SPANISH COLONIAL… EVER POPULAR HOME DESIGN

Arizona Custom Homes…  Spanish Colonial

http://www.woodridgecustombuilders.com

There is something totally unique about Arizona custom homes.  The homes in Arizona are not like any other part of the country.  Some may say, “Santa Fe”.  Perhaps, though many of the homes in Santa Fe are true to the Mission or Territorial architectural styles.   As a custom home builder, California actually serves are a great inspiration source for our Arizona custom homes.  It isn’t the inspiration of new homes in northern San Diego, but sometimes it’s the old, but true classics found in San Marino and Pasadena. The old Spanish influenced homes with fully arched windows, white smooth stucco,  red terra cotta roofs and big heavily carved wood doors, this architecture still inspires Arizona custom homes.  Spanish Colonial makes one think of Billy Wilder’s film, Double Indemnity as Fred MacMurray approaches such a house to renew an insurance policy only to find a dangerous and sultry Barbara Stanwyck.  Watch the first minute or so of the clip to get the feel of the Spanish Colonial as Fred MacMurry approaches the front door.  .

The Spanish Colonial home design is what; at Woodridge Custom Builders LLC, is our term for the custom home that resembles the home highlighted in the movie clip.  This is probably not termed correctly to the professional designer or architect, but the custom homes we build today rarely seem true to one particular style.   

Elements of the Spanish colonial are often found in Arizona custom homes.  They include the architectural details of barrel and groined ceilings under the exterior covered loggias as well as inside the home.  Homes are built around a central courtyard that includes features such as a water fountains or an outdoor fireplace.  Exposed stonewalls are found within the house as well as exterior, and include stone entrances surrounding wrought iron gates.  Early Mexican haciendas had plain-whitewashed walls, but faded red terra cotta, eggshell blue and ocher yellows were often used as accent colors in ceramic-painted tiles introduced by Spanish monks, today’s homes mock the same smooth stucco and earthy colors.   Hand-hewn heavy wood doors studded with worn iron clavos are mixed with substantial hand carved wood furnishings. 

Photos below highlight features of a Spanish Colonial courtyard home that we constructed in Gilbert, Arizona.  The homeowners of this home stayed true to the style as many of the features illustrate here.  Smooth whitewashed stucco of this courtyard’s entrance gates and the custom-made wrought iron lanterns hang over the soft arched entrance.  Painted ceramic tiles bring in the terra cotta, blue and ocher yellow accent colors.   The close-up photo of the custom-made lantern emphasizes the detail attended to in this custom home.  A fire-breathing dragon holds the black iron lantern; appropriately the suspended lantern contains red glass.   The bathroom photo highlights the red terra cotta, blue and ocher yellow ceramic-painted sink true to the Spanish Colonial style.  A natural stone counter top in red terra cotta complements the colors of the sink.  True to the style are hand carved wood furnishings.  These hand carved columns were found treasure hunting by the owners of this custom home and were incorporated beautifully into the kitchen entrance.  The Saltillo tiles are also true to the Spanish Colonial style.

Spanish Colonial Home’s Gated Entrance

Custom Made Black Dragon Lantern

Spanish Colonial Bathroom with Mexican Inspired Sink

Columns inspired by Spanish Colonial Architecture