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Houzz Tour: Spanish Colonial–Modern Union in California
Styles, eras and objects from far-flung places happily coexist in this Spanish colonial home
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
"As far as Spanish colonials go, sometimes you walk in and it's been perfectly preserved. Sometimes you walk in and it's been all goofed up. This one was a little of both," says interior designer Charmean Neithart of this Pasadena, California, home. She began working with her clients early on and helped them make cosmetic changes, but after about three years, they were ready for a complete remodel to create a better-flowing floor plan and to add some space.
"The husband definitely leans toward a more modern aesthetic, while the wife wanted to honor the traditional Spanish colonial revival style of the home," says Neithart. "This is one of those twists that makes my job fun." How did she solve the dilemma? "I incorporated elements to blend the two styles together," she says.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two young children
Location: Pasadena, California
Size: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths
"The husband definitely leans toward a more modern aesthetic, while the wife wanted to honor the traditional Spanish colonial revival style of the home," says Neithart. "This is one of those twists that makes my job fun." How did she solve the dilemma? "I incorporated elements to blend the two styles together," she says.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two young children
Location: Pasadena, California
Size: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths
| The living room architecture had very good bones; the ceiling is original to the house and is a very common Spanish colonial feature. "I was adamant about preserving the ceiling," says Neithart. The floors were refinished, the walls were replastered, and the fireplace received a makeover. Neithart added details found as far away as Africa and India that were in keeping with Old World style but added a unique stamp. "I like to put things that are exotic and eclectic in a Spanish house, things that make people ask, 'Where did that come from?'" she says. The bright green side table came from India, and the coffee table is an antique from Morocco. |
The curved sofa is Neithart's own design, under her furniture line, Forse Domani. The planter is an African wedding basket covered in cowrie shells. The side table adds a bright pop of green, the husband's favorite color.
"The African basket is a nod to my client's heritage," explains Neithart. "I like to put things in a room that are reflective of the people who live there, whether it reflects their history, hobbies or a special place they have visited. These are elements that make people feel like they are at home."
Wall paint: Elmira White, Benjamin Moore; side table: Decor, Globally Inspired, in Pasadena
"The African basket is a nod to my client's heritage," explains Neithart. "I like to put things in a room that are reflective of the people who live there, whether it reflects their history, hobbies or a special place they have visited. These are elements that make people feel like they are at home."
Wall paint: Elmira White, Benjamin Moore; side table: Decor, Globally Inspired, in Pasadena
"I like Spanish houses to have white walls," says Neithart. "There are so many architectural details and textures in Spanish houses that should stand out, and I don't like to make them compete with color."
"The fireplace had been messed up in a previous renovation," she adds. She used repurposed antique Indian corbels beneath the mantel to add an exotic touch, and redesigned the mantel to better fit the scale of the room. The fireplace was covered in smooth plaster. "The final coat of plaster is like icing on a cake," says Neithart.
Sconces: Bobo Intriguing Objects, peacock mirror: Berbere; corbels; Decor, Globally Inspired, in Pasadena
"The fireplace had been messed up in a previous renovation," she adds. She used repurposed antique Indian corbels beneath the mantel to add an exotic touch, and redesigned the mantel to better fit the scale of the room. The fireplace was covered in smooth plaster. "The final coat of plaster is like icing on a cake," says Neithart.
Sconces: Bobo Intriguing Objects, peacock mirror: Berbere; corbels; Decor, Globally Inspired, in Pasadena
Here is a better look at the reclaimed carved corbels.
The Pakistani rug is vegetable dyed. "Vegetable-dyed rugs have no synthetic color, which gives them a much softer look, like a watercolor," says Neithart. "I love to use them. They are a great investment, because they only go up in value and they last forever."
The clients already owned the armchair, which Neithart covered in a more modern fabric called Dante by Cowtan & Tout. "I kept the upholstery tight and streamlined to reflect the husband's modern taste," she says.
The clients already owned the armchair, which Neithart covered in a more modern fabric called Dante by Cowtan & Tout. "I kept the upholstery tight and streamlined to reflect the husband's modern taste," she says.
This trunk in the far corner of the living room was passed down from a grandfather, and its carved design works well with the other exotic elements in the room. The artwork is by Angela Dickerson-Lee. "I love to place art above a trunk," says Neithart. "It anchors the piece, and you can look at the artwork straight on, instead of looking up at it."
