Timeless Treasures
Modern-day designers are turning back to a look that is reminiscent of colonial interiors, with an emphasis on quality over quantity, highlighting a few special items. David Farca of Touch of History in Scottsdale explains: “Today’s Transitional-style homes have cleaner lines and lean toward the Modern, but if you incorporate an antique or reproduction Spanish Colonial piece of furniture, it adds character and a sense of refined taste. Today, homeowners are looking for more timeless decor, and Spanish Colonial style is proven.”

Spanish styles have made a lasting impression on Southwestern handcrafted furniture. Sixteenth-century Spanish motifs, including birds, shells, fruit, plants and swags, still appear. Ultimately, these decorative elements owe their tradition to the Old World; yet Southwestern craftsmen continue to produce rustic, understated versions of the more ornate European furnishings. Many designers also mix Spanish Colonial items with other imports from Europe and Latin America for a richer, more textured interior space. “Even in Contemporary design, one or two antique pieces can be incorporated,” says Bone.
                
Laura Morelli, Ph.D., is an art historian, columnist and author of Made in the Southwest: A Shopper’s Guide to the Region’s Best Native American, Hispanic, and Western Craft Traditions (Universe Publishing), as well as the guidebooks Made in France and Made in Italy (Universe Publishing).