Casa California: Spanish-Style Houses From Santa Barbara to San Clemente

Book Description

The Spanish-style architecture of Southern California's seaside estates, canyon villas, and courtyard bungalows is central to its romantic image, one that has traditionally evoked a Mediterranean paradise. The details of this inexhaustively rich style-- ornate wrought iron and wood balconies, colorful tiles, graceful arches, and palm-dotted gardens-- reflect the region's Spanish, Mexican, and southwestern history and culture as well as its popular outdoor lifestyle.

This book showcases Southern California's most historically significant and beautifully preserved Spanish-revival houses of this century. Twenty-one private homes built between 1922 and 1991 are featured in stunning color photography that captures exterior and interior architectural details, Spanish and Mexican antique furnishings and folk art, and lush landscaping and tiled fountains. Among these are the Adamson House in Malibu, with its extraordinary collection of custom tile from Malibu Potteries; the contemporary Greenberg House in Brentwood, by Ricardo Legorreta; The Andalusia Courtyard Apartments in Hollywood; and Casa Pacifica, the former home of Richard Nixon, overlooking the ocean in San Clemente. Brief narratives highlight the history of each building and its design influences on the Spanish-revival movement in California.

The Spanish revival grew in popularity around the turn of the century when many young American architects traveled to Spain, Italy, and Mexico, bringing back sketches and, as the foreword notes, romantic memories of "graceful foliage...small Indian towns...tiled dome and rococo towers." Hundreds of Spanish-style houses, apartments, and bungalows were built throughout Southern California in the following decades, many of them commissioned for movie stars such as Charlie Chaplin and Rudolph Valentino.

The Spanish revival is marked by two main phases: the mission revival, which incorporates the white stucco, cloistered patios, tile roofs, and exposed-beam ceilings typical of eighteenth-century California missions; and the more elaborate Mediterranean revival, influenced by Spanish and Italian Renaissance sources, eighteenth-century Spanish plateresque and churrigueresque forms, and Moorish-Andalusian styles.

Customer Reviews:

Casa California evaluation.......2007-09-11

This book is a very useful handbook for any Architectural or interior designer, it contains a lot of ideas a lot of which (in my openion) are easy to be implemented and does not cost so much.

Best Regards
Tareq Azzam

Casa California: Spanish-Style Houses From Santa Barbara to San Clemente.......2007-03-09

Ideal for learning about the architecture and decortating styles of Spanish style homes. The photgraphs are beautiful. I will rely on this book when I design my new home.

Wonderful Book!.......2006-08-12

Great book! The minute I opened it I knew it was going to be a thrilling trip to another time in California history. Beautiful pictures of grand homes, grounds, and other structures built with Spanish and Mexican influence. If you want just one book covering this subject, this would be the one to buy. Highly recommend.

Images of California Style.......2006-06-09

CSAS CALIFORNIA is one of the coffee table books bound to please not only those who live in California and are eager to study examples of California architecture termed Spanish Revival, but also a fine gift for those out of state friends who wonder if California has any history before 1950!

After an informative foreword by art historian David Gebhard and a tasty introduction by former Architectural Digest editor Elizabeth Jean McMillian the pages of this beautifully designed and elegantly captioned book survey some twenty-one homes built between 1922 and 1991 from Santa Barbara to San Clemente. Not only are the homes photographed formally by photographer Melba Levick, but they also show details of tiles, arches, columns, floors, fixtures and other aspects of design. Each home is then shown with images from the gardens surrounding it as well as the vistas from every vantage. And of special note are comments from the architects (the homes all date from between 1922 and 1991) as well as anecdotes about the current and previous owners.

This book, though published in 1996, remains the most complete examination of the combined Hispanic mission and Mediterranean revival styles now termed Spanish Revival. This is a fine book for those with the California Dream, and for those living it! Grady Harp, June 06

Not that special.......2006-04-18

I didn't glean anything more from this book that I couldn't have gathered on a Sunday drive. Most of the pictures are of exteriors and amazingly enough, none of them really inspires appretiation of this architechtural style. I'm an absolute sucker for Spanish Colonial. There's almost nothing built during the classic era of the 1920's and '30's that I don't swoon over. This book, however, compiled some of the least attractive examples of that style and ends up being thoroughly disappointing. Definitely look elsewhere if your objective is designing interior details that honor the classics.

Casa y Comunidad: Latino Home and Neighborhood Design

Average customer rating:

Missing One Element
intesrest concepts
Breezy enough to enjoy, thorough enough to learn from.

