Fellowship, and was architectural editor of Architectural Digest from 1982 to 1992.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer Publishing (February 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764314602
• ISBN-13: 978-0764314605
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 9.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #822,300 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderfully-written and visually-stunning reference, September 13, 2002

By 

Roger V. Meeker (Kapoho, Hawaii USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: California Colonial: The Spanish and Rancho Revival Styles (Schiffer Design Book) (Hardcover)

Dr. McMillian's treatment of a beautiful and significant architectural tradition in this country is quite unique. She has written and assembled an exquisite volume that deftly bridges the gap between a dry technical analysis and a pretty coffee-table effort by offering the reader an excellent textual and visual presentation of the mission and spanish revival styles (and related styles) that emanated in Southern California in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Lesser-recognized sub-genre's like hacienda, rancho and Plateresco also discussed, and the oftentimes confusing evolution and blending of these various styles is skillfully addressed. Hundreds of color photos beautifully complement the extremely informative historical analysis, providing the reader with a real taste of the various architectural and decorative arts elements that comprise these styles. Dr. McMillian's effort brings appropriate attention to an architectural tradition that defines Southern California more than any other. A more adept and satisfying one-volume treatment of this subject matter would be hard to imagine. Highly recommended.

For a beautiful companion volume that is equally well-written and accompanied by some stunning photography, check out the author's "Casa California" (1996).

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderfully-written and visually-stunning reference, September 13, 2002

By 

Roger V. Meeker (Kapoho, Hawaii USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: California Colonial: The Spanish and Rancho Revival Styles (Schiffer Design Book) (Hardcover)

Dr. McMillian's treatment of a beautiful and significant architectural tradition in this country is quite unique. She has written and assembled an exquisite volume that deftly bridges the gap between a dry technical analysis and a pretty coffee-table effort by offering the reader an excellent textual and visual presentation of the mission and spanish revival styles (and related styles) that emanated in Southern California in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Lesser-recognized sub-genre's like hacienda, rancho and Plateresco are also discussed, and the oftentimes confusing evolution and blending of these various styles is skillfully addressed. Hundreds of color photos beautifully complement the extremely informative historical analysis, providing the reader with a real taste of the various architectural and decorative arts elements that comprise these styles. Dr. McMillian's effort brings appropriate attention to an architectural tradition that defines Southern California more than any other. A more adept and satisfying one-volume treatment of this subject matter would be hard to imagine. Highly recommended.

For a beautiful companion volume that is equally well-written and accompanied by some stunning photography, check out the author's "Casa California" (1996).

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars California's special style, January 28, 2007

By 

M. Seidner "Enjoys art and antiques" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: California Colonial: The Spanish and Rancho Revival Styles (Schiffer Design Book) (Hardcover)

Informative, needed less description and more diversity of photos. It shows Malibu and north to Hearst Castle but not much of the architectural detail in many of the Los Angeles, Los Feliz, Hancock Park or Santa Monica homes.