Red-Tile Style

Gellner's book captures all the charm of the 1920-1930 Spanish style homes in California. There are hundreds of pictures of this type of home--lots of mansions as well as small bungalows suitable for people of very modest means. Lots of ideas for anyone building a home or doing remodeling. I was especially struck by one "Marina District home ...(which) gives the illusion of depth and complexity despite its constricted urban site". Wish I could find an architect like that one.

This book gives a GREAT history on these "spanish style homes"...as soon as the book arrived, i went thru it just studying the photos ans reading the subtitles - (i was imediately educated on the style). Then i went and started reading it from the beginning. WOAH!!!! It did a great job at explaining the history and the developement of what we just generally refer to "spanish style." It is truley an informative book. Especially if you really like the mission/spanish look. we are working on our new home, and it will be great to not only decorate it how we like, but also KNOW the background and reason to why we decorate it how we do.

In researching a Spanish Colonial retirement home for Florida, I've reviewed numerous similar books. As noted in the other reviews most books deal with the top-of-the-line mansions and hotels in this style. This book has a chapter just on examples of modest houses in this style. It has another chapter on small scale courtyard apartment projects. It has tons of the details you might want to employ to give your home the "authentic" feel. Of all the books I read, this is the one I BOUGHT!!

There are books out there that cover the spanish revival style, but, most tend to focus on the larger than life homes of people who can afford magnificent, large estates. Finally, a book that not only showcases the large estates out there, but, more importantly for me, the "smaller" more realistically sized homes that I could see myself living in. If you love this style of architecture as I do, buy this book, you will not be disappointed!

This book is well written and profusely illustrated showing overall views of varied Spanish Colonial Revival structures, residential, commercial and public. It also contains many detail shots of lighting fixtures, plumbing fixtures and other unique parts that make up the whole of this style. The book is valuable to the architect, restorationist, home owner and anyone interested in architecture in general.