Casa y Comunidad: Latino Home and Neighborhood Design

Manufacturer: BuilderBooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Real Estate | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Sales | Real Estate | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Design & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Building An Affordable House: A Smart Guide to High-Value, Low-Cost Construction

ASIN: 0867186135

Book Description

Are you prepared? Another 2 million Latino families will enter the housing market by 2010.

This ground-breaking publication takes the first-ever look at the growing and increasingly prosperous Latino community and their housing needs. Casa Y Comunidad: Latino Home and Neighborhood Design helps prepare all segments of the housing industry to truly understand and work with Latinos.

Henry G. Cisneros, former HUD secretary and champion of affordable workforce housing, brings together a dozen contributors—builders, developers, planners, designers, and financiers—who share their expertise and experiences on the challenges and solutions for serving the millions of Latinos who want to own a home.

This well-balanced and comprehensive resource provides information on Latino culture, housing and neighborhood design, financial habits, consumer preferences, and much more. Packed with colorful photos, data, and success stories, Casa Y Comunidad: Latino Home and Neighborhood Design provides you with strategies for reaching and doing business with Latino home buyers.

Sponsored in part by Freddie Mac.

Customer Reviews:

Missing One Element.......2007-07-13

The book was very informative but I feel that it left out a key element.
In our area ( Dallas Texas) many of the Latino population perfers to buy a used mobile home that they ca get paid off as fast as possible. Being debt free is important to the Hispanics I've worked with. Many do not like to use banks and prefer to deal in cash. So financing can be challenging. Overall, a very good book.

Jackie Lange
[..]

intesrest concepts.......2007-05-25

A good read... nothing very groung breaking as far as information

looks at home building froma different perspective

Breezy enough to enjoy, thorough enough to learn from........2006-10-22

I have been selling houses to Latino families 20 years. What I know, I found reflected in these pages and learned new details of Latino buying habits, family life and demographic distribution. Although the book aims to inform real estate and homebuilding professionals, it is really universal book about doing business with America's largest minority. Read this book, and you will never look at a Latin in the same way again, even if you are one. It's an eye opener that delights and occasionally drops your jaw as you realize the overwhelming impact of Latino growth on every aspect of business, politics and culture.

Casa Florida: Spanish-Style Houses from Winter Park to Coral Gables

Average customer rating:

Wonderful pictures
Spanish Architecture a la Florida is Different than California
book review
Spanish Mansions Oh My!
It's About Time!

Casa Florida: Spanish-Style Houses from Winter Park to Coral Gables
Susan Sully
Manufacturer: Rizzoli
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Spain | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Style | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Tiffany's Palm Beach
Palm Beach Splendor: The Architecture of Jeffery Smith
Red-Tile Style
Casa California: Spanish-Style Houses From Santa Barbara to San Clemente
Architectural Details: Spain And the Mediterannean

ASIN: 0847827038
Release Date: 2005-10-11

Book Description

Florida’s architectural history can be traced to the Spanish colonial settlement of St. Augustine in the mid-16 century, while the state’s architectural development reached its mature stage in the 19th century. Casa Florida is an exuberant, full-color celebration of the enduring influence of Spanish architecture and design upon Florida’s resorts, private houses, and gardens.
Casa Florida explores the earliest influences of the Spanish style in the Sunshine State, its revival in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and its contemporary expression in architecture today, with a strong focus on the style’s unifying concept of fantasy and Florida’s unique tendency to inspire enraptured states of mind and spectacular built environments. Susan Sully provides colorful history and anecdotes that complement Steven Brooke’s magnificent full-color photography of the region’s signature style in examples representing the entire state and ranging from the charming to the splendid.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful pictures.......2007-09-17

This book has a terrific collection of photos of old Florida, Tuscany-type homes. We've looked all over for a book like this. Hope others enjoy it as much.

Spanish Architecture a la Florida is Different than California.......2006-03-11

The first town in the New World was in Florida and it was a Spanish town. Since then the Spanish influence on the arthitecture and culture of Florida has been large.

In this book a selection of buildings has been carefully selected to illustrate the history of Spanish-style structures from across the state. From an age standpoint, there are some quite old (but certainly not run down) homes varying up through some modern homes built using traditional styling. A few commercial buildings such as hotels are also included.

From a style standpoint, the homes of Florida seem to have been influenced more by a Mediterranean, even Moorish, look than the Spanish architecture houses more common in the Western States that have more of a Mexican influence.

