This duplex is a beautiful example of Spanish Colonial Revival
In last month’s issue of Delicious Design, I introduced you to my charming Wilshire Vista neighborhood. Dating back to the early 1920s, Wilshire Vista features a variety of architectural styles, including English Tudor Revival, English Country, French Normandy, Storybook, Spanish Colonial Revival, and Mediterranean Revival.
I’ve discovered that the area – which is between Pico Boulevard and San Vicente, and between Fairfax and Hauser – has some really wonderful homes (besides my own). It also has a few ugly ones – usually houses that have been “modernized” with no sensitivity to their original style.
This Storybook house would be perfect were the grounds not so overgrown
So, come along with me on Part 2 of a tour of Wilshire Vista and, like last month, I’ll show you some of the best – and one of the worst – architectural creations.
House 1: This corner duplex is a lovely example of Spanish Colonial Revival design. I particularly like the good use of wrought-iron, the beautiful tile roof and the round entryway, which ramps up the architectural interest of the structure. (I will confess, however, I’m not crazy about the use of the new stained glass in a couple of windows.)
This charming English Country home incorporates some modern updates that are clearly sensitive to the style of the structure
House 2: The owner of this Storybook home should give the property a little TLC to make it a perfect house. What is badly needed is removal – or at least trimming – of the trees on the left and the addition of some lovely landscaping. I like the exposed brick, though it, too, looks a bit ratty. Overall, however, this is a great Hansel and Gretel house with a lovely turret and very nice brick detail.
This Spanish Colonial Revival duplex would look perfectly lovely if it had not been painted ghastly battleship gray
House 3: This charming English Country home incorporates some modern updates that are clearly sensitive to the style of the structure. The brick entry turret makes it really special.
House 4: Ugh. This Spanish Colonial Revival duplex has some wonderful detail and would look perfectly lovely if it had not been painted ghastly battleship gray. What was the owner thinking?
The tile around the doorway of this Mediterranean style home is a wonderful touch
House 5: I love the tile used around the doorway of this Mediterranean style home. You can distinguish Mediterranean from Spanish Colonial Revival from the former’s flat roof and typical “widow’s walk” balcony.