The Spanish Revival home style emerged in California during the early 20th century notably after the Panama-California Exposition in San Diego in 1915, built to celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal. It was inspired and designed primarily by the work of the internationally known architect Bertram Goodhue, whose visions were influenced by his extensive travels through Mexico in the 1890s which inspired a love for the Mexican people, architecture, villages, gardens, and traditions. This famous event introduced the Spanish Colonial-influenced architecture and garden designs to many US cities. Ultimately, the exposition led to the creation of San Diego’s most beautiful landmark, Balboa Park, and endeavored to create a “native” California architectural style that was derived from this region’s romanticized Spanish Colonial past. It’s representative of the rich heritage and history of early California. The Spanish Colonial Revival movement enjoyed its heyday from 1915-1931.

The Spanish Colonial Revival style has a Mediterranean flair that borrows from the entire history of Spanish architecture including Moorish, Byzantine, Gothic, and Renaissance influences. This stunning architectural style features low-pitched, red tile roofs, white stucco walls, abundant rounded arches, and asymmetrical facades. The interiors and exteriors are imbued with rich decorative details including handmade tiles originating from Morocco, Spain, Mexico, and finally, Southern California. Other details include ironworks, abundant woodwork, stucco vents, elaborated chimney tops, romantic towers, and balconies.

Outdoor spaces are important elements of this style and usually take the form of a courtyard, with or without a covered loggia or arcade which encourages the indoor-outdoor living so well suited to the Mediterranean San Diego climate.

The home now known as The Hacienda West, was purchased by Becky and her family in late 1999 and was in such horrific shape that her mother begged her not to move her small children into such a dilapidated home. However, she and her then-husband had a determined and grand vision to restore and renovate the home back to the previously described grand Spanish Colonial Revival space that has since been the setting of many wonderful events for family, friends, and clients.

Over the past 20-plus years, the home has slowly been returned to a life of beauty, love, and romance. The noteworthy original SoCal Malibu Tiles are still in place on the main staircase, living room, fireplace, and around the front picture window. The main living room, “The Sitting Room”, has a beautiful northwest canyon sunset view which features the stunning late 1800s historic architecture of Our Lady of Peace High School from a perspective not seen from any other location in town. It has a magnificent dark wood beam ceiling with original stenciling and is flooded with light by the many large windows from all directions. There is a large gas and wood-burning stove with a vintage grate that creates a wonderful ambiance when lit. This room has a beautiful Afghani rug and velvet curtains that augment the vintage-style furnishings for a romantic look reminiscent of years long past. Darkly stained Douglas Fir hardwood floors are present throughout the home.

The home orients around a grand courtyard emboldened with brilliant multi-colored Mexican Talavera tiles on all surfaces, including the beautiful outdoor gas fireplace chimney tower. Here you also experience a bubbling bi-level fountain with a large Talavera tile pool base beloved by the local hummingbirds. Several seating and eating areas enrich the festive environment of this inviting outdoor space.

From the courtyard, one enters, via 3 white stucco arches, a cool and serene loggia that has a rustic Mexican farm table that seats 6-8. This space has a classic Moroccan chandelier and is filled with plants and vintage candle holders. For lounging, it has a Balinese daybed that looks out onto the courtyard fountain close by.

From here, the European country-style kitchen is easily accessed and was designed to complement the circa 1920s kitchen-made stove acquired with the home. It’s filled with red and beige Italian tiles, Portuguese pottery on the antique hutch, and a central table that seats at least 14 people. The furnishings are beautiful dark wood with a mix of Craftsman and Mid Century stylings. The kitchen “nook” has two lounging benches, and a Magic Chef stove and is dressed up with a flirty and feminine wallpaper inspired by the artist Gustav Klimpt’s beloved Hollyhocks.

Through yet another archway, one reaches “The Parlor” which is decorated in the style of a vintage prohibition-era speakeasy and is meant to be a lounging salon for the enjoyment of a cocktail while looking out to the courtyard garden’s fireplace, as well as views of the canyon behind the home. Through a few more arches, the main bath features wall-to-wall dark green Talavera tile with artistic Mexican décor and rustic lighting throughout the space.

Just beyond the parlor is the grand 2 story staircase and foyer with its precious original SoCal tile, original Spanish explorer-themed stained glass window, old wood double-dutch front door, iron railings, and classic antique Mexican star chandelier….all leading upwards to the spacious and beautifully appointed Master Suite upstairs.

This divine space is two rooms large and feels like a glamorous tree house with its expansive western and northern vistas over the canyon and has a peekaboo view of the ocean on a clear day. This upstairs suite has 2 adorable “Juliet” balconies that look out over the courtyard below. The rooms are painted a very pale pink that reflects the impossibly good light flowing through the numerous windows, creating an ideal spot for bridal and boudoir shoots. In addition to the king bed, there is a Balinese daybed, a vintage dressing table, and a beautiful vintage full-sized brass mirror. The master bathroom has been covered wall to wall, floor to ceiling with the ancient Zellige tile form originating from Morrocco in a burnt sugar color. It’s an avant-garde space with brass features throughout and it just gleams!

The Hacienda West is centrally located in University Heights, which was founded in 1888, and is one of San Diego’s oldest neighborhoods with several significant historic landmarks and historically designated homes nearby. It is very close to downtown San Diego, Balboa Park, the SD Zoo, Little Italy, Mission Valley, and the SD International Airport and is very well connected to the SD public transit system.