Beautiful pictures beautifully printed on a high quality matte finished paper add a warmth to the book that glossy magazine style printing imparts.

book review.......2006-03-10

we are having a new villa style home built and have gotten many wonderful ideas from the camera art in this book. page after page of wonderful spanish/mediterranean homes are pictured in this beautiful volume.

Spanish Mansions Oh My!.......2006-03-07

In my hunt for more information on Spanish Style homes, (I own a bungalow in California), I have been frustrated at the limited amount of books out there. I work at a Library, and many of the patrons share the same frustrations. In order to be able to find books on these subjects, I have had to self-teach about the many surrounding subjects; ie, tiles, Mexico, Moorish, Morocco, Spain, etc. This book is one of the better ones. It has beautiful pictures on how to decorate and landscape. I learned that air-conditioning changed architecture in a substantive way. I had also never heard about concrete ceilings made to look like wood before, apparently a Florida staple, due to humidity. These houses are oh-my-Gorgeous! The only problem was that the author frequently discussed beautiful rooms and details of the houses, then didn't show pictures. Maybe/hopefully, they're saving those pics for a follow-up book on interiors and details? I agree with the previous reviewer, how about a book now on Florida Spanish bungalows?

It's About Time!.......2005-12-21

I have been waiting a long time for a book like this! While the Spanish style homes of California have been documented in numerous books, the large amount of this architecture that was built in Florida during the same period has never gotten the amount of press it deserves. There are books on the architecture of Addison Mizner and a few other noted Florida architects, but nothing comprehensive on the style that was so prevalent during the boom years, and which was used in big cities like Miami and much smaller towns all over the state. This book covers houses from Miami to Winter Park and gives a nice overview of the style. I was very impressed not only by the amazing photographs, but by the histories that went along with each home featured. These histories allow the reader to put the home into its proper context and can be used as guides for people like me that are restoring similar homes. I wasn't as impressed with the newer homes in the back of the book, but there are only three relatively modern houses covered, so it does not take much away from the overall content. Since many of the homes built in this style were smaller bungalows it would have been nice to have seen some of them included, but the homes pictured are stunning! This book is must have.

Caribbean Architecture: Exclusive Designs by Gianfranco Fini in Marina Casa de Campo

Average customer rating:

Great BOOK !!!
Caribbean Elegance
A place to visit before you dies.
The Best Keep Secret in the Caribbean unveils.

Caribbean Architecture: Exclusive Designs by Gianfranco Fini in Marina Casa de Campo
Giancarlo Gardin; Massimo Rosati
Manufacturer: Archideos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Caribbean Elegance
Tropical Houses: Living in Nature in Jamaica, Sri Lanka, Java, Bali, and the Coasts of Mexico and Belize
Tropical Modern
Island Style: Tropical Dream Houses in Indonesia
Bali Houses: New Wave Asian Architecture and Design

ASIN: 8887653089
Release Date: 2006-11-15

Product Description

This is a book that for the first time opens the doors to the public of the Marina at the luxurious gated community and Resort Casa de Campo in the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic. It is one of a king peace of art printed and bounded in Italy, with more than 300 breathtaking full color photographs and original drawing throughout. The book is a first class guided tour of the Marina at Casa de Campo in the hands of its creator, the architect Gianfranco Fini. Stunning aerial views, with never before seeing original drawings that will allow you enter into the mind of the architect to see the way of living that he was planning to create and vivid pictures of it actual beauty and style. The full size pictures throughout the book portrays a whole range of Caribbean style an elegant properties from inside out, from chic waterfront apartments and townhouses of less than 2,000 sqf. to magnificent Villas and Mansions above the 16,000 sqf. The foreword by Eduardo Martinez Lima (Central Romana Corporation CEO) will tell you the story of how two entrepreneurs convince them from an architectural and business point to build the Marina. Carmen Ortega (Arquitexto Magazine Editor) will introduce you to the Dominican Republic and Casa de Campo, while Carlo Montanaro (Editor of Dove, Dove Case and Style) will show you the way of living in the all year round summer at the Restaurants, Yacht Club, Art Galleries and, seaside houses of this luxurious destination.

Customer Reviews:

Great BOOK !!!.......2007-04-29

If you want to know more about architecture in the Caribbean, you have to read this book!

Caribbean Elegance.......2007-04-11

Through his work at la Marina, Casa de Campo, Gian Franco Fini captures the essence of refined architecture with a perfect air of Caribbean elegance.

