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Crazy About Montecito

5:48 AM

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Of all the places I've traveled to in the United States, Santa Barbara is probably my favorite. To be more exact, Montecito. If you can say a city or town has "it", this place definitely does. With the beach, the mountains, the climate, the architecture, the food. I just don't think it can get much better.

The times I've been there, I love to drive around to see all the incredible homes and gardens. Many are very difficult to see from the road because of the enormous walls and most of the homes are set so far from the street. Last time we were there we dragged the kids to an estate sale just so we could see the property -- the last thing kids want to do on a Spring Break.

Well known interior designer John Saladino's estate is one of these. Fortunately, C Magazine, did a story on his incredible home (you can also see it in his book).

His Italianate villa was built in 1929 by architect and builder Wallace Frost. Saladino did an incredible job of remodeling the house that is quintessential Monticeto.

The roof is 18th century Italian handmade terra-cotta tile. He brought in more than 4,000 trees and shrubs including these incredible 50 year old Italian cypress trees.

The interior is just as amazing as the exterior. Many of the interior walls are the same stone as the exterior. The steel windows and doors are incredible. We are currently building a Mediterranean house in Fort Worth with windows and doors very similar.

I love the urn set into the stone window surround. The ivy covered wall in perfect.

The dining room, with the (what I believe to be) cypress paneling and ceiling and Italian chandelier is beautiful.

All of the above pictures from C Magazine.

Another well published interior designer, Michael Smith, did an incredible job at the former Pillsbury estate in Montecito -- Las Encintas. This Portuguese-style house was originally a California Mission Revival house built in the 1890s and is set into the hillside. It is much different from Saladino's but typical old Montecito. More formal and crisp.

The tile in the living room and powder bath typical Portuguese and are handmade in Los Angeles. We are using a very similar tile from the same tile company for a current job.

I love how Smith gave the powder bath a true Period Revival feel.

While I love my city, Montecito is one of those places that is just very difficult to beat.

All of the pictures of Las Encinitas come from Santa Barbara magazine.

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Posted in Architecture, Interior design, italian architecture, italian chandelier, John Saladino, Lascuax tile, Michael Smith, Montecito, Portuguese house, santa barbara style architecture

Period Revivals in Cowtown

6:05 AM

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Fort Worth is known as cowtown -- where the west began. While that puts images into people's minds of horses, cattle, ranches and cowboys (and we do have that) many do not realize the incredible amount of great Period Revival houses in our city.
Throughout Westover Hills, Rivercrest, Park Hill, Colonial Country Club and Mistletoe (along with others) there is some of the finest examples of period revival architecture in the country. Here are just a few of my favorites:

This fine Norman-Tudor Period Revival was built in 1930 in Westover Hills to be the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's "Home Beautiful". It is the flagship of Westover Hills and was designed by Victor Marr Curtis.

This Spanish Colonial, also in Westover Hills, is a great example of a Period Revival and part of what makes Westover Hills a beautiful example of a mix of architectural designs.

I am not sure of the year this house was built, but is next door to the Spanish Colonial above and recently went through a major remodel and is beautiful.

This Tudor Revival, built in 1934 and designed by Joseph Patterson, is a home we did a remodel on a few years ago. In Westover Hills also, it has a beautiful setting.

At the entry to Westover Hills, this home was built in 1936 and also designed by Joseph Patterson. I love the iron flag flying on top of the turret (which is the staircase).

Set at the back of Rivercrest Country Club, this incredible Mediterranean villa was built in 1916 and designed by David Adler of Chicago.

Although the picture of the house is not great, the entrance to this English estate, built in 1927 and designed by Houston's John Staub, is one of my all time favorites.

Next door to the above English estate is another Tudor that was designed by Dallas' Fooshee and Cheek and built in 1929. Both of these houses face #15 of Rivercrest Country Club golf course which is the hole that Ben Hogan once said was the worst hole in golf.

I will do more posts on Fort Worth's beautiful examples of Period Revival homes, as this is just a few of the many.

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Posted in David Adler, english architecture, english tudor, Fort Worth architecture, italian architecture, period revival homes, Spanish Colonial Architecture

Modern Twist on Classical Designs

5:46 AM

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Modern adaptations of classical architecture have their place. It is very easy to completely destroy what started out as a great design. I see it all the time on additions to old houses.

However, when done right and an architect puts his spin on period revival architecture the outcome can be outstanding. One of the best I know of for doing this is Bobby McAlpine and his partner Greg Tankersley of McAlpine Tankersley. They describe their work as "nurturing, compassionate, soulful," the firm's architecture, wedding historical precedence with graceful modern living, is a timeless and romantic pursuit of "The Inheritable House".

And do they ever. What is even more amazing is that their firm is headquartered in little Montgomery, Alabama. You know how us Southerners (I'm from Baton Rouge) love great architecture. Below are some pictures of their work. These pictures came from both Southern Accents and Veranda.

The picture above and directly below are of Bobby McAlpine's house he built in Montgomery quite a few years ago. He has since sold it and restored another house.

The three pictures above are of a house I saw when I was visiting family in Memphis and taking my early morning architecture drive (I do this in every city I visit). At the time, I didn't know it was a McAlpine-Tankersley house but it caught my eye from 500' away.

The next two pictures are of Greg Tankersley's personal house.