Architectural Features

Explore the many  wonderful architectural features that give Chiles House its unique character.

Consistent with Mediterranean architecture styles, Chiles House makes liberal use of rounded arches. The dining courtyard is framed by a stucco walls comprised of a series of arches and the dining room has three sets of arched doors leading to the courtyard.

The living room features columns supporting arches separating the living room from the center stairs.

The dining room has a dramatic vaulted ceiling and three sets of doors leading to the courtyard.

The “pink” bathroom has intense raspberry colored tile and a coal burning stove.

The wood panel led library opens to the dining courtyard and the walled garden.

The kitchen and bathrooms feature elegant arched windows.

Even the porte cochere is framed by arched openings with twisted rope columns.

Below is a detail photo of the medallions above the columns in the porte cochere.

The bedrooms have all been updated recently.

Chiles House is constructed of hollow terra cotta blocks, covered by pebble dash stucco. Here James is examining the exposed blocks in the carriage house. Structural terra cotta is made from natural clay, or clay produced from pulverized shale. It is formed into blocks and like brick, fired in a kiln to create a hard building block. The hollow interior is divided into “cells” by a “web”, which gives it strength. The grooves, or ribbing, is on four sides of the “shell” to help mortar, plaster and stucco adhere to the surface. It was most commonly used for buildings constructed during the first quarter of the 20th century. Since stucco was usually the exterior covering, Mission and Mediterranean revival styles are some of the most common types of homes built with these blocks. It’s also common in military base buildings and gas stations built as late as 1940. It was also used to back brick veneer.