Customer Reviews

Casa California: Spanish-Style Houses from Santa Barbara to San Clemente

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a gorgeous book full of color photos and description of Spanish Colonial Revival style architecture in Southern California. The beginning of the book provides a review of the style with information on stylistic influences and historical setting. As another reviewer mentioned, the homes in this book are mostly huge, and it really would have been nice to see some well-done modest homes (i.e. the 1000 or 1600 square foot variety). Nevertheless, this is the ONLY full-color book I have been able to find on this style, and I do think it provides helpful elements for use in smaller houses, but one needs to be imaginative to find them. If you are living in a smaller house, you can't just lift a whole room out of this book. For example, the cover photo features a huge staircase and fountain. It is very difficult (and would be inappropriate) to duplicate this type of thing in a smaller home, but I might notice that the decorative tile on the stair risers and the saltillo tile on the steps could be used on the steps up to my own modest front porch, for example. We have used a number of individual elements from this book in our own home, and we've used the photos to get an idea of what "works" and what doesn't in this style. I do really wish, though, that there was a companion book that showed how this style can be used to advantage in smaller homes, since the vast majority of homes of this style are in the 1000-2000 square foot range.

Overall a beautiful and helpful book, and I do think it was worth the money.

This book is well worth the price tag. I found many ideas in here, and am planning to model my house using a few aspects from most of the houses featured.

The photography in this book is absolutely beautiful, and would make a great addition to your collection, even as a coffee table book!

I am very interested in the Spanish Style, but even if you're not, and just want to see 21 beautiful homes, buy this book! It will not disappoint you!

One of those books that is just full of great images of the Spanish Revival/Moorish style architecture of So. California. While not heavy on text, this book is a very important visual reference for designers, etc. who want to see how it used to be done. Many photos are of the interiors, but most are of the gardens.

If interested in the glazed Malibu tiles seen throughout the book, check out "Ceramic Art of the Malibu Potteries: 1926-1932" by Ronald L. Rindge.

I asked for and received the book for Xmas. My driving force was the inspiration and ideas its photos evoked from me the first time I opened the pages. If you like California Spanish architecture the book is superb. The tile work, architecture and iron exemplify some of the best examples I have seen. My inspiration will hopefully translate into the renovations I complete throughout L.A.

Beautiful pictures depict romantic spaces with clear details, they helps me as an architect to re-create the Spanish living environment with many examples from different projects. The 20 houses in this book are gorgeous and inspiring -whether you are looking for ideas or merely relax reading. This is not a book showing only pieces of details for decorator use, it's an awesome architectural book as well as a perfect collection for my coffee table.

Beautiful photography shows a wide array of design ,both exteriors and interiors are presented.For me. about to build a home in Costa Rica it's a great help in putting together the architectural envelope.

a delightful book of old and new homes with a mediterranean infulence. all homes are built in california. the architecture and gardens are increadible. worth the price.

Excellent interior and exterior photos showing 1920's Southern California Spanish and Mediterranean Revival homes. The Foreward and Introduction describing the architectural history of the period is interesting. It will be of most value to owners of these style homes. Definately worth the investment.

Nice photography--examples of what architects can do for people with plenty of money. The adaptations are ingenious but provide little inspiration for Spanish-style homes of 1200 to 1600 square feet, for smaller families or retirees, which is what this reader was looking for.

I didn't glean anything more from this book that I couldn't have gathered on a Sunday drive. Most of the pictures are of exteriors and amazingly enough, none of them really inspires appretiation of this architechtural style. I'm an absolute sucker for Spanish Colonial. There's almost nothing built during the classic era of the 1920's and '30's that I don't swoon over. This book, however, compiled some of the least attractive examples of that style and ends up being thoroughly disappointing. Definitely look elsewhere if your objective is designing interior details that honor the classics.