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

by Elizabeth Mcmillian (Author), Melba Levick (Photographer)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Twenty-one private homes built between 1922 and 1991 in South California's eclectic and individualistic Hispanic mission and Mediterranean revival styles are vividly captured in this resplendent work. The book transcends Sunset Magazine-style coverage through a learned foreword by David Gebhard (art history, Univ. of California, Santa Barbara) and an informative introduction by former Architectural Digest editor McMillian, who also supplies captions and one- to two-page introductions to each home. Beyond their unique designs and ornamentation, the homes feature dazzling Spanish and Mexican folk art, antiques, tiles, fountains, and landscaping, all luxuriously photographed. Ownership, especially when tied to the area's movie industry, along with details of restoration and renovation, is noted and quotations from architects provided. Although more visual than analytical, the work delightfully captures the vitality and variety of Southern California's most important vernacular architecture. Recommended for regional and interior design collections.?Russell Clement, Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Former Architectural Digest editor McMillian and photographer Melba Levick take great pains to allow each of these 21 southern California houses a chance to show off without being constrained by undue fuss over their past and present owners. Exteriors and interiors are displayed in sharply focused color, furnishings are described, and a sense of the original architect's intended statement is conveyed. Many of the homes have been converted into museums; still, their architecture amply shows the good and bad sides of Spanish style. Barbara Jacobs

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli (May 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847818500
• ISBN-13: 978-0847818501
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #101,262 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous book!, June 26, 2001

By	marared (Southern California) - See all my reviews

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.

53 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning Spanish Style Homes!, July 24, 1999

By A Customer

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!

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST!, May 6, 2002

By	"andrew7934" (Newport Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews

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.