More Views of the Diamond A Ranch

There is a new book out, “Ranches of the American West,” that illustrates aspects of one my favorite projects, the Diamond A Ranch. I am adding some of my own views of the house here, particularly of the house’s adobe wing in which I take great pride. The architect, Peter Pennoyer, and I made every effort to preserve original details from this part of the building which dates from the second half of the 19th century.
 
With the help of Barbara Zook Architects, we were able to restore the old adobe walls and much of the wooden ceilings. In two of the rooms we recreated the mud floors, coloring them red using a traditional techniques involving pig’s blood. The furnishings are a collection of locally made and fancier imported furniture that would have been typical of that time period. These rooms serve as a wing to newer parts of the house that are also designed in the territorial style. A large sitting room, known as the Spanish Room, was made especially comfortable to balance the spare adobe wing.

From top: the Diamond A Ranch with a view of the old adobe wing just behind; two views of a guest bedroom in the adobe wing; another view of the Adobe wing’s guest rooms; the Spanish Room; the state of the Spanish Room before our restoration; the Library; photos by Peter Aaron (except the before image of the Spanish Room).