by Diane Keaton
First published 2007
Diane Keaton presents California's finest residential examples of Mission and Spanish Colonial architecture. The book showcases homes designed by George Washington Smith, Wallace Neff, Richard Requa, Lilian Rice, and Paul R. Williams. These structures feature whitewashed stucco exteriors, cloistered patios, tile roofing, and elaborate gardens. Each residence displays authentic Monterey furniture, California tile work, and Navajo textiles. The collection includes seaside estates, canyon villas, and courtyard bungalows, featuring Keaton's own former Beverly Hills property, which she restored alongside designer Stephen Shadley. Her preservation efforts have earned recognition in the field. Keaton applies her cinematic perspective to capture the interplay of shadow and light across these buildings through specially commissioned photographs. D. J. Waldie provides expert commentary that explains the architectural elements and offers readers an inside look at this distinctly Californian way of living.
Genres: art, 20th-century, biography-memoir, 21st-century, art-history, architecture
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: non-fiction, preservation
Setting: Beverly Hills, California, Monterey
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
322 pages · Hardcover · Rizzoli