Category

Architecture

Mission style, Spanish Colonial Revival, and the rare residential masterpieces of California's golden age — the buildings that make you stop and stare.

George Washington Smith arched doorway, Santa Barbara

The Arched Doorway: California's Most Romantic Threshold

From mission-era porticos to canyon villas, the arch stands as the enduring signature of California's most beloved architectural tradition.

Embassy building Los Angeles

The Best California Architecture Books

Eight essential volumes — from sweeping surveys to intimate monographs — that will change the way you see every arch, courtyard, and sun-warmed wall in California.

The Letter

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Stay awhile.

A gentle monthly dispatch — new stories, hidden houses, and the quiet beauty of California's most romantic corners.

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