Casa Mexicana Style [Hardcover]

Annie Kelly (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2006

In 1521, when the Spanish arrived in Mexico, they were amazed at the spectacular architecture and complex urban planning they encountered in the great city of Tenochtitlán (modern-day Mexico City). To the native Mayan, Aztec, and Olmec traditions that had flourished throughout Mexico, the Spanish brought their own influences, resulting in an extraordinarily rich design heritage that survives to this day.

Acclaimed architectural photographer Tim Street-Porter vividly captures this enduring passion for design in Casa Mexicana Style, the follow-up to his best-selling Casa Mexicana (more than 100,000 copies sold). In this gorgeous new book featuring more than 250 photographs, Street-Porter takes us on an insider’s tour of 30 stunning homes, from urbane city apartments and modernist beach houses to stately rural haciendas and lovingly restored colonial townhouses.

All of the residences showcased here are enlivened by a natural blending of indoors and outdoors, a vibrant palette shaped by the sun-drenched surroundings, and an artful incorporation of the country’s celebrated crafts and handiwork. Whether large or small, historical or contemporary, Mexican houses are artistic statements, expressing the unique and inimitable lifestyle of their creators. Casa Mexicana Style is a welcoming invitation to bask in the beauty of these homes, to enjoy their charm and sophistication.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

ANNIE KELLY writes about design for magazines in the U.S. and abroad, including Vogue Living and English House and Garden. She is also a decorator whose work has been included in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, and Elle Decor. Kelly lives with her husband, Tim Street-Porter, in Los Angeles and Litchfield, Connecticut.

Architecture and design photographer TIM STREET-PORTER has published many books of photographs, including Casa Mexicana (STC), The Los Angeles House, Tropical Houses, and, most recently, Los Angeles. He is a frequent contributor to HG, Metropolitan Home, The World of Interiors, and many other design and travel magazines. Street-Porter lives in Los Angeles and Litchfield, Connecticut.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Stewart, Tabori and Chang; First Edition first Printing edition (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158479528X
• ISBN-13: 978-1584795285
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #134,400 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #56 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Architectural

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievable guide to Mexican design, February 18, 2007

By 

Linda A. Buonocore "buono" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Casa Mexicana Style (Hardcover)

I am an interior designer and have always been fascinated by the use of color in Mexico. This book is eye candy for any designer. The pictures are amazing and the photography wonderful. I have picked up this book so many times I have bookmarked almost every page for ideas. Great inspiration!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful but not what I expected, July 7, 2010

By 

Jeanie - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Casa Mexicana Style (Hardcover)

I just received my book a couple of days ago, and have been reading some of it, and looking at all of the pictures. It is a beautiful book with many beautiful pictures in great color, however, I expected to see more of the interiors of the haciendas. I am in the middle of decorating my condo mexican style, and I am interested in seeing new decorating ideas. This book showed mostly the architecture of the haciendas.

Somewhat disappointed.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Informercial, July 12, 2008

By 

Carol A. Johnson "carol" (ca) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Casa Mexicana Style (Hardcover)

The photograhy was beautiful, the houses plush and inviting, but the book read as an informercial for the interior design services of "friends" of the authors. I think Carr and others have done just as good of a job or better,and their books are more reasonably priced.

The book was reminiscent of tourist phamplets, beautiul pictures tooting virtues limited to a selected service, in this instance a few "designers." Ideas were limited, and represented a selected "Mexicana Style." One house looked much like another as the architecture was similar or the designer was the same. Not represetitive of Mexican design. It was a pity, I expected more.