Western and Southwestern Decorating

Southwestern architecture is characterized by a merging of Mexican, Native American, Spanish and Western American influences. As these cultures clashed during the last 400 years, the mixture of design elements became a dominant architectural style throughout the American Southwest, particularly in New Mexico, Arizona and Southern California.

To make it easier, I am including a brief definition of some common terms in Southwestern Architecture.

• Canale - Metal lined wood or clay spouts that allow water to drain from behind the parapet wall. 
• Corbel - Carved decorative supports placed between the top of a post and the Timber above. Adds support to spread the weight and support the structure above.
• Latilla - Long slendar sticks often installed in a herringbone design on top of and spanning the space between Vigas or Timbers.  Traditionally these sticks were used to support the earh roof materal.
• Latilla Ceiling Panel™ - An manufactured panel cut from solid Pine and assebled to resymble latillas. The come in a varety of size and can be purchased square cute or angled for the traditional herringbone appearance. These latilla panels are the the creation of Grand River Supply and are a popular easily installed alternative to traditional latillas.
• Parapet - walls enclosing the flat or shallow sloped roof, common among pueblo and sante-fe style architecture.
• Viga - a round beam or timber usually supporting the latillas and roof sturcture.

Another use for carved Corbels is as shelf brackets. Grand River Supply can supply miniature corbels ideal for use as shelf or mantel supports. Corbles are distinctive features of Southwestern architecture with roots tracing back to the arrival of Spanish friars to New Mexico. Corbels are used to transfer the load from the roof or a parapet to decorative carved posts are simple cigar or plain Viga posts.

Whether used as shelf supports are structural supports, carved Corbles can add substantially to the western and southwestern appeal of your home.