Decorative stone and rockwork was
a staple of mid-century home design, and Paradise Palms has some great examples
of eye-catching and varied stonework. Most of the builders in Paradise Palms –
with the exception of the Miranti Homes – offered decorative stone accents on
their homes. Each builder had their own
distinct method of using stone, creating great design variations throughout the
community. Typically stonework was
typically laid in large, full or flat-faced pieces and used to highlight
architecture. Stacked stone, or stone
extending across the entire base of houses, a common look on the suburban tract
homes of today, wasn’t utilized making the decorative stone of Paradise Palms
distinctly mid-mod and a key architectural identifier of our community.
Americana
used decorative stone to accent chimneys, anchor entryways, and accent portions
of the bases of their homes. A distinct characteristic
of the Americana luxury homes was the utilization of decorative stone on
chimneys extending from the midpoint of rooflines, a higher end feature of the
1960s. The
Palmer
& Krisel-designed homes built by Paradise Homes offered decorative
stone typically in a massing form – decorative stone served as anchors to walls
where dramatic rooflines and clearstory windows soared above. The stones found
on the Palmer & Krisels were smaller than those seen on the Americanas,
with varying degrees of color and texture.
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Signature Americana decorative stone
chimney extending from roof midpoint
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In
Stellar
Greens, D.L. Bradley used decorative stone to accent chimneys, anchor
entryways and add drama to facades. A
feature unique to Stellar Greens was to include small vertical portions of
stacked stone set amongst larger rock, creating spectacular unique mid-century
modern patterns.
Tropical Estates offered chunky lava rock on some models, a popular feature that most builders
offered in some form in reaction to the tiki culture that spread across the
country during the mid-century. Eastern
Enterprises typically used decorative stone in
Fontainebleau
Estates to accent entries, architecturally creating a focal point at the
center of the home, giving the front doors a presence.
Time has added more variations to
the decorative rock accents of Paradise Palms – stone has been painted, removed
and in a few cases, homeowners have found matches and covered entire facades in
decorative rock. Just like decorative
concrete screen block, the decorative stone of Paradise Palms is a staple of
mid-century design and one of the significant architectural details of the
community. Here’s a look at some of the signature rockwork of Paradise Palms:
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Signature Americana decorative stone
chimney
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Signature Americana decorative stone
chimney
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| Americana home with decorative stone at entry |
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Signature Americana decorative stone
chimney extending from roof midpoint and decorative stone at entry
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| Unique Americana home with wide decorative stone chimney |
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Signature Americana decorative stone
chimney extending from roof midpoint & decorative stone flanking the living room picture window
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| Palmer & Krisel home with decorative stone chimney |
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| Decorative stone wall on a Palmer & Krisel home |
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| Decorative stone wall with original clerestory windows above on a Palmer & Krisel home |
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| Decorative stone at entry on a Palmer & Krisel home |
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| Decorative stone at entry on a Palmer & Krisel home |
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| Decorative stone at entry on a Palmer & Krisel home |
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| Decorative stone at entry on a Palmer & Krisel home |
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| While not part of the original home, this is a great example of a classic mid-century decorative stone on a courtyard fence |
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| Decorative lava rock wall near entry on a Palmer & Krisel home |
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| Decorative lava rock wall on a Palmer & Krisel home |
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| Decorative lava rock wall on a Palmer & Krisel home |
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| Decorative lava rock wall on a Palmer & Krisel home |
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| Decorative stone chimney in Stellar Greens - note small stacked stones which add variety to the surface texture |
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| Decorative stone chimney in Stellar Greens |
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| While not original to this Stellar Greens home, the front courtyard wall has been designed in a mid century style that compliments the other stonework found on neighboring homes |
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| Detail of Stellar Greens decorative stonework |
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| Decorative stone flanking the entryway of a Stellar Greens home |
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| Decorative stone accent wall on a Tropical Estates home |
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| Decorative stone accent wall on a Tropical Estates home |
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| Decorative stone accent wall on a Tropical Estates home |
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| Decorative stone flanking entryway on a Tropical Estates home |
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| Decorative stone at entry on a Fontainebleau Estates home |
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| Decorative stone at entry on a Fontainebleau Estates home |
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| Decorative stone at entry on a Fontainebleau Estates home |
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| Decorative stone at entry on a Fontainebleau Estates home |
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| Decorative stone accent wall on a Paradise Palms custom home |
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| Decorative stone abounds on one of Paradise Palm's most recognizable custom homes, The Casino house, built by Tropical Estates developers Val and Lee Valentine |
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