Product Description

California Romantica features the most important, yet rarely seen, residential exemplars of the California Mission and Spanish Colonial styles, by such noted architects as George Washington Smith, Wallace Neff, Richard Requa, Lilian Rice, and Paul R. Williams, among others. From whitewashed stucco walls and cloistered patios to tile roofs and sumptuous gardens, each house shown is a rare masterpiece, splendidly appointed with authentic Monterey furniture, California tile, and Navajo rugs. Among the magnificent seaside estates, canyon villas, and courtyard bungalows shown is Diane Keaton’s former home in Beverly Hills, which she thoughtfully restored with noted designer Stephen Shadley, and for which she has been recognized as a committed preservationist. She brings her cinematic eye, a keen sense of natural drama, and a profound appreciation for the nuances of shadow and light to the elucidation of these buildings, through the selection of specially commissioned photography. Authoritative text by D. J. Waldie lucidly explicates the architecture and provides an intimate tour of a historic and distinctly Californian lifestyle.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #126387 in Books
• Published on: 2007-11-06
• Released on: 2007-11-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 322 pages

About the Author
Diane Keaton has been recognized for her work in California architectural preservation. She is widely known for her work in theater and film, and has won numerous awards and accolades, including an Oscar for her role in Annie Hall and praise for her work as director of Unstrung Heroes. D. J. Waldie is the author of Holy Land: A Suburban Memoir, which received the California Book Award for nonfiction in 1996, Where We Are Now: Notes from Los Angeles, and co-author of Real City: Downtown Los Angles Inside/Out. He is a regular contributor to Los Angeles Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, L. A. Weekly, and others.

Customer Reviews

" Diane Keaton's new book, "California Romanica" is a Work of Art !
Speaking as both an artist and a collector of books on Spanish Revival Architecture, I can truly say that Diane Keaton's new book on Spanish Architecture is fabulous! Ms. Keaton and her photographer really captured the unique and splendid features of the style. They have isolated both quiet and monumental vignettes from the homes featured. I would love to see a second book done on other homes. I am building a Spanish Rivival home in Southern Baja and have done alot of research on this style of architecture. Thank you Ms. Keaton.

Photography book more than book on houses
Just a bunch of art photos. Sure, some of them are beautiful. But this book is classified in the home section. If you are looking for ideas or inspiration for your house, this is definitely not the book. Casa California is far better for that purpose. Many of the photos in this book are of a tiny tiny detail. The book itself is gigantic and very heavy. It's a very self-indulgent work by the author and publishing house.

Not what I expected
Like the author expresses, there is a certain magic to behold in this kind of architecture. As a native Californian, I truly have felt this magic when encountering a variety of Spanish-inspired buildings in my lifetime. There is nothing like it. However, when I took my first look at this book, I just didn't feel that the magic was captured. While much of the photography is certainly well done, it generates no emotional connection with the subject. Most of the pages simply evoke a certain cold austerity. The architectural details are fabulous, but without human context. It has a museum-like quality that contradicts the real warmth one feels when living in these spaces. To me, something is missing - heart, warmth, emotion?