California House Styles: Living with Flair, Casual Chic, and Comfort

Nothing is boring about California style homes.

From the Arts and Crafts bungalows of the 1900s to beachfront properties, classic ranch homes, Mediterranean and Spanish Mission designs, and modern contemporary plans, California style house plans are casual, chic, comfortable, and individually trendy.

On a recent visit to Southern California, I basked in the sun, strolling around tree-lined neighborhoods and gazed at houses.  Extremely captivated by their different styles and sizes, I made mental notes of homes that really caught my eye and planned return trips to take a second and third look.

Concentrated in one three-square-mile area were bungalows, ranch homes, contemporary styles, as well as Mediterranean/Spanish Mission-inspired houses with their terra cotta roofs and beautifully landscaped courtyards. There were gardens, trees (small and large), plants, flowers lining the entranceways and the back. Just from the exterior facades, one had a feeling that the homes were breezy, spacious, and comfortable inside.  Even the largest and fanciest homes seemed to be filled with sunshine and color.

A similar design pattern was evident even with apartment housing – rock gardens and shrubbery to greet residents as they enter the building, courtyards with simple but attractive landscapes, balconies, verandas, covered front porches, barbecue grills.  The open courtyards provide play space for kids, and the grills allow residents to enjoy outdoor living without going too far from their homes.    

My tour of that residential community was a microcosm of California living – casual chic, fashionable trends, comfort, sunshine, and ocean breezes.

Features of the California House Style

California house designs are influenced by Mediterranean and Spanish Mission styles. Their open floor layout is ideal for Arts and Crafts bungalows, classic ranches, coastal/beachfront homes with climates similar to California, and modern contemporary residences. 

Some common features are:

1.  Covered entryways and porches.

2.  Large windows to allow natural light and the breeze into the home.

3.  Courtyards and lanai entries, balconies.

4.  Patios, sundecks – and often a swimming pool.

5.  Landscaped lawns and gardens.

6.  Open floor plans.

7.  Warm colors for both the exterior and interior.

Diverse Architectural Styles

In California, home designs are as diverse as the regions and climates of the state. Travel up and down along the major metropolitan areas - Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Riverside-San Bernardino, and Sacramento, the beach cities and mountain locales… and you’ll find a variety of architectural styles.

Here are the house plans that define California living:

The Spanish/Mediterranean Style  

Greatly influenced by Spanish architecture – especially the Spanish Mission design – the Mediterranean house plan is one of the most enduring styles in California.  Julia Morgan’s design for Hearst Castle after World War I set the gold standard in California for luxury and Spanish Revival style. From San Diego to San Francisco and in between, the Spanish/Mediterranean homes fascination continues to this day. To learn more about Spanish style house plans, click here. To explore Mediterranean style home designs, click here.

Spanish/Mediterranean style homes are usually finished with stucco (usually white or pastel in color) on the exterior and often feature architectural accents such as arched openings in the stucco or wood beams. Their patios, porches, terraces, gardens, and courtyards that link with the outdoors – are perfectly suited to the climate and open, rolling California landscapes.

California Bungalow

Characteristic of its trend-setting style, California was among the first in the country to embrace the bungalow house plan. These charming one-to-one-and-a-half-story homes, which originated in India – were adapted in the United States in the late 1800s to the early 1900s.  Across the country, the style had a variety of “interpretations.”  

The California bungalow – created and inspired by Ohio-born architects Charles and Henry Greene and the Arts and Crafts movement - were constructed low to the ground, made with wood and other natural materials. The cozy homes featured wide-covered porches, verandas, patios, gardens, handcrafted furniture, built-in cabinets and shelves, open floor plans, and plenty of doors open to the outdoors.

The Greene brothers and other architects built and designed numerous bungalows in Southern California – particularly in Los Angeles and Pasadena. Today, there’s a historic district in Pasadena called “Bungalow Heaven” that has preserved and renovated these beautiful homes. To view more bungalow homes and floor plans, click here.

Ranch Homes

Called the California Rambler in the state, the rectangular-shaped one-story ranch house plan has been around for a while – inspired by the historic California “haciendas.” The first modern-day version was designed and built by Southern California architect Cliff May in the early 1930s. It was also greatly influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie house plans with their low roofs and open floors.  More about ranch home plans can be found here.

A typical ranch house plan features large windows that allow lots of natural light, an open floor plan, patios, porches, and gardens. Americans love ranch homes because they are practical, comfortable, and easy to access.  

Beachfront Homes

Within the beach cities – Malibu, Santa Barbara, San Clemente, La Jolla, Coronado, San Diego, Carmel, Monterey, and more – Californians take advantage of the gorgeous locations of beachfront homes. From the simple cottage to ultra-modern vacation retreats, beach house plans seem to merge into the California coast's waterfront landscape.  (More beachfront home designs can be found here.)

Designed for beachfront life, these homes with their open floor space come with plenty of large windows for an unobscured view of the ocean and nature. Decks, porches, and terraces that provide relaxation and entertaining spots add to the appeal of beachfront homes. 

Modern Contemporary Styles

As the ranch house plan was taking the country by storm in the early 1900s, a number of pioneering architects in California – particularly Joseph Eichler and William Wurster, the architect who established the College of Environmental Design at the University of California–Berkeley - were building variations of ranch homes, and creating their own unique styles.

Perhaps Eichler is better known for his “modernist” touch than Wurster. But when you look at modern contemporary homes today, Wurster’s trademarks are unmistakable in houses with decks, patios, and terraces. Designers and builders also agree that his “use of summer shade and winter sun for natural heating and cooling predated most environmentalists.”   

Built in 1931 by William Wurster for Henry and Ruth Colby, the three-story home in the Claremont district of Berkeley, CA, was restored from 2002-2007 by two architects from UC-Berkeley who admired Wurster’s work.  Situated on a 0.36 acre of land on a slope, Wurster “built up” to take advantage of the wonderful views of San Francisco Bay. The original home had five bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, an elevator, and stairs that connected the floors. Decks, patios, gardens, and a large terrace on the top level enhance the indoor-outdoor feel.

Also designed in 1931 by William Wurster is the Voss House located in Big Sur, CA and overlooking the ocean. Consistent with Wursters architectural philosophy, the home is unostentatious in style and is oriented and designed to maximize the views of the ocean. The sloping lot allows for the construction of a multi-level home without being imposing. It also creates some dramatic views.

Taking a cue from these renowned architects, modern homes – in California and elsewhere - emphasize clean lines, streamlined designs, and simple concrete, glass, or vinyl exteriors. Common features include open floor plans, spaces that serve various purposes, courtyards that “invite the outside in,” floor-to-ceiling - or artfully placed – windows –to get the best looks of the scenery.

So whether the California “flavor” you choose is a modern design, ranch, bungalow, beachfront, or a classic Mediterranean/Spanish Mission-inspired home, go for casual-chic, informal, and comfortable.