The Mission Revival home
Inspired by Spanish mission churches built in the early 1600s, Mission Revival style architecture first appeared in California around 1885. It quickly spread around the American Southwest with railroad travelers. It was a splash of boldness with its large arched openings and whitewashed stucco walls. Quite the contrast to the home styles that had migrated west for the Gold Rush.
Essential design elements
Mission Revival homes are typically two stories with smooth, usually white, stucco and low-pitched, red tile hip roofs. They often include gables with curvilinear parapet walls, open eaves with exposed brackets, and visor roofs below dormers or parapets. Prominent one-story porches with arched openings are common.
Quintessential doors
French doors are usually used to provide access to porches and verandas, creating a visual connection between the interior and exterior. Hardware is accentuated and usually appears to be hand forged.
Quintessential windows
Both double-hung and French casement windows are common in Mission Revival style homes. Occasionally both window types can be seen in the same house. When double-hung windows are used, grilles usually divide the upper sash into individual panes that are square or close to square.
Style options
More on this home style
Pattern books from the Andersen Style Library present quintessential details of the most popular American architectural styles, with an emphasis on window and door design. The result of years of research, they exist to make it easier to create homes with architectural authenticity.