Phoenix Tuscan & Santa Barbara Style Homes
It’s no surprise that the architecture of the sun-kissed Mediterranean coastal lands imports so seamlessly to the Valley, considering the resemblance in climate and terrain. In the Phoenix real estate market, Tuscan-style homes offer a gorgeous blend of New World conveniences with Old World aesthetic pleasures: Low ceilings are traded for high ones in spacious entryways, kitchen/dining “great rooms,” and master suites. Tiny windows (a barrier to direct sun in pre-air-cooled Southern Italy) are enlarged for wide, horizon-sweeping views. Smooth stucco flawlessly emulates the look of thick plaster for sturdy, energy-efficient, yet elegant-looking construction. Marble and other stone on exterior and interior surfaces blend the textures of the outdoors and the in. Rich, earthy browns, yellows, and reds lend a breathtaking symmetry with native plants, flowers, and our enormous deep-blue sky. Details such as a turquoise-blue front door, terra-cotta roof, rustic painted tiles, wrought-iron gates, and decorative hardware attract the eye as to the composition of a masterpiece. Central courtyards help cool the house and create a natural focal point in many of these Phoenix homes for sale.
Santa Barbara Style in Phoenix Real Estate
Santa Barbara is often referred to as the “American Riviera” because of its balmy, arid weather that is similar to the Mediterranean climate. The Santa Barbara-style home has been compared to areas throughout the Mediterranean region — Spain, Italy, and the cliff villages of Greece — but is also similar to Mission, Spanish Revival, and sometimes Spanish Eclectic. Like the Spanish style home, the Santa Barbara gains from its ancestor-the Spanish mission-a noble and majestic yet clean, humble atmosphere. Construction on the Mission Santa Barbara began in 1787, and since that time residents of the city have enjoyed the warm vibrancy provided by the details essential to its homes: white exterior walls with curved archways, red-tiled patios, and barrel-tiled roofs. Tiled courtyards with peacefully flowing fountains, and wrought iron accents on windows, light fixtures, staircases, and other elements complete the gorgeous picture. Modern adaptations in the Phoenix real estate market include vaulted ceilings, high shelves for large, decorative pots and baskets, skylights, bay windows, and fireplaces.