A place to visit before you dies........2007-04-10

This is a book about one of those magical places that once you get there you don't want to leave. It's in the path of boats coming from Miami to the West Indies and is the place to see in the Caribbean before you die. Casa de Campo is the Caribbean most complete resort by far where any possible hobby in the world could practiced at world renowned conditions -besides skiing, except if you change it for water-sky-. The book about the Casa de Campo's Marina is definitely a 5 start in class, quality and content. This is the real thing in Caribbean Elegance and Luxury where you'll be able to find some of the most exclusive houses in the region.

The Best Keep Secret in the Caribbean unveils........2007-03-02

This is the only book available about Marinas from an architectural standpoint. Blueprints, sketches and more than 300 full-color pictures are a never ending source for one of the most luxurious approach to Caribbean Architecture. It's about the renowned Marina at Casa de Campo, La Romana, Dominican Republic and is a must for anyone willing see from the inside out as many options as possible to recreate a tropical paradise despite if it's and apartment or a houses under 2,000 sqf or a masterpiece above 20,000 sqf.
In contrast with W.R. Blain's book for "Marina Developments" -That is an excellent and maybe the only book about Marinas from a structural standpoint- this one is an architectural approach to Marinas and all the elements around it such as Yacht Club, Apartments, Houses, Restaurants and all related services. It's full of details and references in a text that is catchy and easy to read. My only concern was that I thought it was pricy in the first place despite that it was printed and bounded in Italy, but Blain's book is above the $250 and this one is more related to interior design and architecture so it's worth 5 out 5 starts.

Casa De Munecas Hedda Gabler / Doll House Hedda Gabler (Literatura / Literature)

Average customer rating:

Casa De Munecas Hedda Gabler / Doll House Hedda Gabler (Literatura / Literature)
Henrik Ibsen
Manufacturer: Alianza
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Continental European | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Scandinavian | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Artes de Actuación | Entretenimiento | Libros en español | Formats | Books

Casa Moderna: Half a Century of Colombian Domestic Architecture

Average customer rating:

Casa Moderna: Half a Century of Colombian Domestic Architecture
Alberto Saldarriaga
Manufacturer: Villegas Editores
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Photo Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 9589393241

Book Description

As the twentieth century draws to a close, it is timely to consider the term "modern house." Among other things, it brings to mind what a house offers in terms of comfort and ease of living. We all live in a modern way, but all of us do not inhabit a modern house.

To speak of a modern house in Colombia in the 1940s would have been to speak of change, adventure, and accepting what modernization had to offer-- to welcome the house of the future. There were, fortunately, a number of individuals with a sufficient understanding of the new, exciting movement in architecture who not only had the requisite funds but also the willingness to challenge accepted norms, and who created the foundation for our modern architecture. Much of what is recorded in this volume came to be through several farsighted people open-minded enough to accept the principles of modern architecture as stated by European architects such as Le Corbusier and Alvar Aalto and the great American master architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

With remarkable sensitivity toward local raw materials, a sober understanding of the expectations of their clients, and the rigorous discipline imposed by the climate, Colombian architects of the 1940s and 1950s designed and erected houses of an integrity and stylistic vision difficult to comprehend in our own materialistic time.

The houses featured in this book have a few things in common: their design principles are modern beyond a doubt, they are testimony to skilled and dedicated craftsmanship, they exhibit an enduring commitment to principle on the part of the owners, and they display a level of comfort and functionality that will surprise and delight anyone seeking quality in design today. This volume offers a panorama of modern architectural design of unexpected courage and vision-- as relevant today as in its time of creation.

DESIGNED LIFE: APARTMENTS (Designed Life)

Average customer rating:

DESIGNED LIFE: APARTMENTS (Designed Life)
Kelley Cheng , and Narelle Yabuka
Manufacturer: Page One Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Reference | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 9812452680

Product Description

In dense Asian metropolises such as Hong Kong and Singapore, apartment dwelling has for decades been an integral part of urban life. Elsewhere in the region, such as in large Australia cities, a noticeable lifestyle shift is under way, seeing a boom in construction of inner-city apartment blocks, and the recycling of historic (and often industrial) structures into residential building. Indeed, all over the Asia Pacific region, there are many fine examples of thoughtful and stylish apartment interior design. Collected here are some of the most intriguing examples, which, despite their varied locations, all share a common characteristic the provision of an inner realm where unique design tactics have been specifically tailored to personal lifestyles. Explore these zones of unbridled self-expression, and snatch a peek at some well-designed lives.

