Real LI

"The Mediterranean House in America," by Lauren Weiss Bricker (Abrams, $50): Terra cotta roofs, open-air spaces, stucco walls and ironwork are among the features detailed in this tasteful and charming account of the Mediterranean-style homes found in the United States. The author examines the history of the architectural style that gained great popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and its roots in Spain, Italy and North Africa. Though many of the best examples of the style are to be found in the warm climates of Florida and California, several can be found in the Northeast, including one built in the early 20th century for Nicholas and Maria Del Pilar Bates in Riverdale, N.Y. Tiles from Spanish monasteries cover the floors, decorative artwork lines the steps to the second floor and rooms are wide open spaces in the house. Though designed with certain standards in mind, the Mediterranean homes are hardly carbon copies of each other: One in Palm Beach, Fla., features limestone and a three-story tower; another in San Antonio, Texas, offers patio fountains, cupolas and high plastered walls. Some of the homes are set at seaside while others can be found on busy streets, California hillsides and a desert landscape. The photos are compelling and show how creative architects and homeowners can be.

--PAM ROBINSON