The setting for this interview was a beautiful California Style home here in Riverside called Casa Amapola. It’s hard to verbalize the feeling that has been created at this once, severely neglected residence. From the street you can see the hand-troweled plaster walls, prominent cylindrical tower and clay tile roof peaking through the colorful red and orange flowers of the mexican birds of paradise. The clean white canvas of the walls are decorated with original wood-frame windows that feature beautifully colorful trim and wrought iron accents. The garden feels natural and native,. The meandering paths through the natural topography give you a sense of leisure, not a straight line from A to B, but a path that is simply there for the enjoyment of the many fruit trees and native plants within the grounds. You can hear the sounds of the fountain and witness the natural beauty of the birds and bees making their homes in the landscape. This wonderful experience continues as you explore the 1927 interior. The foyer has handcrafted plaster walls made to look as though they were built of ancient stone. There are a variety of levels, shapes, colors and sizes that have created some wonderful perspectives within the home; No doubt a master stroke of the local architect, Henry Jekel. It’s not often that I come across a property where the restoration has been viewed with a holistic approach. The materials, and color scheme as well as design choices in both interior and exterior have been carefully curated to compliment each other. Experiencing a restoration like this begs the questions, how did they do it? Where does one start?
This space was designed by John Azar and Jim Frame. I had an opportunity to sit with John and discuss his experience in restoration over the last 30 years. The two of them have restored or remodeled 18 vintage homes from Spanish Monterrey, Arts and Crafts and Victorian to Mediterranean and even Mid-Century Modern. They’ve owned homes from San Fernando to Pasadena but have finally settled in their “forever” home here in Riverside. Since they have restored such a variety of homes in their lives I was eager to know what their underlying philosophy was in regards to their approach. John said, without hesitation, “things that are appropriate.” He isn’t a purest and his intention isn’t to recreate the original environment, as if in a museum. John allows room within his project to update systems and slightly modify floor-plans but always within the scope of what the original architect would have intended. Appropriate modifications are things which blend seamlessly with the overall design of the home as well as removal of inappropriate previous modifications. For example, in the early part of the 20th century it was common for wealthier families to have live-in help and for others to have help that would come intermittently. As a result of this they would tend to structure their floor plans to allow for separation and privacy within the house. When John and Jim bought this home there were 4 rooms in the space where the kitchen is now located. By removing the walls and undertaking a period appropriate remodel of the kitchen the home will be functional for many years to come while maintaining that “early california, early Missions, Zorro time period,” as John puts it. When I asked him what he would recommend first in a restoration project he said, “look at the systems first. Start with the things that aren’t going to give you joy that you just need to get done. The problem is, if you get something cosmetically the way you want it and then realize that you need to go into that wall because of something else. Who knows what you may have put on that wall in the way of tile, wainscotting or something else. Then figure out what needs to be retrofitted style wise.” What he means by this is to reverse incompatible design and finish choices that the house may have undergone in the past. If you need help determining what exactly is “appropriate” there are endless resources of books and movies or local groups such as Riverside Renovators or the Old Riverside Foundation. John recommends previewing other people’s houses or if you don’t know anyone with a property like yours you can always visit open houses for homes that are for sale. With enough reading and exposure to other properties you’ll be well on your way to selecting appropriate materials and colors to create an incredible space of your own. If you’re having a hard time feel free to contact me and I’d be happy to get you in touch with the right people! In the next part of the interview John and I discussed the landscape design for which they received an award from the Old Riverside Foundation.
When John and Jim bought the property the entire lot was sloped and there was nothing but dirt. Even a barren wasteland can prove to be fecund under the care of the right hands. It was their first project tied to a “California Style” home and so I asked John what he learned and how he went about planning the design. His first remark was that “it’s important to take your time and get advice from people who really know what they’re talking about.” He decided to hire a young landscape architect to assist in his vision of making a space that is not only sensitive to the environment but also have that Early California feel. Most other landscape designs he had completed were formal but this project wasn’t formal at all. “The Spanish Mission period was interesting because it wasn’t all perfect.” He has enjoyed making the landscape a more casual place to spend time with meandering paths, scented shrubs like lavender and rosemary, grape vines and many fruit trees. He incorporated a stone fruit orchard, Sycamore, Olive and Pepper trees among others. He had a clever way to reincorporate materials that would have otherwise been wasted. There was a sports court that they had no intention of using so instead they demolished it and used the concrete to make a private patio and all the pathways in the garden. It looks incredibly authentic as the concrete is clearly aged as opposed to newly poured. The thick mortar grout joints and irregular shapes are like the pathways you can find at the Mission San Gabriel Arcangel and are even reminiscent of villages I’ve visited in italy that were built hundreds of years ago. John didn’t keep the landscape architect on for the whole project in the interest of finances but admittedly she helped guide him in the right direction from the start. Discussing the aspects of landscape that I would liken to systems within the home was an important step. Drainage, sunlight, soil and plant groupings for example, are the underlying foundation for which the design can be built.
With such a beautiful space, I had to ask John what his favorite part of the design was and he immediately responded, the concrete paths and retaining walls, “but what really makes me feel good is when people stop and slow down and compliment the garden.” It’s affirmation that his time, effort and energy are appreciated by others within the community. One neighbor, while John was working in the garden, pulled over and yelled, “Hey, you really get it!” A comment that John cherishes. Another neighbor even requested the opportunity to paint the home and garden and gifted the painting to John and Jim. These are great stories and I believe are a testament to the fact that restoration and an appreciation for our historic resources are enjoyed by all, including those that are yet to be born.
6809 BROCKTON AVENUE, RIVERSIDE CA 92506 (951) 961-1609 CALRE#01922817