CasaSugar

Ask Casa: Books on Spanish Colonial Architecture

CasaSugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:00:58 -0700

Hello Casa,

My dream is to buy or build a Spanish Colonial home for myself one day. I was wondering if you could recommend some books on this architectural style for me. Some coffee table books would be fine, or something on the construction of the homes too and interior design . . . anything at all I would greatly appreciate. I also remember that you wrote a post about Reese Witherspoon and that her new house was a Spanish Colonial. That house was absolutely lovely too. Thank you in advance!

Always, PeachyKeen19
To hear my suggestions for PeachyKeen19, read more.

Hi PeachyKeen,

Thanks for thinking of me! I'm with you on this one; Spanish Colonial is one of my favorite styles of residential architecture as well. This is especially true of homes with original architectural details. There are a few books I think might be right up your alley.

Haciendas ($34.95) by Linda Leigh Paul, from Rizzoli Press (one of my favorites), highlights the interiors and exteriors of 25 Spanish Colonial homes, both traditional and modern, in Mexico and the US, and will give you a broad overview of the style. This book is quite photography-heavy, with 250 rich photos, but I think this is key for understanding the architectural elements. It also gives a great historical background on the style, with information on the hacienda's origin as homes for Spanish nobility, up to newer styles today throughout the US.
Spanish-Colonial Architecture in the United States ($16.95) by Rexford Newcomb traces Spanish architecture throughout the US, including Florida, the Gulf Coast, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. This book is a must-have reference, much more text-heavy than the former, although it is illustrated with 195 photographs and 50 measured drawings. Newcomb is a distinguished architectural historian who's written several books on various styles of architecture. This book is well-documented (no fluff here), and offers a range of perspective views, detailed close-ups, measured front elevations, and floor plans to get down to the grit of the style.
Another title out of Rizzoli Press, California Romantica: Spanish Colonial and Mission-Style Houses ($40.95) is co-authored by actress Diane Keaton and LA-native D.J. Waldie. In architectural circles, Diane Keaton is praised for her preservation of historic California homes, and considered a committed preservationist. California is basically the hub of Spanish Colonial architecture in the US, so this is a must-read even if you plan to live elsewhere. The book features residential examples of both California Mission and Spanish Colonial styles, and introduces you to influential architects like George Washington Smith, Wallace Neff, Richard Requa, Lilian Rice, and Paul R. Williams.

Beyond that, with her cinematic eye, Keaton made a point to specially commission the photography for this book, so the photos alone are must-see. The book also gives you a tour of Keaton's own Spanish-style home, which I've actually written about before.

Hope that helps! And good luck finding your dream home.

Cheers,
Casa

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Diane Keaton Flips Again

CasaSugar — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 09:00:25 -0700

For a change, prolific house flipper Diane Keaton has put her private residence on the market after teaming up with interior designer Stephen Shadley to make extensive changes. The 8,434-square-foot house is a Spanish Colonial Revival in Beverly Hills with seven bedrooms and nine baths, and is listed for $12,995,000. It was originally designed in the 1920s by architect Ralph Flewelling, who is well-known for the fountain he designed for the intersection of Wilshire and Santa Monica boulevards in Los Angeles. The home is decorated with a sort of Spanish authenticity combined with an "old California" reference, giving it a very Western vibe. Its fantastic lighting, vast courtyard, and stunning architectural features (arches galore) are undoubtedly its greatest features, although Keaton and Shadley have given a very welcoming, rustic polish that I find unique. I don't know how I feel about the sleeping Mexican farmer statues arranged around her courtyard fountain - common in missions, but strange in a home. Be sure to check out an article about the property in Architectural Digest and see additional photos when you read more.

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On the Market: Madonna's Former Abode

CasaSugar — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:00:21 -0700

Want to feel a little closer to the Material Girl? Then you might want to consider buying an eight-bedroom, nine-bath 1926 Beverly Hills manse that was once owned by Madonna. That is, if you have some millions to spare: the mansion is on the market for nearly $17.5 million.

For more details on the home, and to see more photos, read more.
The property's current owners purchased the 6,458-square-foot Spanish-style home from Madonna for $8.75 million in 2004. Designed by architect Wallace Neff, who also designed the Pickfair Mansion, the gated house features "courtyards, an outdoor fireplace and dining area, a pool, formal gardens, a detached office, and two guesthouses," and was featured in the July 1999 issue of Architectural Digest. Madonna purchased the property for $6.5 million from actress Diane Keaton, who is a well-known property flipper with an interest in historic California homes.