The artwork was modern to match the husband's taste, and by an African-American artist to reflect the wife's heritage.
The artwork was modern to match the husband's taste, and by an African-American artist to reflect the wife's heritage.
This dining room is a new addition. While the cathedral ceiling emulates the ceiling in the original living room, the clients wanted to demarcate the new parts of the house, so they covered it in whitewashed white oak.
The stone wall adds texture, age and a natural element to the room.
The stone wall adds texture, age and a natural element to the room.
"When I started holding fabric up to the wall to pick a window treatment, I realized it would look strange next to the stones," says Neithart. Instead, she found some ornately carved wooden panels from India. She had a very talented carpenter cut them in half and create coordinating trim to make them function like shutters.
"The windows are south facing, and they diffuse the light so well that my client hardly ever opens them," she says. "They also provide privacy from the neighbors."
"The windows are south facing, and they diffuse the light so well that my client hardly ever opens them," she says. "They also provide privacy from the neighbors."
A striking chandelier from Bobo Intriguing Objects stands up to the scale of the cathedral ceiling and the dining table. The variations in the chandelier's wood also provide a transition from the dark table up to the lighter wood on the ceiling.
The sideboard, along with many of the other reclaimed carved wood pieces, was also sourced at Decor, Globally Inspired, in Pasadena. The doors are antique. The Spanish sconces were retained from Neithart's first pass at decorating the home because the clients loved them.
While the new room contains many traditional elements, this midcentury modern ceramic lamp is a nod to the husband's taste in style and color.
| Before the addition was built, this kitchen space used to hold the dining room. "This spot is the heart of the home, so it was a natural fit for the kitchen," says Neithart. Details like the wood ceiling beams, mosaic tile with a hand-painted detail over the range and the ornate wood panels on the hood bring in Spanish colonial style. The color and texture palette, which includes Crema Marfil mosaic tile, white oak cabinets and cognac leather counter stools, is also in keeping with the style. The floors are travertine. "We picked chiseled edges for the travertine floor tiles to get the rustic look of Spanish colonial style," says Neithart. The sage-green granite countertops veer away from the typical Spanish colonial color palette and were another nod to the husband's love of green. |
The two intricately carved wood panels on the range hood add Spanish colonial flair. These were reclaimed from an old Indian building, and were also found at Decor, Globally Inspired. One full panel goes across the front, and a second one was cut in half for the sides. The hood was sculpted out of drywall and mudded in plaster.
The sinks are hammered nickel and were handmade in Mexico. The faucets and cabinet hardware are also nickel.
Range: Thermadore; corbels: Restoration Hardware; wood panel: Decor, Globally Inspired, in Pasadena; faucets: Rohl; large sink: Cocino Grande, Native Trails; small sink: Cocino Chinco, Native Trails
The sinks are hammered nickel and were handmade in Mexico. The faucets and cabinet hardware are also nickel.
Range: Thermadore; corbels: Restoration Hardware; wood panel: Decor, Globally Inspired, in Pasadena; faucets: Rohl; large sink: Cocino Grande, Native Trails; small sink: Cocino Chinco, Native Trails
| The glass pendant lights are repurposed wine jars. In fact, when Neithart received them, one still had a big wine stain on the bottom. "I could not get the wine stain out, so I called Bobo's. They gave me the recipe for a magic potion to soak it in for 48 hours, and it worked," says Neithart. "To me, a Spanish home is a warm home," says Neithart. She certainly made sure to prove it with this beautiful family home. Counter stools: Crate and Barrel More: 10 Favorite Features of Spanish Revival Style Houzz Tour: An Urban Castle in Pasadena 9 Architectural Elements of Spanish Revival Style |
Comments
Michelle Tastefully done. Nice details. Beautiful carved wood pieces.
15 months ago · Like
CAROLE MEYER Excellent job of blending the two styles. Very beautiful. We have this second home in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico and I love the Spanish style, but also wanted to temper it with a more open airy feeling. 
15 months ago · Like
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mcbriec Outstanding work. No cliched decorating and everything looks like it was acquired over time.
15 months ago · Like
meryann Beautiful!!!
15 months ago · Like
ottomann This is much better. The Designer left enough of the traditional aspects with upgrades. It looks very comfortable.
15 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on March 3, 2012.
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