Average customer rating:

MUY DEFICIENTE
AN AMAZING AND COMPREHENSIVE BOOK

Feng Shui para la casa
Richard Webster
Manufacturer: Llewellyn Espanol
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Mental & Spiritual Healing | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Parapsychology | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Feng Shui para el éxito y la felicidad
Mueve tus cosas y cambia tu vida : Como el feng shui te puede traer amor, dinero, respeto y felicidad
Feng Shui para el apartamento
Feng Shui: Práctico y al instante
Feng Shui para occidente

ASIN: 1567188109

Customer Reviews:

MUY DEFICIENTE.......2003-04-07

y nada bien escrito... Lo digo porque he leído mucho de Feng Shui y compre este libro...

AN AMAZING AND COMPREHENSIVE BOOK.......1998-11-25

THIS IS A BOOK THAT HISPANICS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH CAN REALLY ENJOY AND LEARN HOW TO CURE THEIR HOUSES USING FENG SHUI. I HIGLY RECOMEND THIS BOOK FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE MARVELOUS RESULTS FENG SHUI CAN GIVE TO THEIR USERS.

Casa de Hacienda: Architecture in the Colombian Countryside

Average customer rating:

A lovely photo essay of Colombia's country homes
Casa de Hacienda
Beautiful Book! Spectacular pictures of Colombian Haciendas.

Casa de Hacienda: Architecture in the Colombian Countryside
German Tellez
Manufacturer: Villegas Editores
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Criticism | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Reference | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 9589393349

Book Description

Traveling the country in search of the most significant aspects of Colombia's colonial ranch houses, this book brings to life the convergence of decisive elements of the country's past and tradition. These ranch houses were the scene of struggles, epiphanies, and downfalls in the country's history—all evoked through the point of view of a historian specializing in architecture.

Customer Reviews:

A lovely photo essay of Colombia's country homes.......2003-03-24

This book is a wonderful testimony to what was once a lovely quality of life in Colombia's vast countryside. Some photographic essays boast of majestic architectural beauty. Still and all, the most important aspect of this book is that the camera's lens objectively captures the serene beauty and vitality of Colombia's regional richness. Moreover, the fine and creative presentation of some Hacienda's are absolutely breathtaking. "Casa De Hacienda: Architecture in the Colombian Countryside," is a polished presentation of professional photography. It is much more than a coffee table book...it is a slice of life in Colombia.

Casa de Hacienda.......2002-11-25

This book is marvelous!
I was very touched and trilled to find "El Abra" and remember my childhood days!
this is the place where my Mother grew up and spend her vacations from school
"El Abra" was our playground and belonged to the family for generations.
Thank you so very much for the pleasure and the memories and tears..your book has brought to all of us.
Que viva Colombia!
Miryam

Beautiful Book! Spectacular pictures of Colombian Haciendas........1998-01-26

I'm familiar with some of these houses, but I gained new insight on the history and architectural characteristics of these country homes by readiing the text. Filled with outstanding photographs, I enjoyed browsing for hours. I strongly recommend this book !!

La Casa Loca: Latino Style Comes Home 45 Funky Craft Projects for Decorating & Entertaining

Average customer rating:

Super! Even for gringas like me...
Great book for lovers of Mexicana souvenirs
oh how we love kathy and her books!!!
I LOVE KATHY AND HER BOOKS
Way Fun!

La Casa Loca: Latino Style Comes Home 45 Funky Craft Projects for Decorating & Entertaining
Kathy Cano-Murillo
Manufacturer: Quarry Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Decorative Arts | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Decorating | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Style | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Crafty Chica's Art de la Soul: Glittery Ideas to Liven Up Your Life
Making Shadow Boxes and Shrines
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ASIN: 1564969436

Book Description

Latino style is a huge and growing trend in home decorating and fashion. Latina personality Kathy Cano-Murillo takes the explosive colors and iconography of Latino style and merges it with pop art to create an inspirational craft book with a hip, contemporary sensibility. The twist: readers can create their very own casa loca crazy house by hand.

Cano-Murillo offers a fabulous array of easy, inexpensive projects to liven up the interior and brighten the garden, to throw killer fiestas and take restful siestas, to live—and look—the Latino style. Use T-shirt fabric to make toss pillows with fringe or turn inexpensive soft-drink bottles into fabulous glittery vases. Use a glue gun to transform an ordinary garden into a Mexicali masterpiece complete with a Bonita Birdfeeder and Milagro Tree Ribbons. Heighten the hues in any home with Margarita Candles and Campy Terra Cotta Patio Lights. Ditch standard party fare for playful Loteria Wine Glass Charms, spicy serving bowls, and Frida Kahlo placemats.