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This Just In: Diane Keaton Flips a Lloyd Wright

CasaSugar — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 08:15:51 -0800

According to Real Estalker, Diane Keaton, a well-known property flipper with an interest in historic California homes, has flipped and put the Lloyd Wright designed Alfred Newman Estate in Pacific Palisades on the private market. For those of you who aren't exactly archi-philes, Lloyd Wright was the often overshadowed architect son of celebrated American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. For further information on the estate, read more

The 4,386-square-foot, 6 bedroom, 5-bath residence features a natural spring for irrigation, a riding arena, a small barn with stables, an area for outdoor concerts, and a hexagonal swimming pool, which Lloyd Wright was known for. The property itself slopes down from Sunset Boulevard, providing views of Rustic Canyon. The interior space, which may or may not remain after the flip, featured "original parquet floors, acres of simple but beautifully executed mill work, long stretches of floor to ceiling glazing [ . . . ], four wood-burning fireplaces, and scads of built-ins in the unusually shaped rooms."

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Diane Keaton

CasaSugar — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:13:49 -0700

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Inspired: Femme Meets Menswear

CasaSugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 07:45:05 -0700

PopSugarUK recently took a look at Sienna Miller and Keira Knightley on the red carpet at The Edge of Love world premiere in Edinburgh. While I'm certainly looking forward to seeing the film, what really interested me was the gals' attire. FabSugar picked up on how long and lean they looked, but I personally have been wooed by how dapper they looked in their menswear-inspired getups. Between Keira's sequined tuxedo jacket and Sienna's bowler hat, I'd say they're looking very Diane Keaton (known for sporting vintage men's clothing) meets Studio 54. I love this glammed-up menswear look, and wouldn't mind replicating it in my home for a special occasion. The image also instantly reminded me of the Jake Phipps Hat Pendant Lights that I wrote about back in October. To get the authentic tuxedo look, I've rounded up some stylish furnishings in a black-and-white palette. You can also consider upholstering a chair in pinstripes or weaving a furnishing from neckties. To see my glamorous menswear-inspired finds, read more.

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In the News: A Richard Neutra in Dire Straits

CasaSugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:30:05 -0700

The Los Angeles Times' "The Clock Is Ticking For Richard Neutra's VDL Research House II" is a story about the "fabled glass box on Silver Lake Boulevard in Los Angeles," designed by renowned midcentury modernist architect Richard Neutra and owned by nonprofit Cal Poly Pomona Foundation, and faces sale if upward of $2 million is not raised by supporters by the end of the year. Saturday tours of the landmark have recently begun to raise money for the cause, and awareness of its need for restoration. Visitors can witness firsthand some of its problems, including termite damage, asbestos, cracked and dried reflecting pools, jammed sliding doors, and an electric system that no longer functions. While midcentury modern design is experiencing a boom, and people like Diane Keaton are restoring equally important homes, you wonder why an architectural landmark could be in dire need of preservation. Neutra's son, Dion Neutra, who once worked to rebuild the house after a fire, says, "It’s a result of benign neglect for the 20 years since my family donated the house to Cal Poly." While it's understandable that a home that's been uninhabited for so long could be overlooked, the thought of it selling to a private party, and becoming unavailable to the public, is a glum one.
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Kim Seybert Black Leather Sequin Placemat - $75.00	Hailey Pillow - $26.95
Lauren Ralph Lauren "Formal Affair" 6" Tuxedo Tidbit Plates, Set of 4 - $100.00	Metropolitan Place - $99.99
Belmont Lamps - $495.00	Black Sofa - $3,299.00
The Dangerous Book For Boys - $24.95	Classic Hotel Tablecloth - $39.00
Décor Chair - $499.00	B&W Wall Hook - $18.00
Lauren Ralph Lauren "Formal Affair" Dinnerware Collection - $27.00	Tub Chair - $1,699.00
Normann Copenhagen -stepptwo ashtray- 4 left! by tom stepp - $66.00	Graham and Brown Marcel Wanders Henry Wallpaper - $75.00