The Spanish style revived the architectural traditions of the early Spanish colonies, themselves based on the fanciful Moorish and Mediterranean motifs that influenced residences in the old country. These evocative homes are sometimes called Spanish Eclectic houses in honor of their diverse influences. Natural in both tropical or oceanside settings as well as the desert southwest, Spanish home plans are most popular in Florida, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and California, though elements of the style may appear in homes all over the country.
Spirited and expressive, Spanish Revival house plans are all about making family, friends, and entertaining comfortable and relaxed. Thick masonry walls coated in stucco and red tile roofs function to keep the interior cool. Spanish floor plans may be arranged around a central courtyard, where shaded galleries block the hot sun and provide outdoor living space. The most elaborate of the Southwest styles, Spanish home plans may feature towers or turrets, romantic balconies, fancifully shaped columns, and wrought iron details.
