Popularized in America during the 1920's to the 1940's, warm and welcoming Spanish style house plans take their inspiration from villas on the sun-drenched coast of Mediterranean Spain. Although they incorporate elements of Gothic, Renaissance, Byzantine and Moorish architecture, Spanish style home designs are more inviting than exotic. Typically asymmetrical and one to two stories high, they feature low-pitched tile roofs, stuccoed exteriors, bold door and window arches, as well as arcaded walkways and patios. Fabulous entryways with rugged front doors are often flanked by spiral columns or ornately carved stonework. Inside, sprawling Spanish style floor plans are illuminated by double hung windows with interior shutters although some feature stained glass windows adorned with decorative wood or iron grilles. Interior courtyards with fountains as well as recessed balconies and porches offer ideal places to enjoy warm nights and cool breezes in locales from Florida to Texas, Arizona, and California.
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