Most people tend to like one architectural style, but I can appreciate elements of just about every style out there. If I have a soft spot for a specific style, Spanish Revival, also called Santa Barbara or Spanish Colonial, ranks near the top. I think it must be from my time living in California.
We have a sweet client who lives in the hill country and we worked with her on the new build material selections and furnishings for the home you see above. The exterior is clearly Santa Barbara and the interiors have many of those elements (dark wood floors, light walls, bronze hardware, wood beams), but the home also has a classic influence from our homeowner’s time living in Chicago. Those two influences were an unusual combination, but I believe the overall result is a very stylish blend of design elements.
Today’s blog will cover the front porch, entry and piano room. Next week we will look at the kitchen and breakfast room, then finish with our last project, the guest bedroom she completed for her family who visit from out-of-state.
Front Porch:
Our client wanted the front porch decorated and I made her a deal. As long as I did not have to select and plant the greenery I was happy to take it on. Lucky for me she is a genius when it comes to gardening and she has a lot of experience with it. I think I’ll have to get her to come to my house next!
We recommended an outdoor rug in black and white that would give high contrast to the white exterior paint. The black iron bench is an inviting space to rest and the two accent pillows add a pop of pattern.
I love the black planters and was so glad she is talented enough to know how to fill them and maintain them!
Just inside the front door is a double story entry hall. It has a grand spiral staircase and the perfect nook for a table and chair.
The table has a durable bluestone top that can take scratches in case any one wants to put down a purse or keys.
The wing chair has hints of the black, white and beige we used on the front patio. The pillow fabric has white embroidery with a black thread outline. It is one of my current favorites!
We selected statement lighting throughout, including this two tier bronze fixture in the hallway. When you have high ceilings the scale of the light fixture becomes very important.
A natural jute rug in the entry lets visitors know this is an easy-going home, even with the baby grand piano just off the entry.
The whole house has a very light, white and cream color scheme with occasional touches of blue. Each room flows to the next.
We liked the idea of the equestrian style light fixture with leather banding to tone down the formality of the piano.
The seagrass rug and metal cocktail table also contribute to making this ‘formal’ room feel less stuffy and more approachable.
The windows face the main road and the homeowners needed privacy, but wanted to let the light in. Arch top windows are a challenge when it comes to window treatments. Plantation shutters work best, but they block so much light and view. We ended up with linen sheers and overlaid decorative panels. The sheers can be drawn shut for privacy but the room stays bright.
I hope you enjoyed this introduction to ‘Classic meets Spanish Revival’! Join us next week as we continue on this house tour including a look into the details of this home’s beautiful kitchen!