Monday, July 22, 2013

Trending : California Spanish


Every five years or so I find myself changing my tastes.  Fickle pickle, yeah yeah, I know. But it always surprises me when I open my mind up to options I once quickly discounted.  I had never been a fan of the California Spanish look in years prior.  I loved my best friend's parents sprawling vista in San Diego for its charm and total 180 from east coast housing but never really gave the rest of it any thought.   It started with my favorite set-design of all times on the movie, It's Complicated, which boasts the Santa Barbara Spanish colonial look all day long.  I kind of died a little.  Then, slowly, I fell in love with the Eastwood's estate on their reality show and consequently anything in the Ojai Valley through various other reality TV.  I really started to change my tune on this distinct style.

I know what you're thinking - 'it's always been around'.  It's just that now I seem to notice it everywhere (OKL sales, the Pottery Barn catalog).  It's like a heightened sense of awareness since I've overturned my prejudices.   I'd love to visit the central California coast and take this all in.  I can do without the wooden wall-mounted wine holders and wine kitschery, but I do wanna see some terracotta tiles, stucco and wooden beams!

Have you lived in a Spanish Colonial or Spanish California home? Is it as wonderful as I've made it to be in my head?


17 comments:

  1. I have always been drawn to this style in its simplest,non-rustic added crap version.

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  2. I have never lived in this style, but it is the most popular style in Florida.

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  3. I love the roof tiles and the stucco.

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  4. I haven't lived in one, but think they're charming.

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  5. It's so different from New England, I would love to live in a home like that!!

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  6. Everyone's taste changes over time and most of the time the past taste meshes with the present. I've always loved the appeal of this style since back in the Philippines, you can see this influence everywhere!

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  7. Come visit me (and my Monterey Colonial that needs updating). I would love to have you!!

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  8. We have a quasi Spanish California Mediterranean, and I hope you will approve when you visit :) I will email you all dates next. xo Loi

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  9. Yes, I think it's very charming, too! Used to not be a fan either.

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  10. i always think of Amanda Peet's home when i think of this style. love it!

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  11. Me too, Bethany! I was just telling my daughter that I had to have terra cotta!! GORGEOUS!
    Hope that all is well with you and the darlings.
    Teresa
    xoxo

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  12. So weird. I totally experienced this same thing as well. I think it's because I was so used to seeing the whole "spanish/tuscan" style in McMansions. When done right though, it looks amazing.

    x elizabeth of thompson & prince

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  13. I think it's lovely and I'd love to live in one in the right setting. Ever since reading Steven Gambrel's book, I've become a "time and place" snob. This style just would not feel right in New England.

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  14. Never have been a fan of this style, maybe because I've seen too many bad interpretations? Surely not seen very often in the southeast!

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  15. Bethany..I do the same-thing...but I do like a certain Spanish look..its got to have old hand painted California tile and white walls...oh and hand blocked fabrics...got to put a spin on it...

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  16. They are beautiful! I love them, even here in Ohio. Sure they look a little funny in the mid-west but I'll take one anyway I can get one ;)

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  17. Yes!! This is my absolute FAVORITE style of house, and even here in the Bay Area, you see it a ton. Here's the rub, though. It has be 1940s or earlier to look cool like this. Or really well designed -- as in mimicking 40s or earlier. Anything after that era looks like Taco Bell. Here's what you get with Spanish Mediterranean: white and texture. :)

    I have a whole Pinterest board on the subject, BTW.
    Camille

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