Five Ways to Make Your Home a Pueblo or Territorial Style Showcase

Copyright 2004, Pamela Cole Harris

The Southwest is known for chilis (which I, being a natural-born chilihead, love!), sunshine, and the beauty of canyons and mountains and it's architecture. The influence of its's Spanish and Indian ancestors has resulted in two main styles of architecture - Pueblo and Territorial.

Pueblo-style features flat roofs and stepped level homes made of adobe in earthy colors. The walls have rounded edges and simple windows let light into the elegant rooms. Niches (known as nichos) are set into the walls for art or religious icons. Benches (or bancos) are built into the walls for seating. Floors are usually covered with flagstone, wood or tiles. Heavy timbers which serve as the main roof support are known as vigas. They usually show along the outside of the roofline.

Territorial-style houses usually feature stucco exterior with sharp-edged walls. In contrast to the simple windows of the Pueblo style, Territorial houses have elaborate Victorian-style details made from dark wood.

How can you make your home a Pueblo- or Territorial-syle showcase - especially when your bank account is drier than a desert wind? Easy! Here's how!

1. If you can't afford original adobe walls, add some clean sand to your paint. Choose earthy colors of terracotta and apply the paint in a thick and textured coat. Then stand back and look at your "adobe" handiwork!

2. If your roof is not supported with vigas, then create the look on your ceiling with two by fours stained a dark walnut. Distress with a hammer and whatever else you can think of, then attach the boards to your ceiling. Voila! Instant (well, almost) vigas!

3. Upholster dining room chairs or side chairs with cheap serapes (Mexican blankets). The colorful stripes will instantly bring life to your room!

4. Replace that worn carpet with handmade terracotta tiles! If you can't afford that, then paint the cement or plywood floor in colorful stripes or faux tile. Seal with a quality polyurethane. Use your imagination!

5. Use large terracotta pots for the base of side tables or a coffee table. Just explore your local garden center for ideas! Or if you need a dining table, an old picnic table will do fine! Just distress and stain a dark walnut and add benches covered with serapes or bright colors!

Just a touch of color, terracotta, and handmade tiles can bring the heat of the sunny Southwest into your home. Oh! Before I say adios, I almost forgot the most important part - the chili ristas! Those long braids of red chilis hanging from the ceiling are taste of heaven! Who could ask for more - a home décor accessory you can eat!

Pamela Cole Harris is an editor, writer and eco-decorator with over 35 years experience. Her website, http://www.homeandgardenmakeover.com is full of her unique decorating ideas and "how-to"s. Her new book, "100+ Wildly Imaginative Ideas for Creating Your Own Coffee Table - a Handbook for the Creatively Deficient Decorator " is available through her website or at http://www.lulu.com/pamelacoleharris

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