Casa Bohemia

A celebration of the uniquely vibrant architecture and interiors of classic and new Spanish-style houses in the south-western United States, Mexico, and Spain. Casa Bohemia showcases a collection of some of the most beautifully preserved Spanish Colonial houses, from historic haciendas in Mexico to contemporary bungalows in Southern California. Thirty homes built between the late seventeenth century and the present day are featured in stunning colour photography that captures architectural details inside and out and enchanting Spanish and Mexican antique furnishings and folk art. Author Linda Leigh Paul traces the history of Spanish Colonial architecture from its Iberian sources to the development of the Mission style in the Americas to the still-flourishing Spanish Revival and Mediterranean styles, with their Renaissance and Moorish influences and endlessly rich details, including ornate wrought-iron and wood balconies, colourful tiles, and graceful arches. But what all of the houses featured in Casa Bohemia have in common-though they range across centuries and places as diverse as San Miguel de Allende, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Hollywood, Malibu, Texas, and Florida-is a visual richness and vitality that emerges from the distinctive approaches to preservation and decoration found in each.