This is the stuff of La Casa Loca—an ethnic treat for the senses that brings the exciting, classy-meets-campy Latino style home to hip decorators everywhere.

Kathy Cano-Murillo was named one of the "10 Latinas to watch" by Latina magazine in July 2001. newspaper. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

Customer Reviews:

Super! Even for gringas like me..........2006-07-11

as a super crafty gal who loves fun, quirky projects, using cheap materials and bold use of color-this book looked intriguing. I was NOT dissappointed. This book is really fun, well written, and has mostly simple projects that are quick to put together but high on satisfaction after they are complete.
Now if you are into subtle, staid, pastel "shabby chic" or Martha Stewart rigidity-this book may just be too shocking in it's humor and color. But anyone with a funny bone should get a kick out of it.
Even my husband-who is NOT crafty but loves funky stuff was bowled over by this book and wants me to hurry up and start producing some of the projects:)

My only gripe-and it's a very minor one-is that on a few of the more complicated projects there's not more detailed instructions-like the paper mache skull. The instructions needed a little more finessing but I'm sure they will be better understood as you begin that particular project.

I also wanted to mention what another reviewer stated about being able to find some of the Mexican mementoes used in some projects. Yes, they may be harder to find. May I suggest ebay, other online world markets shops, or as the author suggests, substitute. Like any funky vintage postcards if you can't find vintage Mexican film postcards. Use your imagination:) That should not stop you from fully enjoying this book.

So if you were looking for a quirky ethnic craft book-you've found it.
5 stars!

Great book for lovers of Mexicana souvenirs.......2006-05-13

A whimsical and colorful book that has fancy fiesta ideas for turning Mexican and other kinds of Latin trinkets into impressive decorations. I highy reccommend this book along with the author's other one on Mexican crafts. I collect Mexican design books, and I've never seen anything like these books. I'm intrigued at the clever presentation of making your own items from memoribilia. Now I hope to give it a try soon.

oh how we love kathy and her books!!! .......2005-06-16

this book came in the mail and i couldnt open the box fast enough..it is amazing!!! the projects have a great list of things you need and the directions are very easy to read and understand.. i plan on making everything in the book! i highly recommend this book..for someone who is just starting out crafting, to someone who is advanced..everyone can enjoy this! thanks so much kathy!!!

I LOVE KATHY AND HER BOOKS.......2005-04-05

WELL, IVE HAD THIS BOOK FOR SOME TIME BUT NEVER HAD THE TIME TO WRITE A REVIEW. SINCE IT'S NOT GETTING AS MANY STARS AS IT SHOULD I NEED TO PUT MY SENSE IN. WELL, FIRST OF ALL EVERYTHING IS SO UNIQUE... IF YOU CANT GO TO TIJUANA AND GET THOSE RECUERDOS YOU CAN BRING TIJUANA TO YOU AND MAKE YOUR OWN. I LOVE TO TURN JUNK INTO ANYTHING THAT CAN BE PUT UP AND THIS BOOK IS GREAT FOR THAT. IF YOU DON'T LIKE SOMETHING IN THIS BOOK YOU CAN ALWAYS PUT IN YOUR STYLE. MAYBE THE COLOR SHE USES YOU DONT LIKE DOESNT MAKE THIS BOOK A BAD BOOK MIX UP THE COLORS YOU LIKE. THIS BOOK MAKES YOU SPAND YOUR CREATIVITY AND LEARN SO MANY THINGS THAT CAN MAKE YOUR HOUSE UNIQUE OR SIMPLY A UNIQUE GIFT FOR A LOVE ONE. THIS IS A GREAT BOOK AND ALL OF HER OTHER BOOKS.

Way Fun!.......2005-03-20

I love Mexican folk art, so when I saw this book I immediately ordered it. It is so much fun! The ideas are presented as how-to projects. If you like step by step directions, you will love the way the projects are laid out. However, if you're like me and never color in the lines, the book is an excellent spring board for creating your own versions of the projects in the book.

The great thing about this book is that she gives an extensive "where to buy" section. Many of them are online sources, so if you don't live in the southwest, you can still play!

La Casa Loca is the most inspiring book I've bought in a long time!

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